Soup is a French word. In 16th century France, another French word used for soup was restaurant, meaning 'something restoring'. Street vendors sold a concentrated and inexpensive soup as an antidote to exhaustion. It was a sort of 16th century pick-me-up. In 1765 a shop was set up in Paris by A. Boulanger selling these reviving soups, and hence the name restaurant received its modern usage.
Roasted Tomato Soup is a deliciously restoring soup that can be made into a substantial meal by adding rice or beans. It has an Italian flavour that is enhanced with fresh herbs, chilli and lots of garlic.
