Hamden hit 'Soup Girl' to open crock-pot for QU

"No soup for you!" is not a statement often made by Jessica Hazan. In fact, it's just the opposite.

Otherwise known as "The Soup Girl," Hazan has been crafting, cooking and delivering soups to the doorsteps and offices of soup lovers throughout the Hamden / New Haven area since January.

Her next stop is Quinnipiac University.

"I'll deliver to anybody," she said. This includes residents of the Hamden/New Haven area, and the Quinnipiac University Campus.

And she's not delivering just any old soup. Many of the ingredients for the homemade soups come from Flowers Farm in Hamden and Tancreti Farm in North Haven.

"I try to use mostly organic ingredients and local," said Hazan. "It's really nice to tell customers where the food is coming from."

Growing up in Queens, NY, Hazan has been concocting soups ever since she spoke her first word - "oup!"

Now all grown up, she's known to locals as "The Soup Girl", utilizing fresh, local, and organic ingredients to craft some tasty and unique soups. Over 30 varieties top the list, from classic comforts like matzo ball and New England clam chowder to the funkier curried coconut vegetables with tofu.

Soups go for $6.00-$7.00 per pint and $11.00-$12.00 per quart-plenty to stretch through a few dinners.

Various Au Bon Pain soups served at Café Q, such as "Tuscan Vegetable" and "French Onion," are seemingly vegetarian, but the nutrition facts state otherwise. Because they are often cooked in a chicken base, they aren't entirely vegetarian or vegan friendly.

This is not so with The Soup Girl. Her customers are guaranteed a vegetarian or vegan friendly soup, as Hazan uses organic vegetable stock.

Soup, she insists, is a complete meal in itself.

"I love sitting down to a big pot of soup and making it a meal," she said.

Her favorite soup is hot and sour.

"I grew up eating it," she said. "And I like mine even better!"

The meal-in-a-bowl is great for the health-conscious college student, especially since it's delivered. Some current clientele include Quinnipiac University alumni and a range of administrators on campus.

"The awareness is growing," said Hazan.

For now, The Soup Girl can be spotted at the Hamden Farmer's Market on Friday afternoons, soup in tow. Starting mid-October, ordering will resume with deliveries being made on Thursdays.

Students can view the weekly menu at thesoupgirl.com, and place orders by sending an email to orders@thesoupgirl.com.