Way to beat the fall chill:

Mark David’s Bakery and Cafe

Mom was right. A great big bowl of steaming hot soup is a great way to ward off November’s cold. When you want something other than the same old canned fare, try dipping your spoon into the daily soups at Mark David’s Bakery and Cafe, 619 Genesee St., Delafield.

Made from fresh, organic Wisconsin-grown products, these soups are guaranteed not to be some bland version of corporate chicken noodle. What customers will find are specialties like zucchini gorgonzola, organic curried carrot, ginger parsnip and Calilou, a Caribbean-derived soup featuring okra, spinach, bacon and coconut milk. Chicken noodle is served, but the chickens are roasted at the cafe.

All of these palate-pleasing creations and many more are from the brain of owner, Mark David Quandt. “I would not be exaggerating if I said I had thousands of ideas for soup,” he admits.

The cafe serves its soup in a bowl with a side of hearth-baked bread and butter. The really hungry can add half a sandwich that’s equally as creative like the turkey, walnut and gorgonzola cheese selection. Customers can enjoy the warmth of the fireplace in the cafe’s expanded dining area while eating their meal.

“Soup just rounds out everything,” Quandt says. “You can serve it with good bread and a salad. It’s a satisfying meal. And it’s a convenient answer to today’s busy schedule.”