Despite the ominous title, Edison High School’s Soup Wars is now officially an annual event. It was a rousing community get-together for Edison staff, students, alumni and supporters Sunday, Feb. 11. The winter sunset cast long shadows through the front windows of 56 Brewing, marking nine months in their new brewery/taproom on Columbia Avenue, as hundreds sampled some of the 47 crockpots of soups available.
Edison’s music director Lesley Earles led the school’s jazz band, which was set up between the stainless-steel fermentation towers next to the bar. The event was staged by The Edison Activity Council (EAC), a 501(c) 3 fundraising group that supports student clubs, organizations and athletic teams at Edison. EAC volunteers made sure everyone could get at the soup and refreshments in the crowded space, including the upper level, where more soup and a silent auction shared the area with pinball machines and tables for cookie sales by student athletes.
56 Brewing’s co-owner Kale Johnson said that the brewery contributed a dollar for each sale of one of their beer brands, and noted that Stinson Wine and Spirits donated bottles of wine for the auction.
Each of the soups had a card with its name and a number for voting on a favorite. The three first-place winners were Betsy Johnson, representing the boys’ soccer program; Scott Moore, from the baseball team. Students Emma Quale and Myranda Philpot entered on behalf of the National Honor Society.
Minneapolis School Board Treasurer Jenny Arneson paused from her soup sampling to thank organizers Shari Seymour, Billy Menz, and Sara Biros for their hard work. An unofficial estimate suggested well over $3,000 was raised.
Betsy Johnson, is one of three first place winners. Johnson told the story behind her soup: “it was a recipe my late sister passed down to me to keep alive! I lost my sister to cancer over a year ago, this recipe was ALWAYS requested by her loved ones. ALWAYS. While cooking this soup I thought of my sister. While people sat and enjoyed it, I was smiling inside. This soup and recipe is made from my heart and soul.” The Creamy Wild Rice Soup with Ham and Sharp Cheddar is also known as Heidi’s Soup of Love. “I hope you make it and enjoy it as much as we all have,” said Betsy Johnson. Recipe can be found on page 14 of the printed Northeaster or here.
Below: Crock pots on main floor, Edison students, Jazz band members Lesley Earles, Aidan Stromdahl and Jenna Halabi, Minneapolis Public Schools board member Jenny Areneson. (Photos by Mark Peterson)
