It\u2019s safe to say that Shawn is a regular at the caf\u00e9 on the Concordia University campus in Portland, Oregon. The servers not only know exactly what he\u2019s going to have for lunch every Friday, they\u2019ve even nicknamed his soup and soda order after him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI call it my soup moment,\u201d says Shawn, an administrator at the university who\u2019s also married and has two teenagers and an 8-year-old. \u201cYou can\u2019t blitz through a bowl of soup, so eating it is an ideal time to take a pause and reflect.\u201d<\/p>\n
He put lots of thought into his Make It Mindful soup creation. \u201cI\u2019ll admit to being a techie,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen I saw the email announcing the contest, I did get drawn into filling up the virtual soup bowl more than a few times.\u201d He didn\u2019t hit submit, though, until he found the makings for a hearty soup that he couldn\u2019t wait to dive a spoon into.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was chickpeas and spices for the win that day,\u201d says Shawn, who fills his downtime hiking the Columbia River Gorge, tinkering with robotics or attending Portland Timbers soccer games with his family. \u201cRight away, the tasty bean made me think of Mediterranean cooking, and I think it\u2019s rare to see Mediterranean-inspired soups.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added chicken since it\u2019s a lean, satisfying protein. Cabbage beat out kale because the workhorse of year-round vegetables \u201cwouldn\u2019t overpower the whole soup like greens would.<\/p>\n
\u201cA good soup should be simple but not leave anyone wanting,\u201d he continues. \u201cMine had to be substantial, with enough kick and spice to last me even if I have just a cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that his soup has taken top prize, Shawn says he\u2019s looking forward to sharing the love with the caf\u00e9 staff. \u201cI actually want them to have the first bowl!\u201d he says. He\u2019s also excited to break out of his solo soup moment and invite his family and friends to join him for lunch January 8.<\/p>\n