Soup, in its most basic form, has been around for centuries. Even the popular condensed soup people often have in their kitchen cupboards was developed in 1987, with tomato being the first variety. Soup was originally served as a way to feed many people with few, inexpensive ingredients, and was often viewed as quite a meagre meal. Even through the development and popularisation of condensed soups, they remained an inexpensive way to feed a family.

The very idea of soup has certainly changed over the years, as new varieties continue to be developed, and the definition of how we serve soup is changed. It has gone from being a way to feed many people on a low income, to a posh and trendy dish served in the finest restaurants across the world. The best part? Soup is, as a whole, a healthy dish to indulge upon. Typically made from broth or loaded with lean meats and vegetables, many people turn to soup nowadays to lose weight, make sure they’re getting enough vegetables, etc.

With that fascination with soup in mind, it’s no wonder the newest trend in dining is the soup bar. What started in the United States as an idea for people to gather and try different kinds of soups, toppings, etc. in one location, has now expanded the globe, and is becoming increasingly popular in European cities like London and Paris. The appeal of soup bars is good health, good friends, and good food. Most soup bars offer a rotating variety of soups every day for people to try, and will often include add-ins for soups, or sides such as bread, cheese, fruit, etc., which allows a simple soup supper to turn into a well-balanced meal. Many soup bars even offer fresh fruit juices and smoothies as a ‘sweet’ option toward better health.

Soup has certainly come a long way since its humble beginnings, and is certainly no longer viewed as a ‘low income’ food. Instead, it has reinvented itself as a healthy meal option, that can be fun, unique, exciting, and can certainly bring people together to try something different. The idea of the soup bar certainly doesn’t seem like a fad – soup itself has stood the test of time, and as we continue to offer new options to go along with it, chances are they will continue to be popular, too.

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