Take it slow in 2013

It's the start of a new year and we all know what that means. We're all making resolutions, vowing to be fitter, faster, better, more organised and a million and one other things. Here at Union of Genius we have something a little different to suggest.

Take it slow.


You know how it goes. It's January. You've got a sandwich for lunch. You can wolf down that sandwich in two minutes flat sitting in front of your monitor and be back to work five minutes later while sipping a coffee.

It's such a shame that you can get to 3 o'clock and you have forgotten whether you even had lunch and suddenly the siren voice of the vending machine sounds. So try something different.

Try taking it slow.

There are many things about soup that we love here but there is one thing above all: soup is slow. Like love, you can't hurry soup. It takes times for the vegetables to cook, for the flavours to meld and the texture to emerge. We take that time for you. The soup you eat today was made yesterday, left to cool and then finished this morning. It's been getting itself together for a good 12 hours.

That way, when you come in it's ready for you. We serve it just a little too hot for immediate scoffing so you have time to take it somewhere nice. Just you and the soup and maybe a friend or two. So take your time. (And if you feel so inclined, send us a photo of you and your soup somewhere nice, we would love that.)

Lift the lid. Enjoy the aroma. Isn't it nice when your senses are working overtime at lunch?

Give it a stir, look at the colours. Dip in some of Nir's fabulous bread and take your first taste.

Take a small spoonful from around the edge (it's coolest there) to see if its ready or whether it needs a couple more minutes to cool down. I like to use one slice of bread at the start of the soup and then save the second piece for mopping up. Think of it as a soup sandwich if that helps. Your soup & bread consumption strategy may vary.

Now it's ready, you still can't wolf it down. It takes a little while to swallow each mouthful. It's hot and warming. And, after a little while, you'll start noticing subtle changes in the taste as it cools. We put layers of flavour in each soup so that the more subtle ones are revealed as the temperature changes.

The thing about soup is it takes time: time to make, time to eat. It gives you the excuse to take a little time. That way when 3 o'clock comes around you'll remember what you had for lunch and you won't be craving that chocolate bar from the vending machine.

Give it a try. We think you'll like it.