To tell fibs for a soup recipe

[Soupreme]

Last week I was out for my works Xmas lunch. Overall the lunch was pretty decent, but the starter, lentil soup, was out of this world. It was the most amazing soup I've ever tasted! Seriously I almost cried.

The past week I've thought about the soup every night, thinking of how i can get my hands on the recipe.

If I simply phone the restaurant and say OMG your soup was amazing please give me the recipe I'm certain they'll say no.

Is it wrong to say I had a funny reaction to the soup please give me a list of all the ingredients (preferably with quanitites)?

Or could I say I'm coming to your restaurant and I have funny allergies what's in your lentil soup exactly?

Help I need this recipe! The restaurant is a long drive from my work and home so DH will be like I'm not driving ☓ miles for a bowl of soup.

If I don't get this recipe I will regret it forever. Santa if you're up there i take back my request for Dreamgirls tickets please can you get me this recipe!

As it's 'works xmas dinner' season, it could be a veggie lentil soup as it saves the restaurant having to do a veg one and a meaty one. If so, my guess is Marigold Bouillon to make the savoury more-ish taste.

Green lentils are quite easy to source as are mung beans, although a hefty blast of chopped Spinach will also give a green colour.

If we don't hear soon, we may have to guess the ingredients

I think chasing it up after a couple of hours over lunch service during peak Christmas lunch season is a little more than desperate.

I'd forget about it until the New Year if anything. Most restaurants are going to be flat out for the next few weeks, but this has made me wonder something - do chefs and restaurants use recipe books, either published ones, or their own written recipes, or is it all in their heads?

I know its a chain but Gino Decampo lists his recipe books on his menu. It is genius because you can buy his food then buy his book. And actually v delicious soup.

PositivelyPERF thanks you're gracious in the face of my smugness. See you there maybe

If you don't call, I might! :-)

Speak to, as in actually ring up and talk to the chef.

That said, I agree with those who point out that they are probably very, very busy right now and not in a position to respond to emails in milliseconds. Patience is a virtue. :-)

PositvelyPERF I hope you get your veg curry recipe. I'm having curry tonight after I discovered the most amazing thing in the supermarket the other day....Onion Bhaji Naan bread!

Barbara I guess it's a little desperate, but it's the Holy Grail of lentil soups. I can't wait until New Year!

Their fb says typically replies within an hour, worth a try?!

Im your shoes, I would go back and order the soup for starters, main and another portion for dessert. At some point, they are bound to remark, then you can tell them how it has changed tour life and see where you go from there.

Just one thing to bear in mind though, unless they are a chain, i doubt they follow a recipe very exactly. I expect they will adjust according to what they have around. Your taste buds will react to the exact same food differently, too. Our local (brilliant) restaurant is always reluctant to server 'the same as last time' because he says it sets people up for disappointment, or comparing which is the thief of joy.

Maybe write it off as a golden moment, better to have loved and lost...

I so much want this recipe too! Write again and tell them you have been telling everyone about their wonderful restaurant.

TheTasteOfInk Thanks for your suggestion. I emailed the FB page so fingers crossed I will have some sort of answer within the hour!

I've got to go and collect DS now, so don't anybody move 'til I get back.

Over-invested much?

I may or may not be placemarking in hope of the recipe appearing...

I'm away out for the next hour so I'm hoping when I get back there will be a recipe in my inbox (wishful thinking much ). The FB message I sent was seen at 15:31, so hopefully whoever read it has sprinted off to find the chef!

The hotel looks lovely.

Might have to pop up to Scotland.

And apparently the soup's alright.

Blatant placemarking with empty soup bowl ..

@crackerjacket Technically it’s called Turkey Feast soup, it’s an M&S tub soup they do in association with Shelter - I think 10p from each pack goes to charity.

It’s turkey, potato, parsnip, pork, sage and onion stuffing balls in a soup that tastes like turkey gravy.

I know it’s preprepared but this time of the year it’s my favourite lazy lunch - and reminds me of the soup DH and I usually make the day or two after Boxing Day.

(I may stir a spoonful of cranberry sauce into it too once I’ve warmed it. Please don’t judge!)

I've brought my spoon. Where is this recipe then?

GeekyWombat

That sounds awesome!

Not in the UK unfortunately but I might try to recreate at home

Mmmmm...my mum used to make a lovely lentil soup! 'Twas orange, though!

We need to love bomb the FB page till they relent(il)

Could it be green split pea instead of lentil? Makes a lovely green soup....

I'm half inclined to take the recipe by force - with a crusty french stick for a sword and a rustic sourdough loaf as my shield. Who's with me!!

I totally would, but Scotland is too far! I'll fight a rearguard attack from my PC.