Soups

There are few moments more rewarding than when you come back into the house after planting plump flower bulbs on a brisk, sunny fall afternoon. And there are few lunches more heartily enjoyed on such a day than a steaming bowl of Rich Creamy Tomato Soup with cheddar and fontina grilled cheese sandwiches. For a spiced up version, lightly sprinkle ground cloves into the soup (like Sharon's grandmother) and spread a thin layer of fig and ginger jam on to artisan peasant bread before grilling the compound cheese sandwiches. You'll be all set to get back outside and finish planting bulbs in anticipation of a glorious spring garden!

Featuring organic, multi-ethnic cuisine, the internationally-known Nora opened in 1979 and has been praised for its delicious, high quality food and healthy approach to eating. Nora’s second restaurant, Asia Nora, serves uniquely interpreted dishes from across Asia using organic ingredients. In April 1999, Nora became the first certified organic restaurant in the country: this is living proof that one can successfully run an upscale restaurant that is good for you and for the environment.

We just adore corn chowder. This savory bacon-enriched version is a particular favorite over the winter when we dive into our coveted stash of precooked frozen Corn kernels. (To prep the Corn for winter soup making, cook the cobs for 5 minutes, dip them in an ice bath, remove the kernels from the cobs, scraping down to catch as much of the Sweet Corn "milk" as possible. Freeze the corn in 2 cup portions in airtight freezer bags.)

Per Se, the highly anticipated restaurant from renowned chef Thomas Keller, opened February 2004 in Columbus Circle’s Time Warner Center complex. Through his latest culinary enterprise, Keller brings his distinctive hands-on approach from Napa Valley’s The French Laundry to New York City, reflecting his intense focus on detail, extending not only to cuisine, but to presentation, mood and surroundings.