Reader here, and today was maybe the first day this year that truly felt like Fall.

It was cloudy and gloomy, rainy and cold. Just not the nicest day to be outside. One of those days when you just want to stay inside, curled up underneath a blanket, and stay cozy and warm.

When I got home from work this afternoon, I thought for a second about what to have for lunch. Then, after considering th kind of day its been, the choice was easy…

Oh my goodness, was it good. And I did two things with lunch that I’d never done before. Firstly, I made my grilled cheese with sourdough bread. It toasted up perfectly, stayed crispy, and didn’t get soggy (the worst thing to happen to a grilled cheese!). And secondly, for the first time ever, if you can believe it, I dunked the sandwich into my bowl of hot tomato soup. So good!

I know a lot of people read that and think, “What’s the big deal – I do that all the time!” I don’t do that. I’ve always eaten my grilled cheese with ketchup. But I may be a new convert. Delicious.

The funny thing is, even though I don’t mind soup here and there, I’ve never been a huge soup guy, per se.

As I get older, I’ve become more adventurous when it comes to food. I’m more willing to try different things.

Like borscht! It’s not something I grew up eating, but I do enjoy a good bowl of borscht.

I love Vietnamese food, and a bowl of pho always goes down like gangbusters.

Japanese ramen? Also delicious. Even a simple bowl of Sapporo Ichiban hits the spot perfectly sometimes. (Also, the Sapporo Ichiban commercials that ran on TV when I was a kid are burned into my brain!)

Cue the nostalgia!

What is is that is so comforting about a good bowl of soup?

It’s funny how a good bowl of soup can instantly make everything feel a bit more relaxed? There’s a gentle magic in the way it steams up your glasses, fills the room with comforting aromas, and warms you up from the inside out. Whether it’s a classic homemade chicken noodle, a hearty vegetable beef, a can of Chunky, or a creamy bowl of tomato soup with that tasty grilled cheese sandwich on the side, each spoonful seems to whisper, “Take it easy.”

My favourite soups? Tomato would be #1 but I enjoy a good chicken noodle as well.

And my favourite underrated soup? The cheddar broccoli soup at Quizno’s! Frickin’ delicious. Haven’t had it forever, though I guess that’s what happens when there seems to be virtually none of those restaurants left in the province.

Ultimately, soup is more than just a meal; it’s a moment of tranquility, inviting us to slow down and savour life’s simple pleasures.

The next time you’re in need of a little R&R in your own home, or need to warm the cockles from the inside on a cold day, consider reaching for that trusty pot and ladle. Scoop up some soup, and relax with a big bowl!