Each time I bring up Loyola’s soups, I am met with the same question, “Wait…Loyola has soups?”
Upon entering the cafeteria, the soup varieties can be found all the way to the left on their own little kiosk. There, you can purchase the soup of the day for $3.50, and, if you so desire, a bread roll to go along for 80 cents.
When faced with so many options regarding lunch, I often overlook the hidden gems that the school has to offer. One of these being Loyola’s surprising variety of soups.
Looking at the other choices of food for lunch, variety is often scarce and, if there, small in number. Luckily, the restock of soups each day not only serves as a guaranteed fresh source of food, but also something new to try each day.
Although there is an extensive array to choose from, there are three soups in particular that I would like to highlight and expand upon.
#3: French Onion Soup
In light of French week, Loyola took it upon themselves to bring out some of the French culture and incorporate it into the daily lunches. The high sodium content was the first thing that stood out to me when tasting the broth. Unlike the traditional French onion soup, the mixture did not contain cheese as one of its ingredients. It did, however, have the main elements such as beef stock, onions (a lot of them), and cloves of garlic. Overall, this is ranked the lowest out of my three choices considering the taste. I give credit for the attempt at authenticity, but would not recommend it to those hoping for an authentic taste.
#2: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Although this soup doesn’t get put out as often as the others, it is close to the highest ranked soup. The mix of corn, tomatoes, shredded chicken, and beans makes a perfect filling food for a rainy day. The chicken offers an excellent source of protein while the corn and beans give the beneficial vitamins and minerals that are needed in a good diet. There aren’t many cons or complaints that I have regarding this soup, but it doesn’t beat my number one of this review.
#1: Italian Wedding Soup
The accuracy of this soup is one par with restaurants. It not only has all the required ingredients, but just the right amount of salt as to where it’s not overpowering any of the other flavors. The meatballs were sized and cooked to perfection as their supposed to be mini and well-done. The mix of vegetables and meatballs offered protein and vitamins that are essential in a good diet for learning. Much like a traditional Italian Wedding Soup, this one offered carrots, celery, spinach, small dittalini pasta, and meatballs all dunked in a delightful chicken broth. The accuracy of this soup brings my appreciation to the cooks for nailing this delightful recipe.
I highly recommend trying these soups on your own. According to one of the lunch ladies, each day the soups are freshly prepared for the students’ enjoyment. Show some love for the underappreciated menu items that Loyola has to offer.
