Soup Sells Out For ‘Zaidie’ Cause

For a perfectly planned and executed event on Feb. 25, Jenny Levison, a.k.a. “Souper Jenny,” aligned the sunny Sunday weather and 24 soup stations to raise money for her cherished Zaidie Project among her spacious garden and parking lot.

Starting at noon at the Souper Jenny location on Huff Road, Levison was manning the entrance station with her golden ladle and a handmade “Welcome” sign. Around 300 prepaid tickets allowed guests to sample the soups, beer, bread, and brownies with the benefit proceeds totaling approximately $10,000.

Three generations of the bands’ fans: Amanda Winton, Betty Mislow, and Lisa Banov.

Levison told the AJT, “What a gorgeous day to have ‘sold out’ at our 300 limit and add a nice increase to our annual charity budget that allows us to donate 800 to 1,000 quarts of soup per week.” The “sell out” part was literal, as on the Wednesday prior, social media lit up with folks trying to buy scarce tickets.

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As an extra bonus, fans got to slap their knees and toe tap to two local bands, Peach Jam and Cheap Seats, who also donated their time and musicality. One fan commented, “How did she manage to find two bands with all Jewish members?”

Jenny’s older brother, Mike, was a soup server.

Between band sets, Levison presented the Golden Ladle Award to the top three chef soup preparers. Peanut Chili took home third place; Thai Basil Chicken captured second place; and the overall first-place winner was Dill Pickle Soup.

Souper Jenny manager Keith Yaeger, along with wife theatrical director and educator Mira Hirsch, were pleased with the turnout, and said, “Many factors came together in this united effort. Our staff is totally volunteering. The beer, brownies, and bread (Alon’s) were all donated along with the 24 soup stations.”

Peach Jam played several favorites like, “Tequila Sunrise,” and “The Weight.”

Some of the other favorite soup offerings were: Tomato Feta, Vegetarian Lasagna, Winter Veggie, Creamy Lemon Salmon with Fried Leeks, Cream of Mushroom, and Red Miso Squash. Chef Jonathan Butler was dolling out slabs of homemade, hormone-free Banner Butter made from “happy cows.” Not all ladlers were chefs, as illustrated by Jenny’s older brother, Mike, being a good sport dishing out the Vegetarian Lasagna Soup.

The Zadie (Yiddish for “grandfather”) Project is a nonprofit feeding Atlanta’s hungry children, families, and seniors, so named for Jenny’s recently deceased father, Jarvin, who motivated her to cook and get involved in the community. It’s his turkey chili recipe that is still the most popular soup in the chain. The Project turned eight years old in December 2023.

Keith Yaeger and Mira Hirsch were happy that the overall effort and volunteering was so united.

Fan Lisa Banov, with her mother, Betty Mislow, came to see the bass player in Cheap Seats and said, “I love Souper Jenny and her commitment to worthwhile causes and charities.”

Scott Jolles mentioned that he was into the bands, while wife Karen liked the Thai Chicken Cauliflower soup. Rick Swerdlin sang the praises of singer Tracy Holzer as “the best.”

Cheap Seats’ drummer Mindy Grossman posed with Billy Balser, guitar and vocals.

The first band, Cheap Seats, featured female drummer Mindy Grossman, who told the AJT that she was happy to return as percussionist, having recovered from a car accident in which she suffered a severed thumb and other broken bones. The second band, Peach Jam, rolled through favorites like “Tequila Sunrise,” “The Weight,” “The Boxer,” “Dead Flowers,” “Mustang Sally” and “Layla.” Vocalist and harmonica player Holzer brought up son Justin, the sound engineer, for a special father-son duet.