Valley Independent Sentinel

VIDEO: Crave Takes First Soupstock Prize

by Tina Ugas | May 17, 2010 7:31 am

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Posted to: Ansonia, Shelton

They came in shorts and T-shirts, tie-dyes, sundresses, straw hats and more than a few Birkenstocks.

Woodstock?

Close — Soupstock!

Organized by the good folks of Liquid Lunch, the first-ever Soupstock held Sunday in downtown Shelton was a pitch perfect blend of spring weather, arts and crafts, good music — and soup to die for.

Best of all — it was for a worthy cause.

The money raised Sunday for the Mary A. Schmecker Turtle Shell Fund, which benefits people in the Valley who seek a career using their creative talents. The fund is supervised by the Valley Community Foundation.

The late Mary Schmecker was a ceramics teacher at the Valley Boys and Girls Club for some 35 years.

“The Turtle Fund is trying to build to have money to have artisans from all walks of life teach Valley children their crafts,” said MaryLou Barnstien, Schmecker’s daughter.

Michele Bialek, who owns Liquid Lunch with her husband, Fred, said by 4 p.m. the event had raised about $6,000 through donations and raffle ticket sales.

Crave, the upscale Ansonia restaurant, won the Soupstock prize for best soup. There were about 10 entries in the contest.

The “soup tent” streamed with people tasting steaming samples of soup with flavors like butternut squash, triple corn chowder, Italian tomato soup and the winning soup created by Crave Restaurant, Ansonia, which was black bean chorizo soup.

Crave owner Libby Meissner and chef Fabian Delgado made a black bean chorizo concoction. Crave received 375 votes out of 1,200 tallied, winning by an eight-vote margin.

Meissner said that she served more than eight gallons of soup at the festival.

“It was for a good reason because I want to give back to the community. It’s not all about taking,” Meissner said.

The arts were very much on display at the event.

Steve DiRienzo, vice-president of Valley Arts Council, displayed his oil paintings along with work from Valley Art Council students.

“I think it’s a fantastic crowd and a great turnout that benefits both organizations,” DiRienzo said.

Ansonia resident Karen Green said the festival was a surprise for her and her family.

“We just drove by and saw the cars, came in and decided to stay. It’s a great time with some great people and really good music. It’s definitely awesome,” Green said.

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