thanks for this shout out, jodi! i am all better because you and your readers sent me healing energy when i was home with swine flu. hope you ended up with some really delicious soup. seems like the suggestions you got here were FANTASTIC. xo

Evan - Thank you so much for writing. I'm so glad that you and Adam have your grandmothers. I'd love to meet yours one day soon. I already love Adam's bubbe.

The soup I had wasn't coconut-based and probably wasn't as good as yours. We are a little behind the times here in Texas when it comes to Asian cuisine.

I am so in for salmon bisque andclam chowder when we visit!

Hey Jodi, Sorry to hear about your grandma. Adam and I still hanging on tight to ours. I am one of earth's oldest living grandchildren. None of my friends still have a grandparent.

Now on to the soup:
1. Gazpacho (any real, fresh soup from a spanish or portuguese restaurant)
2. Tom Ka Kai (Thai Chicken Coconut Soup) Is this the same as your Tom Ka in Austin? My favorite is from a spot in Encino, CA called "Thai n I"
3. Ashe Joe (Persian barley with kashk-whey) from "Shirin" in Woodland Hills, CA
4. Salmon Bisque from "Robin's" in Cambria, CA
5. Clam Chowder from Ericson's on the pier in Ventura, CA

Very sorry to hear about the passing of your grandma. Grandparents are treasures! I still think of mine often, though mine all died before I was 20 years old. Hang in there, and sorry for your loss.

I'm very fond of a Rick Bayelss chipotle chicken soup recipe I've appropriated to include black beans. First I poach a bone-in chicken breast in a quart or so of water, to make broth and cook the meat. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of powdered veggie broth stock. When the chicken is done, I take it out to cool. Then I sautee carrots, onion and garlic, and add the wilted veg to the stock. Drain and rinse a can of black beans, and add to the soup. Shred and add the chicken meat. Finally, chop and toss in in two chipolte peppers in adobo.

I dice up an avocado, throw them in a bowl, ladle some soup over them, top with cilantro and squirt with lime. Done. I never add salt when it's cooking, just a grind or two of sea salt on the steaming bowl.

Also, my husband made this Long Life soup from a vegan cafe's cookbook the other day and it was fantastic. am unable to locate the recipe online at the moment - it was ginger, onions, garlic, cayenne, shitake, seaweed, and he added some tofu. So good!

Here's the book where he took the long life soup recipe from -
Candle Cafe Cookbook

I love these soups for their flavors and their restorative powers. It's good to eat lightly sometimes and know that plenty of protein and fluids are going in, too - sick or not!
Alex

I heart Rick Bayless. Thank you for the recipe, Alex! It is very similar to a Jewish chicken soup recipe that my mom passed down to me. Look for that blog post soon. Also, I'll have to check out the Candle Cafe Cookbook soon.

Thanks to all! Here are some suggestions from Twitter.

@polishedtwo: When I need a cure, I have the "famous" soup at Baby Acapulco. Helps to clear the sinuses! Maybe not the best in ATX--but good

@mattbucher: I always like the broccoli cheese at Jason's Deli, but maybe today, for curative powers, I would get their chicken noodle.

@austinfarm2tbl: Big fan of the pho at Hai Kai and Posole at Zocalo. Also the caldo de pollo at el sol y la luna. All delicious & curative.

@mexikinda: Partial to Texas French Bread's yellow squash soup

@foodiethenewforty: Feel better soon! Try that Gatee Tom Yum Gai from Thai Kitchen...best antidote ever!

@tastytouring: Full on cold today and the beef caldo I picked up from Arandinas off I-35 S. of 290 was terrible.

@ATXfoodnews: Arandas is diff, love their menudo. Their S. 1st & the Sttassney restaurants are the best.

@tastytouring: Tks @foodiethenew40! I'm at That Noodle House waiting on the Tom Yum Guey Teaw. Hope it helps!

@tastytouring: Walked into work greeted by wonton soup dropped off by @marcwmatthews. He is the BEST! http://pic.gd/ae5cf5. Now, on to the Tom Yum.

Asian noodle bowls at Whole Foods! When it's cold outside--yes, Austin can get a bit nippy, I crave one thing, and one thing only...these noodle bowls filled with lemongrass, a little kick, thin vermacelli noodles, shrimp, tofu, or chicken. You'll get the goodies depending on what you order in a bowl, then the soup broth on the side to pour into your bowl of delicious goodness. Jodi, make Adam pick you up some while you're moving! Feel better!

Good call both on the noodle bowl and Adam picking some up. He is a great cook too so hopefully he'll whip up something yummy this weekend -- as long as I don't get him sick!

The tom kha at Titaya's is sweet, salty, sour and spicy, and incredibly soothing when I'm sick. And you get a giant pot of it for around 8 bucks. Warm, sweet sticky rice for dessert is comforting, too.

Anything by the Soup Peddler and Guero's caldo.

Guero's caldo has always been my go-to but now that I live north of the river, I've got to find some new standbys!

dear jodi,
so sorry for your loss.
what a wonderful tribute to your grandmother magda & her long life.

thank you, linda.

My favorite soup is French onion soup with crusty bread and swiss or gruyere cheese.

I am sorry for your loss of your grandmother.

French Onion Soup is the bomb but I should probably avoid cheese until I'm feeling better. Didn't I read somewhere that milk can keep you congested? When I'm better, I'll have to go to Chez Nous for this soup and a bottle of red table wine. Mmmm!

So sorry to hear about your Grandma, sounds like she lived a full life, and I'm glad you got to spend time with family.

I've had good soup all over town, and when all else fails: tomato basil at La Madeline. Good soup has to have the right mix of flavor (just salty is cheating!) and something soft to bite into for some texture, like a noodle, tofu, bacon, a veggie -- or just be so thick and velvety (see aforementioned tomato basil) that you can lick at the soup like you would a Dairy Queen blizzard.

A standby at my house that's easy and cheap to make at home: Central Market's potato soup kit. $6 plus up to $2 for some chicken or veggie broth. It even comes with a little bit of roux to whisk in. I buy an extra lb. of baby red potatoes. It tastes very rich and nourishing, but bland enough for sensitive tummies. Use a potato masher to make it thicken instead of dirtying your blender for pureeing. Throw in favorite spices to liven it up, along with mystery leftovers to stretch it out.

Thanks, Texas Maverick! That potato soup kit sounds fun. Is it sold in the veggie section?

The Gatee Tom Yum Gai at Thai Kitchen has amazing curative powers. And it's incredibly delicious!

So very sorry about your Nagymama.

You inspired me but I was parked at Thai Noodle House so that's where I went. I'll have to compare it with Thai Kitchen's next. Thank you for your kind words!

I LOVE good chili and good butternut squash soup...and lentil. Shoot..I love all soup:)

Matzo ball is the bomb!

I don't know, but I could use some too! Glad you are on the case.

Cippolina's tomato soup! Sooo delicious.

Chicken Consome at Las Palomas. It is clear broth, with cilantro and chicken. Yum. It has a hunt of lime flavor. It is the perfect sick soup.

Is that on Bee Caves? I love a good clear soup stock/broth.

Tom Kha w/artichoke hearts (P23 @ Madam Mams), Tomato Basil @ Blue Dahlia, Cheese-steak soup @ WFM's meat dept.

I must add that Tom Ka to the list. @adamholz has eaten every dish on the Madam Mams menu. He is a big fan!