The leaves are starting to turn and the air is getting chillier so it can mean only one thing in Guilderland: It’s time to slurp some soup.
About a dozen soups will be showcased during the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual Souped Up on Guilderland event Saturday, Oct. 4, at the YMCA Adventure Camp. The community event features an assortment of soups from local restaurants. People are invited to sample the soups and then vote for their favorites across a few categories. An antique motor vehicle show will also held on site, featuring classic cars, trucks, hot rods, customs and motorcycles.
• What: Souped Up on Guilderland
• When: Saturday, Oct. 4
• Where: YMCA Adventure Camp in Guilderland
• How much: Free for car show, $5 to sample soups
• Info: www.tasteofguilderland.com.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with soup starting to be served at 11 a.m. The car show is free to attend, but there is a $5 admission to sample all the soups.
“Nobody has any soup contest really around here,” said Guilderland Chamber President Erika Gauthier. “It is a family-orientated event, and we have people that will come just for the car show, but then they will come though the soup line and realize how much fun it is.”
Attendees can also meet with representatives from local businesses to learn about their products and services.
A new element this year is official Souped Up event bowls sold for attendees to fill up with hot soup all winter long. This is the second year the event has been held at the YMCA site located on Route 155 near Farnsworth Middle School.
Event attendance has grown over the years, but the weather still plays a large role in how many cars show up.
“If it is a nice day around 700 people will come out,” said Gauthier. “We have had it on rainy Saturdays before; the car show does not turn out great, but the soup always goes over well.”
People can stay dry under the pavilion though while tasting soups, which over the years have had some unique entries. One of the award categories is for most unique soup.
Confirmed participating restaurants include Mio Vino Wine Bar & Bistro; Grandma’s Pies and Restaurant; Juicy Burgers and More; Tango Restaurant, Bar & Grill; Scenario´s at Best Western Albany Airport Inn; and Mr. Subb. Gauthier said there could be more confirmed before the event.
Grandma’s has been a crowd favorite, said Gauthier, with its cream of turkey soup often taking the title of best soup.
Dave Houle, owner of Grandma’s, said he likes to decorate his table, which is fitting for a restaurant that’s known for its extensive festive decorations. At the restaurant, said Houle, the cream of turkey soup is sold “by the quarts.”
“You think everybody would know us being around so many years, but there is a lot of people that don’t know us,” he said, “but they find the soup and find us.”
Houle also tends to bring a treat to offer people alongside his soup.
“We have the pumpkin bars with an orange glaze on top … it is very nice,” he said.
Prizes for soup entrants are typically awarded about a half hour before the event ends and the car show will close around noon so there is enough time to tally up ballots.
If there are some last-minute soup entrants interested in participating, email [email protected] or call 456-6611 for information. Anyone can also visit the event’s website at www.tasteofguilderland.com.