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Giveaways

CLOSED My Zoup! review and giveaway: Have a soup – or two, or three! :-)

shared by MickyN | 70 Comments

Update: This Zoup location has closed.

There’s nothing better to warm you up on a cold fall day than a bowl of soup. Piping hot and enticing, it is a bowl of heaven to those of us who are in need of nourishment and comfort. Caressing aromas fill up the air, great flavor expectations fuel up the appetites – all in all, it is the perfect setting for gourmands and gourmets alike. I am not a fan of soup in the summer, but during the cold season, soup becomes my usual go-to-lunch and dinner option. Give me a delicious soup and a glass of milk, and they’ll keep me warm and thankful forever 🙂

As a big fan of fall soup flavors, I couldn’t be happier when I was contacted by Zoup! recently to taste some of their soups and bread boules and to host a giveaway. Zoup! is a chain of fast-casual eateries that offers twelve fresh soups daily as well as salads and sandwiches. Customer top soup picks include chicken potpie, lobster bisque and vegetarian split pea, but you can find your own favorite by sampling the soups before you order. You can have your soup served in a bowl or in a bread boule – as a matter of fact, Zoup! is renowned for their sourdough boules, which are brushed with extra virgin olive oil, topped with savory seasonings, and then toasted. To celebrate the arrival of the cold season, Zoup! is offering three special bread boules: Italian herb, olive oil & sea salt and parmesan garlic.

My friend Marina and I visited the Zoup! restaurant on Washington & Wells (one of the two Zoup! locations in downtown Chicago) on a chilly October afternoon. The light was poor and the weather was unfriendly outside, but once we stepped inside the restaurant, we felt at ease. The space was well compartmentalized and the cosy ambiance was charming.

A quick look at the menu and I realized things were getting serious: I was about to choose from among 12 soup varieties! Good range of options indeed:

These are just some of the soups they had available for us to try that day:

With so many options on the table, I thought it was great that Zoup! gave customers the chance to sample the soups before committing to any one in particular. After sampling several, I settled for the overstuffed bell pepper variety, and had it served in an Italian herb bread boule.

This soup was exactly as I had expected: loaded with bell peppers (one of my favorite veggies ever), carrots and celery, chock-full of ground meat, it provided spoonful after spoonful of consistently delicious and hearty goodness. As for the bread boule, the Italian herb seasoning was spot on – after all, I think you can never have enough oregano on your bread 😉

One look at this soup is all it takes to realize you’re in for a treat. Mmmmmmmm…

Soup #2 I sampled was Zoup!’s famous lobster bisque, served in a parmesan garlic bread boule. Meanwhile, my friend opted for macaroni&cheese served in an olive oil & sea salt boule.

Here’s manager Mariana bringing the dishes to our table:

Right off the bat, I fell in love with the cheesy richness of the parmesan garlic bread boule, whose decadent look made me look forward to the upcoming tasting experience:

Mellow, silky yet light like a dream, the bisque overflowed with big chunks of buttery lobster, which had good texture and was seasoned to perfection. As for the boule, it was gloriously thick, moist and satisfying, with just the right hint of garlicky flavor. It is advisable not to stay away from carbs during the cold season, and that’s exactly what I did: I devoured this bread slowly but surely, and my energy level picked up instantly – just in time to face the cold late afternoon outside.

It was raining heavily when my friend and I left Zoup!, and franchise owner Jim and manager Mariana kindly offered to host us for awhile longer. We really appreciated their gesture, but had to say goodbye regardless. With our bellies full of hearty food and our noses full of soup and bread aromas, we felt ready to conquer the unwavering city weather. We came, we sampled, we devoured – and we will definitely return to this location. After all, soup season has just started 😉

Zoup! is offering Chicago Loves Panini readers the chance to win one of five $25 Zoup! gift cards to try out delicious soups, bread boules and sandwiches this fall.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post and answer the following question: What’s your favorite soup?

Giveaway open to US residents only 18 years of age or older. One entry per person. Deadline for entries is 6PM central time on November 11, 2017. Five winners will be chosen on or around November 12, 2017 by using a random number generator and will have 72 hours to respond to the winner notification email. I reserve the right to pick alternative winners if the original winners do not contact me 72 hours after receipt of winner notification email.

Good luck!

