Hearty Soups at Homegrown

by Victoria McGuin

It’s that time of year when the mornings are chilly, the nights are nippy, and the best lunch has to be a hearty soup!

Homegrown Café in Palmwoods regularly champions the humble soup, but they are not content with your basic pumpkin… oh no, this popular eatery takes soup up a few notches, so they become a filling meal by themselves.

I caught up with owner Sarah Wright, who shared their secrets to making a stand-out soup.

“Our soups are always on the menu, and they are seasonal produce-driven, with fresh ingredients. We then like to add different toppings and garnishes to take the soups to another level.”

Of course, there are other meals on offer and the ‘Lunch Special’ is the blackboard to check out and see what delicious comfort food can tempt you each week.

On my visit, the selection included Pappardelle Pasta with Beef Ragu, or Roast Pumpkin and Sage. There were also sides of Sauerkraut (beetroot, carrot and turmeric, or original) or local Kimchi to complement your breakfast or lunch. Plus, a seasonal special of Pear and Rhubarb French Toast Brioche.

As for the soup flying out of the door to the customers in the sunny garden? Sweet Potato and Miso, with soy lime cream and wasabi chickpeas, along with home-baked focaccia bread, made daily.

“I have been very inspired by a New Zealand publication called Dish, which has some incredible soups,” shared Sarah.

“We made a delicious green soup similar to their ‘Fix Me Up’ recipe, with broccoli, spinach, peas, potato, garlic, basil, mint and cream as the main ingredients – the topping was plain Greek yoghurt and dukkah. It went down a treat!

“Yellow Curry Lentil Soup with kumara, green beans, ginger and cashews is also another winter warmer.”

The soups change monthly, so keep an eye on the Homegrown socials for updates, or pop in and check out the blackboard.

Along with making sensational soups, Sarah and her team are extremely community-minded and environmentally aware, and often host local long-table events. During this year’s Curated Plate (a 10-day culinary festival on the Sunshine Coast from July 28 – August 6), Homegrown are hosting a Zero Waste Garden to Plate event.

“I’m thrilled to say that chef Paul West, founder of the Grow It Local network and presenter on River Cottage Australia, will be making a guest appearance!” Sarah said with a big smile.

Paul’s latest book is, coincidentally, called Homegrown, so being connected with Sarah’s café and its sustainable ethos is perfect.

To keep up to date with food events and seasonal menus, visit the ‘Homegrown Café Palmwoods’ Facebook page or ‘homegrownpalmwoods’ on Instagram.