Guilderland restaurants will heat up the town with their best bowls of soup in a competition sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
This year, the third annual Souped Up on Guilderland event will take place at Altamont Orchards, Saturday, Oct. 10. The event showcases area eateries’ best soups, and lets the public pick the top soup in town.
A car show will be hosted on the grounds as well, and will feature cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Souped Up on Guilderland will feature restaurants from throughout the town, including Aromi d’Italia, BFS Restaurant, Orchard Creek Golf Club, Hana Japanese Steak House, The Highlands Restaurant and Tavern, Tesoro, Londonderry and the Township Tavern.
Joe Abbruzzese, proprietor of Altamont Orchards, said the event was conceived to showcase Guilderland’s business community.
A little over three years ago, Kathy Burbank, Roger Lipura, and myself were trying to come up with an event that would spotlight the chamber and its work with and for the business community, he said. `I had done car shows, festivals in the past, and Kathy, I believe, had the idea of a soup or chili contest among restaurants in town to highlight their establishment and to show the community the talent of our local chefs and what was available to them at their restaurants. Roger tied the two events together with the Souped Up on Guilderland name.`
Abbruzzese said his own business has gained from the experience, as well.
`The benefit to the orchard has also be great as it gives us a chance to show off what we have to offer both at the farm and the golf course. It has also been great getting to know many of the chamber members who volunteer at this event. I believe the event has helped give the chamber and our businesses added exposure to the general community by providing a true family event,` Abbruzzese said.
Michael Ermides, owner of Aromi d’Italia, said he is hopeful to repeat last year’s success ` best stew and most creative soup ` but he acknowledged that the event will be fun regardless of the outcome.
`We’re taking it all in good fun,` he said. `I’m letting my chefs get creative.`
He said the opportunity to come out and meet the residents and other competitors is another reason the restaurant will be participating, and he is excited for the event.
The judging will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the event’s attendees. There will be apple picking, live music, an inflatable bounce house and a crate maze, according to information from the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce.
Carmine Spiro, a local chef and television personality, will also be on hand to help judge the soups.
It is $5 per person entry for soup sampling, and spectators can enter the car show free. There will be a $10 fee to enter a vehicle. The gates will open at 10 a.m., and the contest starts at 11 a.m. The first 50 entrants will receive a dash plaque and swag bag, and all vehicles entered receive a ticket for Souped Up. The awards presentation will be at 2 p.m.“