Owner Abby Duke met us at the tiny Riverside Ave outpost of Sugarsnap at 10am last Friday, just as they were opening for the day. We arrived in full winter gear, with the tinier (and messier) two of our three kids. We were like a traveling circus, but we felt welcomed and right at home as we settled in at the little table in the far corner of the place to try out the day’s soups. Sugarsnap does a lot of catering in the area, and I’d had (and loved) their sandwiches and cookies and casseroles, but somehow I’d never paid much attention to their soups. I must have been insane. I don’t know why everyone in Burlington isn’t eating soup from Sugarsnap for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
We tried Kale with White Beans and Spicy Sausage, Sweet Potato Chipotle made with local sweet potatoes, and Split Pea with Ham. Our five year old guy ate all of the spicy sausage out of the first bowl, then devoured the rest of it including the kale before mortifying us by asking for another bowl (which he received, and finished). I managed to get a few spoonfuls though, and can say that the sausage was indeed spicy, the beans were sweet and the kale was perfectly cooked, not the tiniest bit tough or mushy. Hearty and delicious.
The Sweet Potato Chipotle was Sam’s favorite, and mine. Smooth, buttery, with the perfect amount of heat, it’s just dreamy stuff. Breakfast, lunch and dinner delicious, seriously. But the real surprise was the Split Pea and Ham. our (almost) two year old girl took a bite, then scooted up to the table and put her arm around the bowl like she wanted to hide it from the rest of us. She ate it. All of it. She ate that soup like it was her job. Every time one of us came toward it with a spoon she growled at us. We got another bowl just so we could taste it, and I’m so glad we did. Salty, a little chunky just the way I like it, with generous ham bits, it was absolutely the perfect thing for lunch on a winter day. Did I mention that at Sugarsnap soup is always served with house made bread? I could have sat there all day eating. I just may go back and do that someday.
Here’s what you need to know. They serve 40 gallons of soup a week from this location alone. There are 3 locations, conveniently targeting the Burlington population and it’s visitors. If you’re in the area you should stop in for lunch as soon as you can, and while you’re there pick up some soup by the quart (you can get it refrigerated or frozen) for dinner! I can’t wait to do this. They also have great casseroles, sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cookies and other sweets. If you’re just passing through this is a great place to stop and grab lunch on the go. They usually have two or three soups everyday including a vegetarian option. There’s not a lot of space to eat inside, and it is first and foremost a take-out joint, but the seating is cozy and pleasant, and we were comfortable with two small children and lots of gear.
Most importantly, our kids loved the soup and have been asking for it ever since. Speaking of which, I’m totally going back today to see if they have any more Split Pea by the quart. It’s snowy and cold, and I don’t feel like cooking tonight.
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