Soup Class with Fabio Viviani

Having Fun in the Kitchen with Fabio Viviani

Since I blog primarily on food, I've been wanting to broaden my taste buds.  So, yesterday, my mom, sister, friend Ali and I all went to Fabio Viviani's Soup Class at his restaurant Firenze Osteria.  Not only did we learn how to make four fabulously tasting and easy-to-make soups, but we laughed all the way through Fabio's down to earth two hour class.  I've always been a fan of Fabio ever since he competed on Top Chef Season 5, but now that I've been able to witness his "Fan Favorite" personality in person... his hilarious antics and extreme knowledge of food has left me loving him even more.  I can't wait to visit his next class in February, which is all about meat!

Below are the four soups he demonstrated for the class.  I'm a pretty picky eater, but he got me to eat two cold soups and a lobster bisque that I would have never probably tried otherwise.

Gazpacho Soup:  A raw blend of bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes

Lobster Bisque:  A creamy blend of lobster, shellfish stock and fresh vegetables

Fennel Soup with Apples and Herbs: A cold blend of cooked fennel, potatoes and caramelized apples

Heirloom Tomato Soup with Shrimps and Avocado:  A citrusy blend of lemon, tomatoes and shrimp stock

The recipes for all these soups can be found on Fabio's website here.  Fyi, the lobster bisque was blended for us but his recipe online doesn't call for that technique.  After you cook all the ingredients as instructed, take them off the flame and blend in a blender (shell and all), then strain and serve for a creamy version instead!