Another successful Souper Saturday impresses hungry Seaforth residents

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

On April 20, Seaforth’s annual Souper Saturday fundraiser roared back into the Seaforth and District Community Centre. It was an early-afternoon clash of the potagers, as 12 brave competitors engaged in a battle of the broths in support of the Seaforth and District Food Bank.

 

The chilly weather certainly helped put people in the mood for soup - the beloved local event drew in an enormous number of visitors from Seaforth and beyond. A jury of local experts judged each entry in both the “Cream” and “Clear” categories. There was also a “People’s Choice” award, for the single soup that captured the hearts of the common people, be it cream or clear. Each visitor was given a ballot and instructed to select just three of the soups on offer - one could choose between sampling just six or going for all 12.

 

None of those who went for the whole shebang had any regrets - each soup was a unique reflection of the individual or team that had brought it into existence for the sole purpose of being judged in the name of community betterment. For example, Dublin’s Family Restaurant stayed true to its hometown’s Irish roots with a lovely potato soup, topped off with a dual garnish of perfectly crisp bacon and fresh parsley. The Seaforth Co-operative Children’s Centre presented a kid-friendly but complex cheeseburger soup topped with crispy onions that was capable of converting even the pickiest of eaters to take a walk on the allium side. The Seaforth Agricultural Society honoured the tomato with a gluten- and dairy-free entry that allowed the regal fruit’s true flavours to ring out, and CKNX DJ Phil Main’s maple bacon sweet potato soup with fresh cream was as charming, balanced and thoughtful as his weekly podcast. Seaforth’s own Britannia Lodge has frequently been a fierce competitor in the soup cook-off, and this year was no exception. Their Kung Fu Panda themed dumplings soup was intriguing, spicy and delicious.

 

There was also a very popular bake sale table that sold out early on, as did the live auction of baked goods and pickles, emceed by Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb. All the auction items were made by local businesses and residents. Bartliff’s Bakery and Restaurant from Clinton captured the true spirit of the day with its auction item - a pop-art inspired cake that looked like a giant bowl of alphabet soup!

 

Any one of the wonderful soup entries was worthy of the win, but in the end, the judges of 2024’s Souper Saturday chose the Seaforth Lions “Run to the Chapel for an Italian Wedding” as the Clear champ, and Royal Lepage Heartland Realty’s Roasted Sweet Potato, Beer and Bacon as the Cream of the crop. The People's Choice Award went to the little cup of Heaven that was Betty Small’s Thanksgiving Dinner soup, which came garnished with a dollop of cranberry sauce and a tiny ball of stuffing.
All of the money raised at the event goes to support the Seaforth and District Food Bank.