Well, it is or was, on the rainy, cold day when I first created this soup. I first experienced it, actually, as a fresh hot vegetable soup in one of those Asian/everything prepared-food delis that features everything from a salad bar to cold beer. In New York, there are tons of such places. In Montreal, where I live, there is about...one. It is on Sherbrooke Street in Westmount. I had no time but to stop and buy a cup of this soup and was hooked. So the next time I had it - I had replicated it myself. It takes fresh ingredients plus a package of this, a can of that but mostly fresh vegetables. This really is simply one of the best (and fastest ) vegetable soups you will ever have. You can vary the add-ins (pasta or sausage hunks, etc.) but it is something you will make at least once a month. Or your family will just insist.