A soup I created this time last year when I was living in Scotland was picked up by New Covent Garden Soup Company for their Suitable for Vegetarians theme. For those of you who don't know New Covent Garden are one of the largest companies in the U.K that creates and markets fresh soups for the supermarkets. Fro the past few years, they have been encouraging the public to submit some of their favourite recipe creations.
So may I present to you one of my soup recipes that is being featured by the New Covent Garden Soup Co. for the September month edition. It is Butternut Squash and Black Turtle Beans with Jalapeno Peppers. The soup hit the supermarket shelves early this month.
I have displayed some cartons of the soup in the chiller at work both for sale and as means of promotion for the veggie cafe, but to be truthful, having my name on the carton has not brought me : any extra hits on either of my blogs; extra customers to my vegetarian cafe Hunky Dorys; or local media attention. It truly has come and gone and had I not mentioned it here, perhaps you my lovely readers would not know about it too. Anyway, it's still something to smile about on the inside, I mean how often do you see your name in print and in a positive light?!
Oh Wow, Shaheen. That is so exciting. Can't believe the local press haven't been asking you about it. I am going to go and buy it as soon as possible.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think their commercial version of your soup tastes?
Well they have added wheat flour to it and I personally found it a little sweet too.
DeleteShaheen, that's amazing! You should be shouting it from the roof tops! I have been having that soup once a week for lunch! I like their potato and leek soup but am always pleased when their "special" is a vegetarian option. I am sure I looked at the bit about the originator but did not twig it was you. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWell congratulations - a great achievement. Maybe you should have told us at the beginning of September and we could all rush out and buy it.
ReplyDeletePS send out a press release to local newspapers especially the free ones about local vegetarian cafe owner's recipe being picked up by this soup company... Seriously - get some positive publicity!
ReplyDeleteThat is brilliant! Congratulations! I will definitely have to try that recipe. Hope the cafe is going well.
ReplyDeleteThat is exciting! Did you get any payment for the recipe, or any commission on the sales? Even if not, it's still pretty cool. I will look out for it.
ReplyDeleteNope nothing at all, just my name on the carton :) Still as you say 'pretty cool'
DeleteIf I could find it in supermarkets in the Netherlands I would buy it! Congratulations! You never know what it will bring in the long run...
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, yes I agree you never know what it will bring in the long run - lets wait and see :)
DeleteThis is just soooo cool! Congrats to you, you should be proud. So wish that I could come to your place, perhaps some day. All of the foods that you show look just wonderful. Take a breath and enjoy the moment.
ReplyDeleteI love that piece of advice 'Take a breath and enjoy the moment' Thank you so much x
DeleteThat is FANTASTIC!!! Well done you!!!
ReplyDeleteI may have to have a go using your recipe as I'm having a ridiculously frugal month this October :)
Enjoy that smile on the inside, and I am glad you let us know!
Janie xx
Thanks Janie
DeleteWell done you! I gave up entering soups a long time ago. Now I must peer at a cartoon for a look at you not as a cartoon character x
ReplyDeleteHaha - yeah now you can look at my cheesy smile :)
DeleteWow! I'm very fond of The New Covent Garden Soup Company and just hope it's not too late for me to lay my hands on one of your creations. I've never heard of Black Turtle Beans but I like butternut squash so I'm sure it will not disappoint. It's a shame you haven't profited in any way from it.
ReplyDeleteWow, congratulations! That is a lovely accomplishment. I admit I would not have known if you hadn't told me, but it's a great story for you to tell. Go on, brag a little! :)
ReplyDeleteFame!! You deserve it too! How exciting!
ReplyDelete(Have you thought of contacting your local papers/other media to ask them to do a feature on your soup and your exciting cafe? I'm sure they'd be interested if they realised they'd overlooked the culinary star right on their doorstep!)
Thanks Sooz.
DeleteThat's terrific.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh - I had no idea you were so busy with the cafe or the soup. THat is super doooper cool. Wish I could buy it as I love all your recipes!
ReplyDeletecongratulations shaheen - it seems like a great achievement even if you haven't had the energy to feel excited - you seem to be gradually building up an impressive cv of foodie achievements.
ReplyDeleteI think you should follow Warhol and blow up a picture of the carton that you can frame and put on the wall of your cafe - it would be a great conversation starter!
What a fab idea Johanna, may just do that.
DeleteWow! Sounds delicious - I love squash with a bit of a chilli kick! I think you should shout about your achievement a bit more - send a note to your local paper about it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Shaheen, I think it will be a big hit.
ReplyDeletewOw that's brilliant and a great accolade for your culinary CV!
ReplyDeleteI did see it in my local supermarket the other day and would have bought it, had I not planned to make my daughter's favourite French Onion soup:
will definitely have to pick up a carton now
^_^
Thats a great achievement ....shame you couldn't have capitalised on it more.
