Ten local restaurants will compete to see who serves Starkville’s best cup of soup at this year’s Starkville Main Street Association SOUPer Bowl.
The event, which is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. at Upstairs in Restaurant Tyler, allows the public to sample contenders’ fare, talk to chefs about their soups and vote for their favorite dishes.
It is part of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s Savor Our South tourism series, which focuses on the city’s culinary scene through events including Starkville Restaurant Week and spring’s community crawfish boil.
“SMSA ensures the vitality of our downtown area and helps us make Starkville a place where people want to shop, eat and live. The SOUPer Bowl has grown steadily since it became managed by SMSA, and it’s really a unique event because it allows restaurants to get creative and use soup to show off their culinary flare,” said Jennifer Prather, who serves as the GSDP’s special events coordinator. “Additionally, the SOUPer Bowl is a great opportunity for restaurant owners and chefs to get one-on-one time with the community they serve and for patrons to be able to communicate with those business owners.”
Saturday’s menu includes: a brisket and sweet potato stew from 929 Coffee Bar, lemon basil chicken soup from Bin 612, French onion kale soup from the Camphouse, a chicken corn chowder from Central Station Grill, a local sausage and collard green chowder served in a pimento cheese bagel bowl from City Bagel Cafe, turkey and pork garden chili from Commodore Bob’s Yacht Club, Great Grandmother’s Southwestern-style chicken soup from the Guest Room, a smoked brisket chili from Moe’s Original BBQ, a Tasso and onion bisque from Restaurant Tyler, and smoked tomato basil soup from Two Brothers Smoked Meats.
Restaurants will compete in both presentation and taste categories, and winners will be determined by both a panel of judges and votes by the participating public. Awards for best soups – first through third places – and best of show will be presented to winning teams at the end of the event.
Tickets for the event are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The day-of price for an adult ticket can be reduced $5 by donating a canned good. Donations, Prather said, will be sent to local food banks.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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