'A Beautiful Day' for a Soup Crawl

Mae and Mark Rothbauer of brought out their children Lena, 2, and Henry, 3 months, to test soups at the first . Lena, an aspiring young foodie, didn’t shy away from trying chicken soup.

“She’s a big eater,” Mae Rothbauer said.

The Rothbauers on Saturday were among about 250 soup crawl participants, many of whom donned green hats, shirts and pants in honor of as they strolled from store to store trying out the next soup du jour.

From sweet potato and butternut squash to lemon chicken with rice and stuffed pepper soup, the choices varied and were quite filling. Participants were given a list of stores to visit and encouraged to try all the soups before choosing their favorites. The family-friendly event also included a leprechaun scavenger hunt for kids.

Lee Bollinger, a volunteer, said the event was "really good for the community," as it helped get out the word about various restaurants, shops and the Food Pantry. Participants were encouraged to bring canned goods and helped collect three grocery carts full of food.

All proceeds from the soup crawl benefit the food pantry.

Dr. Richard Bowers of the  and vice president of the community center board of directors, said he took a carload of food down to the pantry, even as another cart was starting to fill up.

Bowers said the food pantry always needs food. He said Saturday's warm weather was also great.

“It clearly couldn’t be a better day,” Bowers said.

Carole Ford of Sewickley, a borough councilwoman, agreed.

“It’s a beautiful day for this," Ford said. "You could have expected snow in March, but we are so lucky. It feels like summer, but hot soup is always nice.”

The winner of the soup crawl was ' "Sweet Potato Cherizo" soup, which was dished out at . 

The event also included a Souper Cook contest that had 13 entries of homemade soups from residents looking to earn the title of "Souper Cook."

Shelley Murray said she decided to enter the contest because she enjoys cooking.

“I love to cook and it was just something fun to do,” Murray said.

After going to the grocery store Saturday morning for ingredients, the Sewickley mom of four waited with excitement for the panel of celebrity judges to taste her soup creation: a chicken chili that her husband and a friend affectionately named “Murray Irish Miracle Soup.” 

The coveted prize?  A Le Creuset indigo French oven.

Darryl Robinson won first place with his Wild Mushroom Florentine soup.

Linda Pell, the event organizer, gave a special thanks to judges Christina French, editor of Table Magazine, Roger Li, head chef of Restaurant, and his sous chef Christina, Sewickley residents   and , and Bill Welge of , Sewickley Heights.