*Disclaimer: Zoup! provided a complimentary tasting of their products to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Comments

  1. Dpham says

    October 27, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    I love the overstuffed peppers soup at Zoup!

    Reply
  2. Tabitha says

    October 29, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    Their pumpkin pie bisque is my favorite!!! I wait for it all year

    Reply
  3. Jeffrey says

    October 29, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    I love soup and feel that there is an occasion for just about any variety. With that said, my favorite is Italian Wedding Soup. We’ve never been to Zoup!, but after looking over their menu I’m gonna make a lunch date with my wife! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    Reply
  4. Pat says

    November 1, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    My favorite soup is New England clam chowder.

    Reply
  5. Kimberly O says

    November 2, 2017 at 9:00 am

    I love the Chicken Pot Pie soup! Put any soup in a boule and I am all over it! Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Sandy H says

    November 2, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    I love traditional chicken soup.

    Reply
  7. Fredrick Pauly says

    November 2, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    Chicken Enchilada Soup

    Reply
  8. Talia says

    November 2, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    My favorite soup is tortilla soup!

    Reply
  9. Char says

    November 2, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    I love clam chowder, I love your blog. Thank you so much!!

    Reply
  10. Joy Q says

    November 2, 2017 at 8:18 pm

    My favorite soup is the lobster bisque.

    Reply
  11. Lori Walker says

    November 4, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    My favorite soup is chicken noodle.

    Reply
  12. Alexandra Y says

    November 4, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    My favorite soup is broccoli cheddar.

    Reply
  13. Danielle says

    November 4, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    I make a cauliflower soup that is pretty amazing.

    Reply
  14. Ann Fantom says

    November 5, 2017 at 12:14 am

    My favorite soup is chicken corn soup

    Reply
  15. kim brooks says

    November 5, 2017 at 12:31 am

    my favorite soup would be cream of crab soup with crackers ! i could eat it every day!

    Reply
  16. Shannon Baas says

    November 5, 2017 at 1:07 am

    I like French onion.

    Reply
  17. Cynthia C says

    November 5, 2017 at 10:40 am

    My favorite is Italian Wedding Soup.

    Reply
  18. Tari Lawson says

    November 5, 2017 at 11:36 am

    My favorite soup is Italian wedding soup.

    Reply
  19. AliceC says

    November 5, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    I like a lot of soups. Maybe a Corn Chowder or a Goulash Soup.

    Reply
  20. Suzanne says

    November 5, 2017 at 12:42 pm

    Cream of broccoli

    Reply
  21. Ashley C says

    November 5, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    I love a delicious taco soup

    Reply
  22. Cassandra says

    November 5, 2017 at 4:03 pm

    I like the Lobster Bisque, Chicken Tortilla, and Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo.

    Reply
  23. kathy Agate says

    November 5, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    I enjoy all warm soups in the winter, but chicken noodle is my favorite

    Reply
  24. frank agate says

    November 5, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    Lentil soup is my favorite

    Reply
  25. Adrienne Gordon says

    November 5, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    I like chicken tortilla.

    Reply
  26. Traci says

    November 5, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    Lobster Bisque and Clam Chowder are my favorite soups!

    Reply
  27. Pat Schwab says

    November 5, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    There are so many choices. I like the chicken pot pie. Thanks

    Reply
  28. Maria S says

    November 6, 2017 at 12:04 am

    I love broccoli chicken!

    Reply
  29. Aaron says

    November 6, 2017 at 2:06 am

    My favorite soup is split pea.

    Reply
  30. Tom Bellamy says

    November 6, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    My favorite soup is vegetable.

    Reply
  31. Tracy Pryor says

    November 6, 2017 at 3:36 pm

    My favorite soup is crab bisque.

    Reply
  32. Susan Smith says

    November 6, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    My favorite soup is chicken noodle.

    Reply
  33. elizabeth miller says

    November 6, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    My favorite soup is bean and ham. Yum!!

    Reply
  34. Kimmy Ripley says

    November 7, 2017 at 1:35 am

    I don’t know… that’s a tough question! Either lobster bisque or clam chowder!

    Reply
  35. Monique Rizzo says

    November 7, 2017 at 5:18 pm

    Brocolli Cheddar is my favorite.
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

    Reply
  36. Erica B. says

    November 8, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    I like tomato soup.

