Winter is famously known as soup season, and even though spring is right around the corner (we hope!), thanks to Brothmonger, it’s soup season all year round.
Mushroom and roasted root vegetable stew from Brothmonger
Sarah McAlee, a.k.a. Brothmonger, is a “soup dood.” For several years, McAlee has been cooking up soup and sharing artfully composed images of her creations on Instagram at @brothmonger, which as of March 2023 is about to reach 10,000 followers.
Whether or not you get your hands on any of Brothmonger’s soups, even just following along on social media is insanely satisfying. Scrolling down @brothmonger’s feed reveals countless bowls of just about every kind of soup you could imagine, whether it’s batched up for sale, being tested for maximum tastiness, or even just being enjoyed for a hearty, wholesome lunch by the Brothmonger themself – always in stunning dishware, much of which is thrifted.
There’s something about seeing row after row of brightly-colored bowls filled with warm, delicious comfort… What can we say? It’s easy to be poetic about soup that looks this good.
Of course, after all that scrolling, you’re bound to work up an appetite. So, how do you get your hands on some of Brothmonger’s batches? There are a few ways you can scoop some soup from one of Pittsburgh’s best DIY chefs.
To start, small batches of Brothmonger’s recipes and custom soup orders are available via Instagram DMs for soup lovers who know exactly what they want and when they want it. Brothmonger has also supplied soups for restaurants and grocers throughout the city as the strength of their brand grew to where it is now, including Mayfly Market
However, Brothmonger also pops up throughout the city and shares all the deets ahead of time, so you can pre-order from a menu of fresh creations and pick up your order in person, usually at a supportive local restaurant like Thyme Machine. Last month, Brothmonger’s menu featured crab bisque, gluten-free kielbasa lentil, vegetarian mushroom cacio e pepe, vegan pasta e ceci, and sundubu jjgae!
A small batch of veg-friendly tortellini soup from Brothmonger
The menu is largely different each time, but we love that Brothmonger generally has at least one option for a wide range of dietary restrictions, so just about all soup lovers can find a dish that works for them.
Here’s the real scoop, though – the best Brothmonger pop-ups are also collabs with other ‘Burgh bites. Recently Brothmonger teamed up with Crustworthy, a community-supported bakery that specializes in sourdough, to give you the soup-and-bread cozy meal of your dreams. Needless to say, that one sold out.
Brothmonger also worked with Thyme Machine, a popular pickup spot, to create “Your Only Option.” This soup-and-sandwich pop-up was genuinely the talk of Pittsburgh foodies for days and featured just two soup and sandwich options each – not that anyone minds a small menu when it’s that delicious! We really hope we see more “BrothMachine” in the future.
What’s next for Brothmonger right now? On March 3rd, the soup dood is popping up at Thyme Machine once more with Lent-friendly soups (clam chowder and broccoli cheddar) from 4-7PM, and while the pre-sale has sold out, walk-ups are welcome!
If you want to be the first to hear about upcoming soup drops, make sure you’re signed up for Brothmonger’s newsletter, the Brothmailer, which you can find at brothmailer.brothmonger.com. In addition to upcoming event info, you’ll also get access to recipes you can make at home!
Chicken noodle soup better than anything you’ll find in a can, care of Brothmonger
