Pea Soup Anderson's (Scott)

If you don't fancy split pea soup, you can tune out now...

You're undoubtedly aware of the Andersen's Split Pea Soup in the canned variety. You might not know that they also have Andersen's restaurants that serve the stuff up homemade. Now I've been a big fan of the green goodness since I first tried it down in Carlsbad some 10 years back. It's just tasty. At the time, they had 2 big cauldrons of it at the end of the salad bar...one plain and one with little diced ham bits throughout. You know which one I went for. I love LOVE that stuff. A few years later I was back (Carlsbad) and they had done away with the Ham variety. What? Did the dicer/slicer guy quit? Haven't these people heard of the slap-chop? Seriously. It was then I noticed they were touting the fact it's 'vegetarian' so undoubtedly some corporate sissypiss drafted a memo to 'do away with the good version' and let's focus on the softer clientele. That Carlsbad location closed not long after. No surprise to me.

I've known about the Buellton location (maybe the lone Andersen's outpost now?) since I was a kid. There are signs all over saying '80 miles to Buellton' or whatever but it wasn't until 5 or 6 years ago I finally made it in there. I was underwhelmed...it was ok but not dazzling. I've held some sort of grudge ever since they dropped the ham I guess. The other Danish stuff on the menu was arguably better. The sausage sampler plate is killer by the way, try it.

Anyhow, I was driving through Buellton last night and I stopped in for some of my Santa Maria seasoning that only they seem to sell (in the gift shop). They no longer sell it. I stopped here for nothing, great. As I pondered my hunger level and what my next move should be, I saw a menu opened up on the hostess stand. Hmm, I see you can dress up your soup with ham, cheese, or onions for $2.50/serving over the already stout $8.95 price tag on the 'Traveler's Special'... That's a lot for soup, bread and a milkshake.
Then I see they have a 'bread-bowl' version which is only $8.50 but it comes with the toppings on the side..and no drink. Has this been on the menu all along...how could I have missed it? Why not I figured...I'm not that hungry and if it sucks I'll know for next time. With that I saddled up to the counter, where it's always a good show, and I sheepishly ordered it. I say sheepishly because the bread-bowl anything is usually slapped together for the tourists and lacking in just about every sense of the word. They've got none on display and nobody else has one in front of them. It was a risk but, whatever, I ordered it..it's coming... so that's that. I've been watching the girls ladling the soup out of the big pot...it's one ladle per standard ceramic bowl. Nothing spectacular. Then my girl comes around the corner from the kitchen with what looks like a small pumpkin shaped loaf of bread. She's got the top off like a jack o' lantern and the innards neatly carved out as a one-piece round ball. I see her roll over to the big pot and ladle out two scoops of the soup right into the opening. While I'm processing this she swings by the kitchen for a plate of the different toppings to go with my steaming gord of soup. I said as she approached 'you have got to be kidding'. It was HUGE. A joke, right? Nope. Upon closer inspection I see that the lid and 'innard ball' were brushed in butter and grilled to a light toasting. Oh boy, I am feeling this now. I got hungry and scared all in the same moment.

The sourdough bowl was fresh with just the right bite, texture and warmth. It was right out of the oven pillowy perfection. The soup was spot-on and when I dropped the ham bits in there I heard music. It got more impressive with every bite and I could custom make layers given the 5 different toppings. It was thick and alive with flavor and satisfaction. I got about 2/3rds though the thing...bursting...and my girl comes by to say 'let me know when you want more hun'. No way, no w-a-y is she serious. After a while, the show wound down and I paid my bill only to have her say 'you should come by on Fridays and try the chowder in that bowl, it's the best I've ever had.' She knows food, I can tell, so this bread bowl fantasy show they're running is firmly on my radar when I'm up that way. I can't recommend this enough if you like split pea soup.

Hit the road people, it's all out there and some of it is damn fine.