    Reply
  37. susan smoaks says

    November 8, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    right now i really love lentil soup. i eat it almost everyday.

    Reply
  38. Jen R says

    November 9, 2017 at 12:17 am

    I love tomato soups the most. A cream type tomato soup with croutons is wonderful.

    Reply
  39. Lisa V. says

    November 9, 2017 at 1:52 am

    I like a Maryland Cream of Crab soup.

    Reply
  40. Jennifer H. says

    November 9, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    I like cream of broccoli.

    Reply
  41. John H. says

    November 9, 2017 at 11:33 pm

    I like potato soup.

    Reply
  42. Carol says

    November 10, 2017 at 12:11 am

    I like bean soup.

    Reply
  43. amy guillaume linderman says

    November 10, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    i really love broccoli cheese soup….my mouth is watering from your descriptions

    Reply
  44. Janice Crespo says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:00 pm

    I’ve never tried their soup. While they aren’t exactly close to me, they are about an hour or so away near my best friend of 52 years so …. it would make a great place to visit. Hopefully, they carry New England Clam Chowder – my absolute favorite soup!

    Reply
  45. Annmarie W. says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    My favorite soup is cheese broccoli! But I love so many different soups: Italian Wedding soup, baked potato soup, tomato, chicken enchilada soup…

    Reply
  46. Adrianne B says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    My favorite soup is broccoi cheddar!

    Reply
  47. Amber cheras says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Bacon potato soup is my favorite

    Reply
  48. angie w says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    My favorite is roasted broccoli and cheddar or black bean. Thanks!

    Reply
  49. Peggy Rydzewski says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:15 pm

    my homemade cheese potatoes bacon soup.

    Reply
  50. Lynne T says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    My favorite soup is Matzoh Ball.

    Reply
  51. Shauna says

    November 10, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    My favorite soup is the Chicken Pot Pie soup at Zoup! I love this place. It’s a great spot to grab some soup to take home and enjoy. Thanks for the chance!

    Reply
  52. jeremy mclaughlin says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    Favorite is chicken noodle.

    Reply
  53. Angelica Dimeo says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    I have never been to zoup but my favorite soup is tomato bisque

    Reply
  54. Angela Thomas says

    November 10, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    My favorite soup is Taco Soup, so yummy and perfect for fall and winter!

    Reply
  55. Yona Williams says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    I love creamy soups, like broccoli cheese soup.

    Reply
  56. Kelly Skibbe says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:19 pm

    My favorite is french onion soup. I love Zoup!!! There is one near my work in Downer’s Grove and it is so perfect for this time of year!

    Reply
  57. Audra says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:17 pm

    I love broccoli cheese soup

    Reply
  58. KENNETH OHL says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:18 pm

    I love clam chowder

    Reply
  59. Kevin says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:45 pm

    I like tomato soup.

    Reply
  60. Edie says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:52 pm

    I enjoy a nice bowl of French onion soup.

    Reply
  61. meredith says

    November 11, 2017 at 1:24 am

    I really love a good autumn soup or butternut squash

    Reply
  62. Renee Rousseau says

    November 11, 2017 at 1:34 am

    Crab Chowder is my favorite soup! When I make Crab Chowder it is usually more of a potato bisque with Crab to avoid using the heavy cream.

    Reply
  63. Lisa V. says

    November 11, 2017 at 1:54 am

    Cream of broccoli soup – yum!

    Reply
  64. Julie R says

    November 11, 2017 at 2:53 am

    Homemade chicken soup with shells is my favorite

    Reply
  65. kelly woods says

    November 11, 2017 at 3:49 am

    Chicken Noodle yum yum

    Reply
  66. Sheree says

    November 11, 2017 at 4:15 am

    My favorite is broccoli cheese

    Reply
  67. Kurt H says

    November 11, 2017 at 1:35 pm

    I love lobster bisque!

    Reply
  68. Tracy Shafer says

    November 11, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    I love their lobster bisque

    Reply
  69. Ina Fowler says

    November 11, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    I’m a soupaholic love ❤️ all and eat soup everyday!

    Reply
  70. Laurie Emerson says

    November 11, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    My favorite soup is Lobster Bisque.

    Reply

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I have a passion for writing and an appetite for cooking. I love to tell stories about foods, cultures, and people - and I love to eat! Come join me on this delicious foodie adventure! Read More

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