ReplyDeleteI will give the recipe a go and look out for you in the shops!
i wrote a long comment via my phone, no idea if it stuck:( thus in fewer words; this is pretty darn awesome news, gazillion congrats to you!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry did not get that comment, would have loved to have read it, but yoru comment of 'pretty darn awesome news, gazillion congrats to you!!!' is just as great to read. Hope your well x
DeleteCongratulations Shaheen. When I lived in London NCGS were once of my clients and whenever I went to visit them they'd give me heaps of soup to take home. As a result they were my favourite client. Hope you are justifiably proud I think its great your on a soup carton.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great achievement - definitely something to be proud of! I might even go and buy some. Although I am not a vegetarian your soup sounds like one Iwould enjoy. Maybe I'll make something akin to it with my Cherokee beans.
ReplyDeleteWould be good with Cherokee bean I'm sure. I am so envious of your home grown produce this year, my growing attempts as you know have halted suddenley, maybe next year I will be able to pick up some aspect of it.
DeleteShaheen, you are awesome! I love you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Torwen
DeleteI think it is flippin awesome that someone is making your soup!!!! Thanks for sharing such great news! :)
ReplyDeleteWell, how exciting is that? It is a real shame it hasn't bought you benefits yet, but you never know - these things have a habit of taking their time. I am sure something will come of it at some point. Well done.
ReplyDeleteWow.....well done Shaheen, why were you not singing from the rooftops about this.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I never look in the packet soups bit of either the shelves or fridges, as I make my own soup, sometimes to your recipes, so this would have passed me by had you not let us know.
WELL DONE.
I'm going to look out for your packs next time I'm in the supermarket, I only hope they haven't all sold out already.
Sue xx
Oh wow - that's fantastic news. You should shout it out hun - well done!!! x
ReplyDeletewoah Shaheen that's brilliant. You have to blow your own trumpet sometimes and I shall now be scouring the shelves in the supermarket to try your soup. Well done lovely x
ReplyDeleteHuge Congratulations Shaheen..what an honor and what a success. I also think it is a lovely photo and believe you deserve every recognition for your recipe. One thing always leads to another...
ReplyDeleteGreat news!
You like my cheesy smile then. :) Hope your well.
DeleteI went to the supermarket today and there was your soup! Naturally I bought it. I'll let you know what I think when I try it for lunch tomorrow :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Shaheen....I certainly would not have heard of this great feat had you not mentioned it.Being in the states I don't think I'll be seeing your smiling face in my market.....but give it a little time Fame is a strange thing. It is known to hit you over the head just when you think it has passed you by.With all that you've got going on now I see great things coming your way. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other ever day and your bound to go far.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hobbit, much appreciated.
DeleteWow, Shaheen.... That is so cool! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coup Shaheen, I'm really pleased for you and it's very well deserved. Send out a press release to your local rag toute de suite and get them to feature you and your cafe.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you!!! That is an accoplishment and you should tell about it!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you , you should be proud of your accomplishment!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting! Congratulations! Since you are based in the UK and have ties to the soup industry, I will reveal to you my idea for "stock in a box." It's like boxed wine, but with vegetable stock, so you can use a little or a lot and not have the rest of it go bad. Feel free to pass it along to The New Covent Garden people!
ReplyDeleteYey you must be really chuffed, well done x
ReplyDeleteHi Shaheen, I left a comment when I first read this post last week but it's not here. And I've never known one of your posts not to have at least a dozen comments so is blogger working ok on that front at the moment?
ReplyDeletecheerio for now, N
Congratulations Shaheen. I think that is brilliant. Wish I lived nearer so I could try it in the cafeteria - will make it myself or try to find it at the supermarket instead. Marian
ReplyDeleteWell, I knew I recognised the name but didn't put 2 and 2 together!
ReplyDeleteI bought this soup and had it for my lunches last week at work! Congratulations - it was delicious!
Hi Shaheen,
ReplyDeleteHave seen your soup now a couple of times-one of my colleagues had brought it to work so I told them to visit Hunky Dory’s and meet the original!! Was also in Usk yesterday and the local Spa supermarket which carries the range of Covent Garden soups had sold out of yours!!
Hi Shaheen, I'm so behind reading people's blogs but how wonderful to find your latest post and read of your soupy success. This is such an exciting achievement so well done you . I can appreciate with you being so busy that you feel the moment has passed to shout about it but you never know, publicity could still follow later if it is a good seller for Covent Garden. Needless to say I will be on the look out for it in Morrisons next week. It will also be a great promotional item to have in your portfolio if you approach any other food producers in the future.
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Sally x
I am eating/drinking your soup as I type, it is AMAZING! I gave in and bought the NCG one in the end, it is yummy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't tell Jonny what flavour it was (I knew he wouldn't like it from the name!) he loves it too :)
Well done you!
Janie x
Oooh that's exciting. Well done. Am sure it will be a hit in the cafe.
ReplyDeleteWow that is totally amazing, well done! I shall certainly be looking out for this next time I'm at the shops. x
ReplyDeleteThis is great!!!! I'm going to go and buy some after work immediately! Well done! :)
ReplyDelete