Rich and creamy Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup is a New England favorite. Following is the original recipe from Simon Pearce Restaurant in Quechee, VT. Read on to learn more about Simon Pearce Glass blowing and how to make this delicious cheese soup at home.

If you’ve never been to New England before and you’re thinking of a visit,  add Simon Pearce Glass in Quechee, Vermont to your bucket list. It’s a beautiful experience in every sense of the word.

Watch live glass blowing in the basement.

Shop sparkling treasures on the gorgeous showroom floor.

Dine in the five star restaurant overlooking the covered bridge and falls. (And be sure to order a creamy bowl of Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup!)

Simon Pearce Restaurant, located in this 1800’s mill, is where I first tasted Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup. Such a flavorful cheddar cheese soup, the recipe I’m sharing today is world famous.

Melt butter in a large stockpot. Sauté garlic and onion, then whisk in flour, making a roux. Stir in chicken stock and season with fresh thyme and spices. Add grated Cabot sharp cheddar cheese, cream and half and half.

While this isn’t a diet recipe, Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup is the ideal creamy main dish soup for a satisfying New England lunch or supper after coming in from the cold.

Read my post Simon Pearce Glass for more pictures and information about this fascinating destination.

Print

Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Cheese Soup

Cheddar cheese, thyme, carrots, onions, celery, butter, garlic. Creamy cheddar soup recipe from Simon Pearce Restaurant in Quechee, VT.

Course Soup

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 4

Author Allie Taylor

Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 3 quarts chicken stock
• 1 pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme finely chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup grated carrots
• 1 cup minced celery
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups half & half
• Optional: fresh thyme sprigs for garnish

Instructions

• Melt butter in heavy stockpot.
• Add onions & garlic and cook 'til soft.
• Add flour to butter and onion mixture, stirring to combine well.
• Turn heat very low.
• Stir occasionally, and cook 10-15 minutes.
• Add chicken stock incrementally, stirring with whisk until smooth after each addition.
• Add chopped thyme, bay leaves and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook over medium heat 5-10 minutes more until smooth and creamy, watching closely.
• Stir in grated cheese.
• In separate saucepan, bring water to a boil.
• Add celery and carrots, cooking until just tender, about 1 minute.
• Rinse with cold water and drain well.
• Add celery and carrots to large stockpot.
• Stir in half & half and heavy cream.
• Stir soup well.
• Optional: garnish with fresh thyme sprigs
• Serve hot, but don't overheat or the soup will curdle.

Notes

If you want a thicker soup, use less chicken stock. (Start with 2 quarts instead of 3. You can always add more to thin if needed.)

You may also like: Cabot Creamery, Cabot, VT

The post Simon Pearce Vermont Cheddar Soup appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

My cousin first told me about the treasure of Simon Pearce Glass in Quechee, VT several years ago. Funny, since she’s in Chicago and I live here in New England. Simon Pearce is known worldwide for his artistic glass blown pieces and designs.

The gristmill was operational here in Quechee beginning in 1778. Over the next few hundred years it changed hands two dozen times, with almost a hundred owners/partners along the way.

In 1981 Simon Pearce and his wife Pia bought the gristmill and transformed it into the gorgeous property we see here today.

I fell in love with the imposing side entrance doors.

Look skyward and feast your eyes on the blown glass pendant lighting. Bonus: great exposed beams and ductwork.

Today glassblowing takes place in the basement.

This is one fiery hot kiln. Simon Pearce employs nearly fifty glassblowers.

Antique glassblowing molds.

It won’t be long ’til this molten glass will be sparkling on the showroom shelf. It’s amazing to watch a glassblower create a masterpiece from start to finish.

Just off the glassblowing area, there’s an outdoor viewing deck of the dam and covered bridge.

There are classic, elegant touches everywhere at Simon Pearce.

Here’s a gorgeous finished glass on the second floor showroom, along with glass ice cubes. There are many exquisite pieces besides drinking glasses for sale. You’ll find pitchers, decorative bowls, platters, and any kind of wine goblet or cocktail glass you can imagine.

Enough handblown glasses for you? Sparkle and warm wood tones, every direction you look.

If you love carved wooden bowls and accessories, these are the smoothest you’ll find anywhere. (Love that exposed brick and hardwood floor. This showroom is absolutely stunning.)

What a sparkling presentation!

The second floor also houses the award winning Simon Pearce Restaurant. The Restaurant overlooks the dam and covered bridge, and is known across the region for its creative menu and award winning chefs. I’ve had the creamy Vermont Cheddar Soup with Cabot cheddar cheese (http://cabotcheese.coop).  A+++. The Restaurant is an incredible experience and worth the trip. The wine list is extensive.

Simon Pearce Restaurant is the perfect place to celebrate a milestone birthday, anniversary or special occasion.

I took a dear friend (and her sister) for her 80th birthday last spring and we had a fabulous experience all around.

So after my cousin filled me in about Simon Pearce, I did a little research on my own and was personally surprised by what I found. The Pearces have four boys. Like we do. They have a son with Down syndrome. Like we do. They have a son who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Like we do. I was overwhelmed with the similarities.

Several months later, I had the pleasure of connecting with Pia Pearce one evening at a fundraiser for a local agency that supports families with disabilities and special needs. The Pearce’s son Kevin (who suffered the traumatic brain injury) spoke about raising brain injury awareness through his social movement “Love Your Brain”. Check it out at www.kevinpearce.com

Here’s a short clip to fill you in on his story.

Kevin was recently featured in “Crash Reel”. This 2013 documentary was shown in theaters across the country. It recounts Kevin’s fall and rise following a traumatic brain injury while snowboard training for the Olympic trials in 2009.

The glassblowing, restaurant and showroom are all a one of a kind treat at Simon Pearce Glass. But it’s the intense family loyalty of the Pearce family and their huge hearts that captured mine. Be sure to visit if you get the chance, you won’t be disappointed.

http://www.simonpearce.com

The post Simon Pearce Glass, Quechee VT appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.