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Ask Dr. Gourmet

What soup would you suggest?

I'm planning a dinner party, and I would like four courses, soup followed by a small fish, vegetables and pastry dish, followed by duck and then a large cake. My problem is that I don't know what soup to serve. The guests, my family, are quite picky about vegetables. One won't eat garlic or onion, one won't eat tomatoes or capsicum, Most don't like anything too outrageous. I'm out of ideas. Do you have any ideas for the rest of the feast???

Dr. Gourmet Says...

Chilled Cucumber Soup

It really sounds like a feast. Part of the answer depends on what the fish course would be, but if you were going to have a delicate white fish I would start with a stronger soup course like the Spring Bisque. This is a pretty yellow squash soup that has a savory flavor but is not overpowering.

If the fish will be strong, like a tuna, then maybe something delicate like the chilled cucumber.

Either of these might satisfy your "quite picky" guests, but you can also serve the soup course in a demitasse cup. That way it's special, healthier and your family may feel that they can have just a touch of something they may not think they would like. It could be that you surprise them.

Good luck and thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet