Momma's Tomato Soup

I had not eaten tomato soup in about 30 years. I could not find my mother's tomato soup.

Each winter, when I went to Florida, friends and relatives would assure me that they had found THE restaurant that served Momma's tomato soup. I tried each and every one of them and always came away disappointed.

When I moved here to the senior residence the one the thing most people agreed upon was that the chef made excellent soups. The crazier the name of the soup, the better it tasted. Split pea, carrot ginger, roasted eggplant. I tried them and enjoyed them all. 

One evening, there it was on the menu, tomato-rice. I knew I had to give it a try. I had tried so many others, what did I have to lose? I ordered the soup. I remember the exact table where I was sitting. I waited to be served. "Momma's soup!" I cried. That evening I sent the chef a note that said, "Dear Tim, thanks for the memories. It tasted just like Momma's."

I still look forward to the times when tomato-rice is served and I can tell the difference if one of the other chefs prepared it. Nobody but Tim does Momma's tomato soup right.

Janet Kleinberg

2014 May 4