A business meeting at a delightful outdoor cafe is the inspiration for this soup. My lunch appointment person had this soup (I went with tuna panini). Just from the aroma of the steaming soup in its crockery bowl, I knew I had to recreate it. The spinach is optional and you can also choose to add cumin and coriander (without those spices, this is rustic East European; with them, you get a Middle Eastern flair). What’s nice about this soup is that it is not heavily spiced in one tradition or another but it is a crossroads between gourmet health food cafe and East European. It’s also not too heavy, making a great soup for any season – even summer, alongside quiche or a panini. From (c) When Bakers Cook, Marcy Goldman