Home for the Holidays: Enjoying a Warm and Cozy Lunch with My Big Kid

Last Friday was a half-day for my kiddos. Since the high school gets out earlier than the elementary school and doesn’t serve lunch on these shorter days, I asked my big kid to meet me at Panera Bread, or what we call St. Louis Bread Co. here in the Lou.

Both my son and I are huge fans of soup, and no one does soup like Panera. We got to the restaurant around noon and the place was packed, as it often is, which to me is a sign of a place that is top notch. Despite the crowd, we were lucky enough to snag two cozy chairs next to the fireplace.

We got in line to order and believe it or not, my big kid decided to order the Big Kid Grilled Cheese and Chicken Noodle Soup as a “you pick two” option. This is no ordinary grilled cheese- made with a blend of gruyere, white cheddar and organic American cheese and topped with Applewood smoked bacon! 

I decided on the Vegetarian Creamy Tomato soup with Asiago Croutons and French Baguette on the side.

Oh I tell you- this soup is divine! Creamy, tomatoey goodness with a hint of spiciness at the end of each spoonful. Although this is a cream based soup, I feel good eating it on occasion since it is so concentrated with tomatoes and good-for-you seasonings.

We sat next to the fire, chatting about things that we otherwise may not get the chance to talk about…upcoming final exams, a possible mission to Mars, and something called the cinnamon challenge (this topic spawned from the huge cinnamon roll that he conned me into getting him for dessert).

The soup warmed and nourished our bodies, but the time spent one-on-one with my big kid warmed and nourished my heart.

Question: What is your favorite Panera soup?

Disclosure: As part of the DailyBuzz Food Tastemaker program, I received a stipend and gift card to try soups from Panera Bread. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

until next time...