The 2014 MasterChef winner, Bath’s Ping Coombes, is fronting ‘Souper November’, a month long fund raising campaign for local charity Genesis Trust.
The concept is to get people across the city making soup and sharing it with friends in November to raise money for the charity.
It is hoped that families, church and community groups, schools and businesses will take part.
With bonfire night approaching and the nights closing in, soup is the ideal sharing food for this time of year.
Director of Genesis Trust, Paul Solly, explained how the idea emerged. He said: “The inspiration for Souper November comes from our longest running project.
“The Genesis Soup Run began 24 years ago when a Bath resident spotted some young men rifling through a bin in a car park looking for food.
“To ensure they didn’t go hungry, she turned up to the car park the next night with soup and sandwiches, then she involved her friends in it – and from that, the concept developed into what is now our Soup Run, which operates 365 nights a year.
“Operated by volunteer teams from twelve Bath churches, soup and sandwiches are served to at least 30 people a night in the car park next to Hilton Hotel.”
Paul is delighted that Ping has decided to get involved with the charity given that she’s in so much demand since winning MasterChef earlier this year.
She recently joined Genesis volunteers to make her own special ABC Chicken Soup for the evening soup run, using ingredients entirely donated by local businesses (Larkhall Butchers, Hartley Farm Shop and the Thoughtful Bread company).
Serving out the soup as darkness fell in the city centre car park, Ping was able to see at first hand how the service operates.
She said: “It’s humbling to see so many people in Bath have so little and that the soup run is their source of both food and some company.
“They were really appreciative of what was on offer and I’m pleased to see that it runs 365 days a year so that the vulnerable people in Bath are being fed.”
Ping is urging local people to get on board with the campaign. She continued: “I am supporting Genesis Trust Souper November and I hope the people in Bath will too.
“Soup is wholesome, full of goodness and warms the soul. Please join me to support this campaign by holding a soup event with your family, friends and colleagues – the money you raise will be used to support the homeless and the vulnerable in Bath.”
Bath’s leading chefs and local cafes and farm shops are also backing the campaign; award winning chefs Sam Moody of Bath Priory, Chris Staines of Allium, Rob Clayton of Clayton’s Kitchen and Chris Cleghorn of the Olive Tree are among those who’ve donated their favourite soup recipes.
Sam Moody’s Split Yellow Pea and Ham soup is inspired by his nan and Bath based Noya Pawlyn, who has developed a big following for her Vietnamese cuisine, has donated a classic Chicken Pho recipe.
Vegetarian chef Rachel Demuth has shared a delicious Roasted Celeriac and Caraway soup recipe with Kamil Oseka of the Pig at Hunstrete also favouring vegetarian fare with his Garden Beetroot and Horseradish soup.
Cafes and farm shops are also getting involved by donating some of their soup proceeds to Genesis throughout November.
Providing soup and ensuring homeless and vulnerable people have access to food, training and emotional support is at the heart of what Genesis does in its nine projects in the city.
With winter ahead and the numbers of rough sleepers in the city on the increase, the charity needs more money to cope with the rise in demand for its services.
It’s easy to get involved in Souper November – there’s lots of information on the website www.genesistrust.org.uk/souper-november.
It’s also possible to register online and download posters and invitations for your soup making event.
A Virgin Money Giving page is available for donations. The charity is hoping that people taking part will use social media to share recipes and photos of their events.