Nada Butternut Squash Soup

I love this city. And I wouldn't be here without my job, which I also love. And outside of being passionate about the work I do and the organization I work for, I'm also completely honored and delighted by the ridiculously wonderful people I work with.

We have good times in the office, but every few weeks my team manages to break away to have lunch. We always have important concepts to brainstorm, or changes to gossip about, and we also always have fun. Nothing like a change of scenery to change the conversation.

Today was a good walk'n'talk'n'lunch: We went to Nada (so, the walk part of it was not so much) and I had one of my favorite soups in Cincinnati. I thought maybe the jerks I work with would also have some soup in deference to the fact that it is Soupruary, after all, but these nonobservant Soupruarians got tacos.

 Lemme tell you, babes: they missed out. This smooth, dreamy soup is perfectly squashy, and the crema, pepitas and green onion garnish work in tandem to enhance the squashiness rather than pull the taste buds in other directions. I've experienced this bowl many a time over the years, but today I tried something different.

You guys, I dipped a chip. I DIPPED. A CHIP.

You think you know what this means, but I assure you I was wholly unprepared for the consequences. I took a bite and instantly knew it was greater than the combination of two parts. Here's the real equation:

Nada chip + Nada butternut squash soup = Cap'n Crunch

Like STRAIGHT UP Cap'n Crunch. Unmistakably Cap'n Crunch. It blew my mind. I forced it upon two of my coworkers (and when you share soup, you're FRIENDS), and at least one of them agreed.

Another of them had never had Cap'n Crunch, so she assumed it would taste like "soup and a chip." So I guess we all know what she's getting for Valentine's Day.

So yeah, I ate soup again. It was a great idea and I felt happy about it all day. And I'm trying to convince myself that's really what Soupruary is all about. If you're in Cincinnati and haven't experienced the taste of this luxurious soup that is probably terrible for you but tricks you into thinking you're making healthy choices...I say it's the best reason to go to Nada. And also I went to see If/Then at the Aronoff tonight and I cried through the entire second half, and since Nada is adjacent to the theater, you can go eat nada and then go feel todo.

Postscript: After lunch we made a stop at the best ice cream shop in town, Hello Honey, for some frozen dessert soup. I got my brown butter caramel topped with a toasted marshmallow because I'm an indulgent monster.

My angelbaby coworkers decided on no marshmallows and I assume they've regretted it all day.