Thursday, October 28, 2010

Famous-Barr's French Onion Soup


Hot from the broiler, Gruyere-laden French Onion Soup

During it's heyday, Famous-Barr, a major department store in St. Louis (sadly, now it's become Macy's) had a wonderful chef create an even more wonderful version of French Onion Soup. It was thick and rich, and came from the kitchen in a McCoy pottery brown drip soup bowl (like the one pictured here, itself a genuine McCoy) bubbling with melted Gruyere cheese atop two slices of French baguette. It was heaven in a bowl! The store used to sell the soup frozen, along with packages of grated Gruyere cheese and fresh baguettes so you could reproduce that onion-y goodness at home. But over the course of time, the gourmet food section in the store closed, followed closely by the bakery and candy departments. Fortunately the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published the recipe so onion soup fanciers could make this version at home. I've had a lot of onion soup in my day, even in Paris, but this recipe beats them all.


FAMOUS-BARR'S FRENCH ONION SOUP

5 lbs onions, unpeeled
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoons paprika
1 bay leaf
7 (16 ounce) cans beef broth, divided (recommended Swanson's)
1 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt

French baguettes
Gruyere cheese

Peel onions and slice 1/8 inch thick, preferably in a food processor. Melt butter in a 6-quart (or larger) stockpot. Add onions; cook, uncovered, over low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. (The long cooking time makes the onions mellow and sweet.) Stir in pepper, paprika and bay leaf; saute over low heat 10 minutes more, stirring frequently. Pour in 6 cans broth and wine. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Dissolve flour in remaining 1 can broth. Stir into boiling soup. Reduce heat and simmer slowly for 2 hours. Adjust color to a rich brown with caramel coloring, season with salt. Refrigerate overnight. To serve, heat soup in microwave or on stove top. If desired, pour into ovenproof crocks or bowls. Top with a slice of bread and a sprinkling of grated cheese. Heat under the broiler until cheese melts and bubbles, about 5 minutes.

Leftover soup can be frozen.
 

Foodie Friday is hosted by Michael at Designs by Gollum.









14 comments:

  1. I have been in the mood for French Onion soup for a little while now. Yours looks fantastic!!

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  2. I have only made French onion soup once before and I loved it. Thanks for reminding me to make it again. I will definitely use this recipe next time!

    Best wishes and happy Foodie Friday!
    Natasha.

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  3. We used to have Marshall Fields, which is now, sadly Macys as well. I love French Onion Soup and will save this recipe!

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  4. Pattie, Very yummy! I love a good french onion soup. And I think the mosaic you did was brilliant! Such a clever idea!
    Yvonne

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  5. OH, this looks straight out of a magazine. The weather went cold this week, even a lot of snow on the ground and I crave warm wonderful soups. Onion soup is one of my favorites. Your mosaic is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. That looks so good, love french onion soup, will keep your recipe.

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  7. wow, looks great...love to try it! happy halloween! :)

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  8. We L-O-V-E French Onion soup. Such a yummy Fall soup. I did not know that it was easily frozen. I don't know why I haven't thought of that, thanks for the tip! Have a great weekend.

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  9. I love a good French Onion Soup and yours looks wonderful. I posted on my blog a few weeks ago with a recipe from Dorrie Greenspan's new cookbook that was a little different. She used chicken stock instead of beef stock. It made for a little lighter in taste. Enjoyed visiting your blog.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  10. This is one of my most favorite soups, thanks for the nice tutorial on how to make it. I will have to attempt it soon.

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  11. It's sad to see the grand old tea rooms of the past fade away. I remember having wonderful lunches with my grandmother at the long ago closed restaurant. French onion is one of my favorite soups.

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  12. I love French Onion soup. Can't wait to try your recipe. Great job on your mosaic! Very nice blog:)

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  13. Now, I'm hungry, and can even smell all of that sweet onion through my computer screen!

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  14. i love french onion soup, i could slurp it up every single day!

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Thank you so much for commenting, I love every one of them! I am, however, unable to respond to anonymous comments.