French Onion Soup
When I was growing up, Long Island, NY, was my home away from home. Every summer, and some winters, our family went to visit my grandparents there. Most of my extended family would come in from upstate New York, New Jersey, and even all the way from California for family reunions. We would all squeeze into my grandparents’ condo on the beach for delicious Shabbat meals, music, and long lazy days playing ping-pong or backgammon by the pool.
My Great Aunt Lil, a spirited lady, would pick me up in her arms and lovingly pinch my cheeks and proclaim in Yiddish to all, “Just look at this shayna punim (pretty face)!” My great Uncle Sol would show me some fun math trick with his hands, which I would spend hours trying to emulate. My cousin, Somer, always came in on the train from New Jersey to stay overnight with us for a few days. Somer, who was fifteen years older than me and more like an uncle, was tall and lanky like my father and had a warm, hearty laugh. We would spend the weekend days body surfing in the ocean with my dad and brother, while the nights were spent staying up late talking, having tickle fests and laughing uncontrollably.
During our visits to Long Island, my grandfather, Charlie, was always behind the camera, capturing the moments on film, which he loved to turn into slide shows for us to watch later. My grandmother, Shoshana, would pack us delicious chicken salad sandwiches from the leftover, Friday night chicken on Shabbat, which we would take to the beach on Saturday. Those summers spent in Long Island were the ultimate fun-filled vacations, complete with great home-cooked food and some of the best dining local restaurants and delis had to offer.
One favorite spot in Long Island was Maron’s Deli, where our large extended family would fill the upper level for dinners that always went late into the evening. Maron’s was a well-known, Jewish delicatessen where it wasn’t uncommon to see people like Mel Brooks breezing in on a Tuesday afternoon to order a corned beef on rye.
I was a ridiculously picky eater, but one time, my mother convinced me to try the French Onion Soup with a thick layer of melted mozzarella cheese on top. I instantly fell in love! Maybe it’s the French on my mom’s side (my middle name is Renée, after all) or maybe it was just the mozzarella cheese. Who doesn’t like melted mozzarella cheese? Whatever the reason, my love affair with French Onion Soup began that night and continued on throughout the years. That is, whenever I could find it on the menu.
It’s been entirely too long since our paths have crossed and today’s rainy weather makes it sound oh, so appealing! So, I thought I would try re-creating my childhood favorite for the first time.
Throughout history, onion soups were common around the world and affordable since onions were easy to grow and readily available. The modern version of French Onion Soup was developed in the 18th century, in Paris, France. This recipe has just a few simple ingredients but it’s just as delicious as what you can find in restaurants. Enjoy!
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