Soup, Potage and Consommé

Soup has its origins in the appearance of fire. As soon as man learnt how to boil water, he has dropped meat and vegetables into it, and soup was born. Soup represented a full meal, so it had to be nourishing. It has always followed armies on campaign, there to warm bellies and souls. In the twelfth century, the sope referred to the slice of bread over which the hot stock — based on meat, vegetables, fruits, honey or wine — was poured. This single restorative meal had to sustain men for a full day’s labour.