Hearty soups nourish the body and comfort the soul.

“Diets come and go, but for comfort, people are creatures of habit and always come back to food that connects with pleasant memories.” - Chef Glen Rhynes

The dictionary tells us the word “comfort” means, “a state of physical well being, things that make life easy or pleasant, to sooth and console.” Therefore, it follows that comfort foods make us feel good.

    Chef Glen Rhynes of The Brownstone Café in Fullerton's historic Villa del Sol has the knack of cooking up food that nourishes the body and comforts the soul. For the past 10 years, Glen and his wife, Kim, have nurtured food lovers who flock to the Brownstone in search of soup  “just like mom used to make.” Any day of the week you'll find their tree-shaded patio or quiet indoor café filled with the movers and shakers in town looking for a respite from the hustle and bustle of life beyond Harbor Boulevard.

    Of course, mom (or grandma) never made soups quite like Glen's famous Secret Recipe Tomato Basil Bisque or Almond Pumpkin Soup. Accompanied by a crusty slice of peasant bread, both soups make excellent appetizers or tummy-filling entrees. Many hostesses take advantage of the Brownstone's catering service and order quarts of soup to serve as a prelude to an elegant dinner party or cozy Sunday lunch.

Comfort food craze
    Chef Glen believes that the current craze for comfort foods has been fueled by the sense of unease that has become more prevalent throughout the country in recent years. “In times of stress, people just naturally seek out things that make them feel better. Food brings back pleasant memories - sitting down at the family table and talking and eating stick-to-the-ribs peasant food, meat and potatoes with gravy, fried chicken and corn, hearty beef stew and, always, soup.

    “I come from a large family and eating together at the end of the day was a way for us to keep in touch,” he says.
    Noting that many families today don't sit down at the dinner table on a regular basis, the chef says,  “In contrast to fast food, you have to sit down to really enjoy comfort food. Can you imagine eating meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy while driving the freeway? No way. You have to sit down to savor the different textures and flavors.”

    Now, with winter about to give Southern California a taste of cool weather, Glen knows that his regular Brownstone customers expect Almond Pumpkin Soup, which is served from Thanksgiving through January 31. Glen says the soup is easy to make, and he graciously shares his recipe with us.

Try something new    
    Getting children to taste something new is one of Glen's greatest joys, and he says it's amazing how many kids like his Tomato Bisque or Almond Pumpkin Soup. A good way to introduce new foods to children and adults alike is to try The Brownstone's new Sampler Plate, which features a choice of 1 each from a selection of 3 soups, 3 salads and 3 half-sandwiches. Non-soup eaters in search of comfort will find solace in Glen's California Alfredo Penne Pasta or Chicken Florentine Pizza.

    And what is Glen's favorite meal? 

    “Easy,” he says. “A cup of Tomato Bisque with a Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich.”  Now, that's REAL comfort food. H&O

    Entertaining writer Dede Ginter of Fullerton is a regular contributor.

Almond Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin mixture:
3 cups hot water
1/4 lb. cream cheese
2 - 29 oz. cans of pumpkin
2 T sugar
2 tsp  salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Roux mixture:
3 T  butter
3 T  flour
1 cup  half & half cream

Heat and whip hot water with cream cheese. Add pumpkin, sugar, salt, pepper and cinnamon.

Make roux (thickening agent) separately. In a small pan melt butter and slowly add flour.

Add roux to pumpkin mixture. Reduce heat to 140 degrees and add half & half. Mix slowly until blended. Garnish with slivered almonds or toasted pumpkin seeds. Serves 6 to 8. This soup also can be made ahead of time and frozen.

The Brownstone Café is located at 305 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton. Visit the café online at brownstonefood.com.