Tucked away in a charming corner at Sturbridge Marketplace
Delicious, wholesome soups, sandwiches, quiches and pies
served up in a cozy café atmosphere ... that’s ‘Soup to Nuts’
By Richard Murphy
It is true that Sturbridge is not a
hot spot for the sidewalk cafe. The
closest we come is not even on the
sidewalk. It is indoors in an old mill.
Still, one can sit at its tables and
watch as the world goes by. Well,
the world does not go by, but shop-
pers in the Sturbridge Marketplace
do. For this little spot has its tables
fronting on the walkway where
patrons stroll past.
Sure, it’s a stretch to call Soup to
Nuts a sidewalk cafe, but so what.
It’s even better in some ways. Okay,
so the decor is hardly gallic sophisti-
cation. Rather it is rustic American
in keeping with its surroundings.
Maybe it is not Paris, but in mid win-
ter it is a lot more cozy to sit inside
where it is warm.
What makes it even cozier is the
specialty of the house. Soup to Nuts
is well known for the luscious soups
it serves. I had heard about the
soups from several people, but had
never sat down to try them. In mid
September I took my daughter to
the old mill building and we sat at
one of the cafe tables and perused
the menu. They had a deal for the
soup starved. You could order two
varieties and have it with another
item as well. The day’s specials were
cream of broccoli, corn chowder
and tomato florentine. I asked for
the broc and the chowder and had a
ham quiche made with swiss
cheese. The daughter ordered toma-
to florentine which came with
bread.
My daughter ordered unsweet-
ened iced tea. In keeping with the
side walk cafe meme, I ordered a
glass of cabernet to go with my
meal. Val, our waitress, took our
orders and returned soon with
drinks. She brought our orders in
due time, and we set to compare our
choices. We’re family and gauche
when out together, so we happily
shared and compared.
Our verdict was not long in com-
ing. People who praised the soups
were being reasonable in their com-
THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING
en salad. Beverages range from the Sturbridge with only two people
above mentioned wine and iced running it.” With Val Butler, it is the
tea to hot chocolate and Sam picture of efficiency. In the cur-
rent economy, it can be nothing
3
Adams. It goes without saying, dis-
cernment is necessary in pairing else to survive.
food with drink. John is not a native Sturbridger
“The menu has a John Quinlivan is the man and it was a few twists and turns
full complement of behind this operation. According before he got here. At age 14 in
to John, “You won’t find another upstate New York, he got a call
sandwiches and deli seating 40 people around Continued on page 21
salads, from “real”
turkey breast to
Inspiring Art Fine Craftsmanship Experienced Designers
cranberry walnut
chicken salad.
Beverages range
Art by Design
from wine and iced Your local source
for
tea to hot chocolate beautiful art
and Sam Adams.” & fine frame making
New England
3
Graphics
STURBRIDGE MARKETPLACE
RT. 20 STURBRIDGE
508.347.9655
Outstanding Selection Fine Framing Open 7 Days A Week since
pliments. I wondered why it had
taken me so long to make a pil-
P#
grimage to this nook in Fiskdale.
After all, Soup to Nuts has been in
business 28 years. It has stood the
$5.00 OFF at Noah’s Ark Pet Shop!
test of time.
Of course, I was premature as
soup and quiche do not necessari-
ly a whole meal make. There were
deserts and I am a sucker for pie.
Selections were apple and peach
and blueberry that day and I
ordered the peach. The peach fill-
ing was good, but I loved the crust,
which to my mind is the most
important thing for a pie maker to
get right. For that matter, the
quiche crust was also excellent.
Quiche and soup and pie are
not the sum total of menu choices.
Had we been earlier, a bagel with
cream cheese could have been
ordered or a homemade muffin to
go with coffee. The menu has a
$5 COUPON $5
OFF $5.00 Off a purchase of $25.00 or More OFF
full complement of sandwiches
and salads, from “real” turkey With this coupon. Expires 10/31/09
Cannot be combined with any other offer or sale items. One coupon per visit.
breast to cranberry walnut chick- Not valid on dog and cat food and Frontline or Advantix
THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE 19

Soup to Nuts: the place to meet for a great lunch
John Quinlivan and Val Butler keep things humming in the kitchen at Soup to Nuts, a favorite Sturbridge eatery.
Continued from page 19
from his brother working at the local restau-
rant of the Scotch and Sirloin chain. The broth-
er wanted John to come and wash dishes. It
was not the brother doing John a favor, he
asked because he knew how hard and respon-
sible a worker his sibling was. John stayed on.
The staff took him under their wing and he
kept on getting promoted.
Attending a two year college in his home
area, John continued his career. Eventually he
transferred to the UMass Harbor Campus. This
hardly inhibited a culinary experience.
Continuing to rise in management ranks, John
ran the famous Tap Off Lunches of legendary
Celtics coach, Red Auerbach.
Though he studied Poli- Sci at UMass, he was
doing way too well in the restaurant biz. That’s
why it’s not Senator John Quinlivan.
Government’s loss was Sturbridge’s gain. Fate,
in one of its usual guises stepped in. He was
THE CHRONICLE OF STURBRIDGE COUNTRY LIVING
PHOTO BY RICHARD MURPHY
dating a Clarkie in Worcester and left Boston.
This led to a Route 20 romance as he was hired
as general manager at Ephraim’s in Sudbury.
In 1982 he and a colleague bought MJ’s Fruit
and Nuts and turned it into Soup to Nuts. His
partner left with one of the waitresses to start a
Soup to Nuts on the Cape and we have our ver-
sion as it is now. Val came aboard eight years
ago and John is unstinting in praise of her ded-
ication and professionalism as I am of her crust.
The pies and quiche are her handiwork as the
soups and other offerings are his.
John and Val obviously take pleasure and
pride in Soup to Nuts. Val loves to tell about the
comments of people who praise the soups. She
mentioned folks who purchase large orders of Eat, Drink & Buy
the chicken soup and claimed it cured what ails
them. This should be known by people outside LOCALLY OWNED.
of Sturbridge. I’m notifying the CDC. The
Center for Disease Control should start trials Support your neigh-
now.
THE STURBRIDGE TIMES MAGAZINE 21