The world’s flavors are simmering at a new Aspen lunch spot, where an unlikely duo of restaurateurs are ladling up homemade soup to a growing legion of fans.
The Little Soup Shop opened its doors Dec. 20 in a tucked-away spot at the corner of Mill Street and Hyman Avenue. Word-of-mouth and a sandwich-board sign at the top of the stairs are guiding diners to a subgrade courtyard and the shop’s front door. Once they’re inside, the aroma does the rest.
Six days a week, adventure travel writer/soup chef Dez Bartelt and her husband, extreme skier Garret Bartelt, serve up a modest selection of all-organic sandwiches, salads and the main attraction – soups inspired by Dez’s world travels.
There are four soups daily: the chef’s selection, which changes daily; caramelized shallot with apple-smoked Gruyere, a menu mainstay given its popularity; and two varieties that change with the day of the week. On Friday, the chef’s soup was smoked salmon corn chowder, garnished with baby arugula and bits of maple-syrup-drizzled bacon; offered every Friday are green lentil with apple brown butter and roasted poblano cheddar.
