Soup is good for the soul, especially when others benefit as well

I know not everyone who reads this is in New York City but I received this press release today and I really liked the idea and wanted to spread the word.

Every year, New York City hosts Restaurant Week, where a bunch of high-end restaurants reduce the prices on prix-fixe lunches and dinners giving "regular" people a chance to dine in places they normally wouldn't. It's very hard to get reservations and I've never been able to take advantage of any of the promotions.

This year for the first time ever Restaurant Week is coming to New Yorkers, through the Restaurant Week Truck. The truck, which will park at three locations throughout Restaurant Week (actually two weeks) will be serving gourmet soups provided by 24 different eateries. The soups are priced at $6, which isn't really very much for anybody who normally buys soup in the city.

But while I think the soup truck is a great idea, what I like the best is that $1 from each soup sold will be donated to The Haiti Relief Fund at the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. So you're not only getting that nice warm feeling from hot soup threading its way through your tummy, but from knowing that you're also helping someone who really needs help.

The NYC Restaurant Truck will feature two to three soups each day from NYC Restaurant Week participants. On top of 19 other soups, the menu will offer such selections as lobster bisque from Blue Water Grill, roaster butternut squash soup from Charlie Palmer's Metrazur, Mexhattan clam chowder from Dos Caminos Park, tomato and fennel soup from Tribeca Grill, and coconut and galangal soup with organic chicken and straw mushrooms from Kittichai. All soup cost $6 and come with bread from Tom Cat Bakery.

Coca-Cola will also offer free sample drinks on select days over the two weeks.

The soup truck begins its schedule on Monday, January 25. The truck will first cater to patrons in Midtown, on Broadway between 50th and 51st Streets. It will be parked there each day from 11 am to 2 pm, Jan. 25 to 29.

From Feb. 1 to 3, the truck will be parked in the Flatiron District, on Fifth Ave. between 18th and 19th Streets. Also, 11 am to 2 pm.

Folks in Tribeca can visit the truck on Feb. 4 and 5. They'll find the truck from 11 am to 2 pm on Greenwich St. between Warren and Murray Streets.