Hi, it looks like it’s my turn to do an Icy News story about something that hopefully a wider audience finds interesting, So, last Sunday saw the inaugural meeting of the Macquarie Island Soup Committee! Here follows a summary of the meeting minutes:
It was a very nervous time for some, their reputation was on the line. There had been a lot of preparation to make the event a success - even some training! - and weeks of vacuum packing and freezing a little sample of Annette, our chef's, daily soup selections in preparation for the taste-off. Which is the best Macca soup? Which has the best overall taste, texture and general looks?
So once we were all sworn in to the Soup Committee (professing a love of soup and a love of Macquarie Island) and the soupy goodness started appearing. There were meant to be 10 culinary delights to sample, but due to a fractured soup bag it was reduced too nine. Some exciting times were witnessed as the full tasting cups seemed to be heaver at the top than the bottom causing some messy moments.
All went quiet as the very serious tasting business started. The judges put the poker faces on and pen to paper - it would have made a high-end winery proud! The range of flavours, textures and presentation was to be assessed from 1 to 10. Carbonated water was supplied to cleanse the pallet. Pepper and salt the only accompaniments allowed.
The stakes were high and the quality was superb! All involved were very impressed. There was a good variety of flavours, chunkiness, textures and presentation. But there had to be only one winner. After tallying the results there was a clear favourite - the Chorizo, White Bean and Tomato Soup took the checkered flag, or perhaps the Golden Ladle.
The first meeting of the Macquarie Island Soup Committee was deemed a great succes. Fun and delicousness was had by all. Really just a great way to enjoy the talents of our chef and show our appreciation of her soup making skills!
Not a terrible idea at all.
Danny, Planty
