November

National Vichyssoise Day

18th November, National Apple Cider Day

The National Vichyssoise Day is celebrated every 18th of November each year. This day gives recognition to vichyssoise – everyone’s favorite cold soup. Vichyssoise is a thick soup often made with the combination of chicken stock, cream, potatoes, onions, and pureed leeks. It is traditionally served cold but it can also sometimes be served hot. The name of this soup is pronounced as vish-e-swaz. This soup is French-style. If you are a fan of it, then you must not miss the celebration of the National Vichyssoise Day.

About the National Vichyssoise DayNational Vichyssoise Day

During the National Vichyssoise Day, people conduct various activities that let them achieve the objectives or purposes of the celebration. For one, people try to make their own vichyssoise at home. Fortunately for them, the ingredients needed to make one can be easily purchased in a supermarket or grocery store. Other people prefer to eat vichyssoise in a restaurant or food chain that offers one. People also shout out on social media how they are participating in the celebration of the event.

History

The origin of vichyssoise is still up for debates. However, the person associated with its invention is Louis Diat, a French chef. He was a chef at the Ritz Carlton in New York City when he was interviewed by the New Yorker Magazine in 1950. He said that he recalled a soup made by his mother which contained leeks, potatoes, and cold milk. He then made something similar that would delight the patrons of Ritz Carlton. This soup is basically the vichyssoise. Still, there are many soup recipes that are very similar to vichyssoise which were dated to as far back as 1869.

With limited knowledge about the origins of vichyssoise, even less is known about the history of the National Vichyssoise Day. We don’t know when, where, and how it began. We also don’t have a clue as to who founded it. But still, we can make a good guess as to why such event was established in the first place. Perhaps a person or a group of people thought that vichyssoise is much loved by the people. They must have then thought that it deserves a spot in the list of food holidays celebrated every year.

Dates

As mentioned earlier, the National Vichyssoise Day is celebrated every 18th of November each year. This means that the dates of celebration for this event are as follows:National Vichyssoise Day

  • Wednesday, November 18,
  • Thursday, November 18,
  • Friday, November 18, 2022
  • Saturday, November 18, 2023
  • Monday, November 18, 2024
  • Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Celebration Ideas and Activities

The following are the best things to do to make your celebration of the National Vichyssoise Day as best as it can be:

Make Some Vichyssoise

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of sliced leeks, whites only
  • 4 cups of diced potatoes, old or baking potatoes are recommended
  • 6 to 7 cups of cold water
  • 1½ to 2 teaspoons of coarse salt or to taste
  • 1/2 cup or more of sour cream, heavy cream, or crème fraîche, optional
  • 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh chives or parsley

Instructions:

In a saucepan, boil water with potatoes and leeks. Add some salt then partially cover. Let this simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables become tender. If you want, you can puree’ the soup. Taste test to make the seasoning align with your preference. Chill the soup then stir some cream. Taste again. Correct the seasoning if necessary. Serve in a bowl then top with parsley or chives. Put this topping every serving. Enjoy the soup!

Eat Vichyssoise in a Restaurant

If you don’t have time to make some vichyssoise on your own, then you can just dine in a restaurant or ay food chain that offers delicious vichyssoise. You will most likely find this dish in a French restaurant.

Celebrate on Social Media

You can also take your celebration of this day on social media. You can, for instance, use the hashtag #NationalVichyssoiseDay to let your friends and followers know that you are also participating in the celebration of this day. Let them know that such a celebration takes place every year and also how happy you are enjoying your day.National Vichyssoise Day

Quotes

  • “The man who has nothing to boast of but his ancestors is like a potato – the only good belonging to him is under ground.” – Sir Thomas Overbury (1581-1613)
  • “Peace of mind and a comfortable income are predicted by a dream of eating potatoes in any form.” – Ned Ballantyne & Stella Coeli
  • “Only two things in this world are too serious to be jested on, potatoes and matrimony.” – Irish saying.
  • “For me, a plain baked potato is the most delicious one….It is soothing and enough.” – M.F.K. Fisher
  • An onion can make people cry but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.- Will Rogers
  • It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions. – Julia Child
  • Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep. – Carl Sandburg
  • “Eat leeks in March and wild garlic in May And all year after physicians may play.” – Old Welsh Rhyme
  • “Eat leeks in tide and garlic in May, and all the year after physicians may play.” – Russian Proverb
  • “Well loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes. And for to drinken strong wyn, reed as blood.” – Geoffrey Chaucer (1340 – 1400) ‘Canterbury Tales’
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