Soup's On

Adagio Bakery 4628 E. 23rd Ave. (303) 388-0904 adagiobakery.com Adagio Bakery in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood has quickly established itself as a beacon of baked goods for toothsome, made-from-scratch treats. Opened in 2006, the bakery won acclaim for its tender rendition of the English scone in flavors like lemon-blueberry and cherry-almond. The store bustles at breakfast, when it serves specialties like blueberry-raspberry muffins, homemade cherry cream cheese turnovers and a hearty breakfast calzone that packs a generous helping of Italian sausage, egg, red pepper and mozzarella cheese.

It’s harvest time in Colorado, when the final weeks of the growing season provide an abundance of colorful produce. Many of Colorado’s farmer’s markets continue to operate through October, offering a diverse array of local fall fruits, vegetables and herbs. As the temperatures drop and cool weather returns, the sights and smells of autumn inspire a return to the kitchen and a yearning for warm, comforting foods, like a steaming bowl of homemade soup.

Packed with nutrients and intense flavors, these autumn soups are all quick and easy to prepare.  A creamy soup that gets its bright orange color from butternut squash is hearty enough to be served as a meal, accompanied by crusty bread and a salad.

Garlic is currently in plentiful supply, and a piquant soup features the bulb, slow-roasted to mellow its sharp flavors; fresh spinach or asparagus adds flavor and a punch of color. Although fruit soups are more common in Scandinavian and Middle Eastern cultures, a recipe featuring Colorado’s autumn apples and plums provides an unexpected way to enjoy soup—and can even be served for breakfast! No matter how or when you serve them, these versatile soups highlight the flavors of the changing seasons and fit beautifully anywhere on the menu.

Sandwiches and grilled paninis are popular at lunch, and the shop also does a bustling business in specialty cakes. “We make a lot of custom birthday cakes,” says owner Mike Meirowsky, “and our customers also order cakes for occasions like engagement parties and graduation celebrations.”

Meirowsky shares the bakery’s recipe for corn bread enlivened with jalapeno peppers and sharp cheddar cheese, and says the secret to the tender bread is: “Don’t over mix it!”

Crumbled bacon
Grated cheese
Chopped chives
Fresh minced herbs
Diced ham
Dill sprigs
Minced scallions
Whole baby shrimp
A slice of lemon
Chopped nuts  
Tiny goldfish crackers
Caramelized onions
Chopped fresh parsley
A dash of sherry

Adagio Bakery's Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread