Longtime friends gather around warming creations that tell stories of recent adventures as well as generations past at TABLE Magazine’s soup party. This is an easy and relaxed way to get friends together before, during, or after the holidays.
Ryan Jacobs and Keith Recker on left side of the table. Ben Landis, Adrienne Guariglia, and Drew Myers on the right side of the table.
A Soup Party Amongst Friends at the TABLE Studio
On an overcast Saturday last winter, a group of longtime friends gathered in TABLE Studio’s loft-like space, accompanied by a few folks from the magazine team. On the day of their “Souper Bowl” as the group jokingly called it, the studio’s central island filled with a rainbow-hued collection of vessels holding eight different soups. Perhaps the star of the show? A whimsical, turquoise soup ladle resembling the Loch Ness monster.
Maryann Patton.
After some mingling, the group of mostly 30-something Pittsburghers sat down at a long table adorned with green and cozied in to feast, catching up over familiar banter as old pals tend to do. Most from this group have been friends for more than 20 years — dating back to their high school days. Many moved here from their hometowns in Elk County, since Pittsburgh is the closest city. Over the years the crew has picked up neighbors, partners, and newer additions, too; most of them now live within a tight radius of one another in or around Shaler.
Ben Landis, Adrienne Guariglia, Ryan Jacobs, and Jared Schaut.
The Soups and Their Makers
After the concept for this soup gathering came to be, Ryan Jacobs, an architect with Gerald Lee Morosco Architects, sent a group text inviting the guests and explaining the assignment. In time, everyone responded with their recipe contributions so as to prevent any potential overlap. In the end, the variety proved delightful. Creations ranged from creamy delights (Cambodian carrot) and hearty stews (like Catalan fish), plus even a few lactose-free surprises (lemon orzo chicken) for the dairy-averse.
Jacobs and Drew Myers, Impact Manager for Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN), brought Grandma Florence’s potato soup, which has no known official recipe. Instead, Myers says that recreating this dish made by his great-great-grandmother, who raised a family during the Great Depression in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, comes straight “from the mind and heart.” He spent a lot of time on the phone with his mom and grandma to get the recipe onto paper. This creation demonstrates how Grandma Florence, born in 1901, learned to make do with limited resources, inspiring her ingenuity in the kitchen. Despite its simplicity, this potato soup remains a cherished family dish passed down through the generations.
Sheila Wehler serves up a Croatian stew from her honeymoon trip with husband Eric.
Soups That Tell a Story
Sheila and Eric Wehler, newlyweds with a shared passion for travel and
food, brought a dish that transports them to a culinary adventure savored during their Croatian honeymoon. While at a farm-to-table cooking class in the Dubrovnik countryside, they were introduced to a simple yet scrumptious chicken and semolina dumpling soup with vegetables. It’s based on whatever’s available in the garden, and the recipe’s been shared for at least nine generations, proving a staple during times of uncertainty and turmoil for the Croatian family they met. The dish now reminds the couple of their own adventures in Croatia, and the joy of cooking with whatever’s available. Eric also brought along tasty sourdough bread he made in a Dutch oven. (He previously worked in a food truck, where he learned the art of pizza crusts.)
Ben Landis and Adrienne Guariglia.
Adrienne Guariglia, the owner of Pittsburgh-based contemporary handbag brand Sister Epic and husband Ben Landis contributed a cream of broccoli soup with deep family roots passed down from Ben’s grandmother. His mom lovingly made it throughout his childhood. For the duo, sharing recipes feels like a meaningful way to connect beyond the digital world, and they also find joy in creating memories together around the table.
MaryAnn Patton, a program manager/consultant for national criminal reentry grants, and Jared Schaut, a commercial real estate accountant, shared their stuffed pepper soup, a meal of choice on cozy fall weekends — especially after hiking with their dog Zipper. “The aromatic spices and tender ingredients make it feel like a hug in a bowl, while the simplicity of preparing and enjoying it aligns perfectly with the relaxed, laid-back vibe of a cozy weekend in,” they say. “It’s a seasonal comfort food that brings us both nostalgia and nourishment!”
Justin Matase, Mark Chutko, and Diana Bucco.
TABLE’s Take
TABLE’s Editor in Chief Keith Recker contributed Cambodian Carrot Soup, recreated from the memory of a fantastic dish served at the Grand Hotel in Siem Reap. Publisher Justin Matase also followed an Asian inspiration with Thai Chicken Curry, inspired by his many visits to the Thai coast. Then, Associate Publisher Mark Chutko and his wife, Diana Bucco, cooked up a delicious batch of Rachel Ray’s Chicken and Orzo Soup with Arugula and Basil. Contributor Emma Riva brought her aunt’s fish stew, inspired by a recent visit with her in Napa Valley, California.
Clockwise: Drew Myers holding a bowl of Grandma Florence’s Potato Soup. Drew Myers and Ryan Jacobs. TABLE Editor-in-Chief Keith Recker proposes a toast.
Eric Wehler rounded out the affair with two perfectly baked sourdough boules. Buoyed up with happy chitchat, nourished by soup, as well as comforted by bread, every guest left this soup party full and nourished — in every sense of the word.
Eric Wehler
Story by Corinne Whiting
Linens by Party Mosaic
Photography by Jeff Swensen
Production by Ryan Jacobs and Drew Myers
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