It seems like we missed fall, as summer weather quickly transitioned to winter cold. One of my favorite things to do when the temperature drops is to warm up with a delicious bowl of piping hot soup and curl up under a thick blanket with a cozy fire for the perfect end to a cold day.
There's no shortage of delights in Hendricks County, Indiana, when it comes to soup! Local cafes, restaurants and eateries are serving up an impressive selection of soups - from savory, slightly sweet, to spicy and so much more.
Keep warm this season with some of these suggestions.
The Beehive - Potato Bacon Corn Chowder
Hands down, the most popular soup in my local resident poll was Potato Bacon Corn Chowder by the fine folks at The Beehive in Danville.
Red potatoes and bacon in an amazing corn chowder base. Need I say more? What makes this soup a favorite is the flavor. I kind of don't want to know what secret combination of herbs gives it such a distinct flavor. It's hearty and oh so yummy.
The Beehive received votes for two additional soups -- the White Bean Chicken Chili and Chicken and Noodle. Both are delicious, both are super filling. You can't go wrong with either of these options. All soups come with a baguette and are made from scratch each day.
You can catch their "soup of the day" and other specials here on their Facebook page.
Court House Grounds - Dill Pickle Soup
This Dill Pickle Soup, as the title suggests, is no ordinary soup.
Court House Grounds, located on the square in Danville, uses fresh, local ingredients and makes all their dishes in house. Like many locally owned cafes, the soup menu changes daily, and I've heard every single one is a hit.
You'll definitely want to order a bowl of this crowd favorite, but even if you don't see the Dill Pickle Soup on the menu, don't hesitate to try their other soup offerings.
Follow their Facebook page and catch their awesome, daily "soup-mercial" to see what they're serving up.
Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery - All Soups 
Four different soups served at the Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery in Danville were suggested on my poll. Clearly, they're the real soup ninjas.
That's good news, though, as the soup menu here changes daily.
It seems you can't go wrong with a soup order at Bread Basket, but the suggested favorites include: Roasted Tomato Parmesan, Pumpkin Black Bean, Creamy Cabbage and Ham and Tomato Basil.
I hope all of these are never on the menu at the same time. How would one choose just one, or two, even? The refrigerator case has soup-to-go, the perfect addition to a meal at home.
The Bread Basket, so cozy and warm, is the perfect place to enjoy a cup of delicious homemade soup paired with a half sandwich or salad. While you are there, don’t forget to take a look at the gourmet dessert case, overflowing with sweetness.
Other Local Favorites
Even though it seems that Danville is the heart of delicious soup options in Hendricks County, there are several other eateries outside of Danville known for serving delicious soup. Here are some other top spots to score a cup, bowl or troth of soup, according to our locals:
Rock Star Pizza - A Variety of Soups
Rock Star Pizza, located in Brownsburg boasts more than just pizza. Their salad bar, which includes soup, has a fan club following from across the area. Two soup staples at Rock Star are Broccoli and Cheese and Asiago Cauliflower. Both are even keto-friendly. Follow the Rock Star Pizza Facebook page.
Ms. B’s Teas- Soup of the Day Options
In the heart of Clayton is Ms. B’s Teas, the cutest tea shop around. In addition to great atmosphere, they serve homemade soup from their own recipes everyday. Their autumn soup rotation is: Wednesdays - White Chicken Chili, Thursdays - Pumpkin and Wild Rice, Fridays - Loaded Potato, Saturdays - Vegetable Beef and Sundays - Chicken Noodle. All are gluten free with the exception of Chicken Noodle, and Pumpkin and Wild Rice is vegan friendly. Their soups are served with one of their homemade British-style scones.
Opa! - Chicken Lemon Soup
I am a huge fan of Opa!, and I've had this soup. I did have my doubts, as lemon doesn't seem to belong in soup. But I guess the Greeks know what they're doing because it was truly delicious. A broth base with chicken, veggies and a touch of lemon make this warm offering a unique twist on chicken soup. Definitely try this next time you swing into this local favorite.
Like Visit Hendricks County on Facebook and be on the lookout for future opinion polls to tell the people all about your favorite things, places and happenings in Hendricks County. I loved hearing your suggestions, and I hope you enjoy mine.
