Fennel, Potato, and Mussel Soup

The recipe for this elegant Catalan soup is adapted from one created by the Michelin three-star chef Santi Santamaría of El Racó de Can Fabes restaurant. To me, its aromas recall blissful walks in the hills above Costa Brava, with the scents of wild fennel and the sea. The velvety fennel cream is delicious on its own, but what really transforms the soup are the simple but expressive finishing touches: a swirl of delicate olive oil, the tiny croutons, and the fragrant accent of mint. Rather