Presenting Soups

Ideally, there should be a similarity between the character of a soup and the type of bowl in which it is presented. The clarity of consommé calls for a simple, shallow porcelain soup plate to display the sparkling liquid. Broth-based soups are suited to potbellied terrines or rustic earthenware bowls, which double up as baking dishes for bread-thickened soups that are cooked partly in the oven. Opinions differ on whether creamy and puréed soups look more attractive in plain or colored bowls; it is a matter of personal taste.