Hot Soup Summer

Yes. Hot soup. Not kidding.

There's a secret ingredient that put it over the edge - inspired by an exceptional broth I had at an Alpine spot called Cafe Brume, which just opened in Brooklyn Heights.

The soup in that bowl above? It is of the chicken variety. It is an intense chicken broth, made from scratch by yours truly.

We're talking celery, carrots, onions, garlic, shallots, chicken (natch!), and tons of fresh herbs, bubbling away for hours and then double-strained.

So, what put this soup over the top?

Was it the noodles? They were good, but nope.

How about those chives that have been showered on top? Delicious. Important. But still, no.

The secret ingredient? Brown butter. Added at the last few minutes, swirled into the broth before ladling it into bowls for serving.

Try it. Trust me. It's that good. Takes your bowl to another level - one that can even make hot soup a go-to in summertime.