Research shows the basic bowl was used for mealtime as far back as 20,000 BC.
Since then, the half spherical dish has been modified and beautified. The Sudbury Basin Potters have that process down pat.
Each year, these pottery artisans make beautiful bowls for its annual soup fundraiser “Soup’s On!” It’s in support of the Sudbury Basin Potters along with the Blue Door Soup Kitchen.
While the beautiful bowls featured at the Sudbury Basin Potters event will sit empty, every ticket gets patrons a piping hot and wholesome bowl of soup and a homemade bowl for use or display at home.
Local potter Mark Noel has committed to glazing and firing 20 bowls for the event, but says he will likely make more.
“I started making pottery in my teenage years and then picked up the relaxing hobby in my retirement years,” he said.
Noel says new members usually strive to make five to 10 bowls each year, and more seasoned members aim for about 25-30 bowls as a yearly target.
The bowls are all made on Lamothe Street at the Lansing Park fieldhouse in New Sudbury. That’s the location for the pottery guild.
In total, 500 tickets are usually sold and this year the event is already sold out, meaning every bowl is already taken.
“The locally handmade bowls are displayed at the event and guests put a sticker with their name on the bowl of their choosing,” he said. “They are then given soup in a bowl from St. Andrew’s Place.”
Noel says along with bread, buns, cookies, coffee and tea, the event will feature three types of soup for guests.
This year’s menu includes Borscht, a taco vegetarian soup and a squash soup, all made from scratch.
“It’s our main fundraiser of the year and we all look forward to it. We even have handmade pottery as door prizes,” Noel adds.
Noel says the event has been running since 2004. He adds it was modified during the pandemic to a take out style event.
Soup’s On takes place Friday, Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of St. Andrew’s Place at 111 Larch Street in the downtown core.
Anastasia Rioux is a writer in Greater Sudbury. Let’s Eat! is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
