Soup it up

The best bowls in town

Cassandra McKnight

Thai pumpkin and coconut soup at Scarborough Fare received top marks.

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The best bowls in town.

Thai pumpkin and coconut soup at Scarborough Fare

While Scarborough is more usually associated with icecream, we discovered this beachside café does a good version of Thai pumpkin soup. The generous serving was creamy, piping hot and delicious. Chilli flakes and slices of shallots added oomph and two long slices of crusty bread had us craving more. A bowl of golden sunshine to enjoy while watching the waves roll in and people promenading. What earthquake?

A winter classic, served with rounds of wholesome home-style brown bread. After applying seasoning to banish any blandness, this creamy take on a much-loved soup shone. While we prefer a more rustic, chunky soup, this version is still worth checking out when sandwiches just won't do.

This authentic coriander and pork wonton soup didn't look very pretty, with soft, white wontons floating in an opaque liquid. But appearances are deceptive, and the wonton packages had just the right amount of coriander to give a delicate, peppery flavour that complemented the pork perfectly and perked up what might otherwise have been a somewhat bland meal. A smattering of bean sprouts, mostly at the bottom of the container, added extra zing. Next time, though, we will stir the soup immediately to mix them in properly.

This soup was a tasty gut-buster, without the tentacle factor that puts some fussy eaters off seafood soup. Delicious chunks of fleshy fish, mussels and bacon flavoured the mix, while potato and carrot balanced the oh-so-creamy liquid. A sprinkling of croutons replaced bread. Staying hot right until the last spoonful, this hearty soup served in a bowl almost as big as your head left us in need of a nap afterwards. Available in starter and main portions.