Soup’s On in the Petoskey Area! What’s Your Favorite?

Growing up, Saturdays during the winter generally meant two things – hours of playing in the snow (after our chores were done) and a bowl of piping hot soup for lunch to warm us up. Sometimes it was tomato or chicken noodle soup casually poured from a can, but more often, it was a big ‘ole batch of soup bubbling on the stove. It didn’t matter what kind it was; Mom assured us we would love her soup, and she was usually right.

These days, I still love to play in the snow, though my days of doing somersaults down the tromped-down hills is long past. And I still go to soup as my warm-me-up meal no matter what I’ve been doing. My tastes, however, have moved away from those canned brands (though they definitely work in a pinch) to freshly made pots of all blends and flavors. After hitting the cross-country or snowshoe trails myself, or watching my kids tackle the downhill slopes that I’m no good at, I have some recommendations for yummy soups to share with those of you who may come to play this winter in the Petoskey Area.

Palette Bistro – Forest Floor Soup

They are famous for it, I’m telling you, it sounds a little odd but it’s amazing. The Forest Floor Soup at Palette Bistro is full of roasted mushrooms, stewed leeks (wild onions), cream and Fustini’s white truffle oil. 

Cream of Tomato Soup – Lake Street Market

Far from the watered-down tomato puree that you may get in some places, Lake Street Market in Boyne City serves up a cream of tomato soup that fills your spoon and pleases your palate. You can actually see the tomato pieces and taste the difference from soups made with water instead of milk. Paired with one of the market’s creatively delicious hot sandwiches – or just enjoyed with crackers – this soup is a treat on a blustery day.

Duck Onion Soup – Cafe Sante

Another great stop in Boyne City is Cafe Sante for their Duck Onion Soup for a different take on ‘French Onion Soup’ that uses a duck broth with gruyere and homemade croutons. 

So, I know it’s a different name, but chili is still soup, right? I hesitated when I heard “cactus” chili, but one taste and I was sold on this filling bowl of goodness sold at Little Bay Gourmet in Petoskey. And yes, there really IS cactus in cactus chili – it adds a touch of sweetness. Check it out and order it “loaded” so you don’t miss out on the cheese, sour cream and onion; it’s a totally indulgent experience for your taste buds. 

Champagne Cream of Mushroom Soup – Toski Sands Deli

Toski Sands, perfectly situated between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, has a Champagne Cream of Mushroom Soup that may have you wanting to lick the bowl. Super creamy and chock full of button mushrooms, this soup is so good that it’s on the menu every day along with chili and chicken noodle.  

Seasonal Favorites from Roast & Toast

No good soup list would be complete without Roast and Toast. This little place in downtown Petoskey has a huge rotation of different soup recipes, so there truly is something for everyone. Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan – you name it – there’s a perfect homemade soup for you, whether it’s potato blue cheese, lemony chicken, or any of the other nearly 140 choices. Want to make yourself or another soup lover really happy? Take them here for a soup flight so they don’t have to choose just one of their daily offerings! Want to know the soups for the day? If you call their main line you can listen to a recording of the soups of the day like you used to do for movie showtimes at the theater.

Lobster Bisque – Postal Market 

New in Alanson is the Postal Market with all sorts of great sandwich, wrap, and salad options. Also you can choose from their soups of the day. So while you might not catch their oh-so-yummy Lobster Bisque that I think about on the daily you might be able to try one of their others like: beef barley, tomato basil bisque, or clam chowder. 

There are certainly other fantastic soups to choose from in our local restaurants and delis, but these are some of my top picks! Whether you’re coming to the Petoskey Area to downhill or cross-country ski, snowshoe or fat-tire bike, or just for a change of scenery, why not warm up with cup or a bowl of soup – it may be as good as your mom used to make.