Soup's on!

By Kristen V. Brown

That little nip in the air means it’s time for the Smith Street Soup Festival. 

On Saturday, Oct. 23, Brooklynites will have the chance to taste over 20 different soups from local purveyors, on a stroll along Brooklyn’s beloved restaurant row between Atlantic Avenue and Carroll Street. 

The festival will feature tastings from Seersucker, Verde, Lunetta, Bar Tabac and 17 others — and one $5 ticket gets you samples of all of them.

The best broths will be awarded gold, silver and bronze soup ladles, in each of three categories: consommé, veloute (pureed) and peasant-style. The winners will be determined by a cast of “celebrity” judges and the public.

Bette Stoltz, the director of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation, which is sponsoring the event, said she was inspired by similar soup festivals that take place in the French countryside. 

“Why not do it here? It’s the season for soup and its something that everybody likes, but for some reason it doesn’t get the respect it deserves,” said Stoltz. “This is just making soup the star of show.”

Over at Verde, owner Cono Moreno said he and his chef Dino Castri are considering some sort of lentil or minestrone. 

“This is a very cool idea,” said Moreno. “The time for soup is in October.”

Tickets are $5 per individual or $10 per family unit, and will benefit both the South Brooklyn LDC and the HS for International Studies’ Culinary Arts Program.

Get it while it’s hot. 

Smith Street Soup Festival [between Atlantic Avenue and Carroll Street, (718) 852-0328], Oct. 23 (rain date, Oct. 24).