Move over chocolate, adios cheese, wine has a new perfect pairing — Mushroom Soup.
Over 800 people attended the Mushroom Festival’s Soup and Wine Event on Sunday, getting up close and personal with spores in every variety.
The competition heated up with over 300 gallons of mushroom soup from Palettes Restaurant and Lounge of Wilmington, Portabello’s of Kennett Square, Ole Tapas Lounge and Restaurant in Newark, Twelves Grill & Cafe of West Grove, Kennett Square Golf and Country Club, and Kennett Square Inn. Each restaurant’s owner or executive chef put their own twist on the traditional mushroom soup: some stuck with a traditional thick soup, some were sweet while others were smoky, some used a medley of mushrooms instead of just one, while others adorned their soups with unique garnishes like crimini confit, fresh scallions and onion flakes.
In her thirteen years of tallying votes, Mushroom Soup and Wine Festival Coordinator Patti Mancino has never seen a count so close. And, the people’s choice for best mushroom soup of the Brandywine Valley went to… Jackie Losito, Executive Chef of Palettes Restaurant and Lounge. After preparing two batches of 25 gallons of her mushroom soup in her kitchen, she returned to the festival to continue her reign of Best Soup of the Brandywine Valley for a second year in a row.
“I love it. I grew up with the Mushroom Festival, my dad had his car in the parade and I was in the parade when I was little. It’s always been a big thing for us. Mushrooms were always on our table and we just had to do something with the festival,” said Losito.
Palette Restaurant and Lounge’s thin, earthy, soup of roasted button, crimini and a blend of wild mushrooms had a star ingredient which captured my vote — a roasted crimini garnish with a goat cheese and chive filling. This crowd pleaser even won the hearts of attendees who don’t normally like mushrooms and will soon land a starring role on their debut seasonal menu.
Meanwhile, across the tent, sweet blends, crisp whites, and bold reds were poured by area wineries — Flickerwood Wine Cellar, Paradocx Vineyard, Twin Brook Winery, and Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery. This year, Galer Estate, which just opened its Kennett Square tasting room in November, captured the audience’s hearts by winning Best Red and Best White.
This is not the first award this 2008 vineyard has won: their wines have earned numerous regional, national, and international accolades. Seventy percent of their grapes are grown at 700 Folly Hill Road (right behind Longwood Gardens) and the rest of the grapes come from thirty miles of their winery. Their team of experts utilizes the best of old world and new world processes to create a dry, French style to their wines.
“There is an amazing amount of passion and love in our company. We all believe in it and we all have a passion for it. I think it shines,” said Marybeth Tryens, Galer Estate Marketing and Sales Manager. “We’re so appreciative of the support we’re getting from the community and other vineyards. We’re all trying to achieve the same goal and that’s to change the face of Pennsylvania wines.”
Don’t fret if you missed this year’s Mushroom Soup and Wine Tasting, there are only 51 more weeks until the 28th Annual Mushroom Festival!
