Soup D'etat

You could essentially have a soup revolution.
A soup diet, if you will.
They have the ability to be so versatile. They can be full meals, or just a palette cleanser. It's a beautiful thing, and sometimes underrated, even by myself. Soups can be written off as dumb and boring and simple. But hopefully after reading this you'll think twice. I've only covered Miami, and once in Pembroke Pines. These happen to be my favorite soups in South Florida, they happen to all be South-East Asian, and they happen to be some of the meals i've ever had.

#1

Soup: Soto Betawi

Restaurant: Bali Cafe

109 NE 2nd ave

Miami

This is tops in soup. It's hearty, light, sweet, savory, silky, north, south, east & west. This Indonesian staple makes me want to pack up my things and go. Just so i can have this everyday for breakfast. just a list a few ingredients that have sailed and conquered this soup: lemongrass, scallions, coconut milk, tomato, shrimp chips, beef, onions, sticky rice, candlenuts, ginger, potato. Not to mention the envious shrimp-paste sambal served on the side. This is discovering buried treasure in every bite; and treasure is what i look for in every meal.

#2

Soup: Pho

Restaurant: Pho 78

7849 Pines Blvd.

Pembroke Pines

Not saying this is the only place to get this, but when it's all they serve, they better have perfected it...and they did!

This was actually the first place i had Pho, i was so confused i started eating the "salad" they give you before hand. This salad is actually a plate of culantro, Thai basil, mint, lime, jalapeno and beansprouts that prepares you for the 8th wonder of the world (or at least soon to be): Pho.

Typically made with a variety of meats: Flank, Tendon, Tripe, Marble Brisket, Blood, Crunchy Flank (although you can get seafood (!) and chicken varieties) and you can pick and choose your proteins. (I usually go for the combination with all of them)

It's basically a ginger, clove, anise based broth. fragrant as fuck. Such a light yet hearty soup.

Vietnamese usually eat it for breakfast on the way to work.

Break up the herbs given to you on the side to your liking and finish off each bite with some Hoisin sauce, chili paste, and Fish Sauce. You'll either be applauding or laughing at the simple yet complex notion of this soup.

#3

Soup: Thom Kha Gai

Restaurant: Thai House II

2250 NE 163rd st.

North Miami

To round out the essence of soup. Enter: Thom Kha Gai.

Coconut Milk. Chicken. Mushrooms. Scallions. Sambal. Perfection.

I think they should start serving a straw with this soup, because sometimes the spoon alone does not do it justice. You need to sop up every droplet till the ceramic on the bowl dries out.

Just taste it, and you'll see what I mean.

If you have any Miami soup suggestions, please let me know. I would hate for this to be the first and only edition of Soup D'etat.

VIVA LA BROTH!