Of late we’ve been noticing these kiosks in a number of places in the city, dispensing hot soup for the hungry, or those looking for a healthy snack while shopping. The first place we came across one was in Besant Nagar, close to Spencers Daily while shopping. This time we found one on the OMR, close to all the fruit stalls at the turn off to the link road to the ECR. Both well located to cater to shoppers looking for a light something before heading home to a meal.

What is also interesting is that these kiosks are run by self employed youth, as it proudly states on the signage, and are clean with the soups in stainless steel containers, served out in Styrofoam cups. The portions are decent, come with a spoon, and topped with masala corn flakes. They have Mushroom Soup (in season), Tomato Soup, Banana Stem Soup and so on. That’s the first time I’ve come across Banana Stem Soup. Each cup of soup costs Rs 10 for all flavours.

The quality of the soup is decent, made with the vegetable ingredients and thickened with corn flour. It’s served really hot and is fairly spicy with pepper, and they add on crushed black pepper on top if you want steam coming out of your ears! It’s really good if you have a cold, and want something to clear your nasal passages. You can also be reassured that the serving containers are clean as the Styrofoam cups are disposable. The only thing missing was a trash can nearby to deposit your Styrofoam cup after downing the soup, so we carried back ours in the car to dispose off at home.

So the next time you are feeling hungry in a shopping area, look around. Chances are you’ll come across one of these kiosks, so you can indulge, and still get home for a meal. It’s great during this season, but I wonder what they’ll do as it gets hotter as summer sets in. I can’t think of having one of these spicy, steaming hot soups in summer! One would end up drenched in sweat and looking like you had just emerged from a sauna! Wonder if they have a plan to transform them into fruit juice stalls in summer? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, enjoy!