Soup for You!

[Dback Jon]

'Seinfeld' inspiration offers soup line

No 'no soup for you' -- 'SoupMan' to sell products in grocery stores across the nation.
April 22, 2005: 12:05 PM EDT
By Jessica Seid, CNN/Money staff writer


Al Yeganeh, the inspiration for a famous episode of "Seinfeld."


NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The soup chef famous for inspiring a "Seinfeld" episode character isn't saying "No soup for you" anymore. In fact, he's trying to bring his creations into homes across America.

Soup Kitchen International Inc. and the "Original SoupMan," Al Yeganeh, announced Friday that a retail line of "heat-n-serve" soups will be available next month in select grocery stores. National roll-out is slated for September. The 15-ounce packages of turkey chili, jambalaya and seafood bisque, among other offerings, will cost $3.50-$5.50.

Soup Kitchen International said Yeganeh will supervise the production of the soup that caused people to wait in line outside his mid-Manhattan storefront.

It was those lines, and the purported attitude of the eatery owner, that resulted in the famous "The Soup Nazi" episode in the seventh season of the comedy series. The owner was portrayed by actor Larry Thomas.

"Al's creations will define the super premium soup category, while adding a dash of attitude and fun to his recipes with his 'soupside' manner -- who can resist?" John Bello, Chairman and CEO of Soup Kitchen International, said in a statement.

Soup Kitchen International, which said its investors include Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, added that there are plans to open 1,000 The Original SoupMan restaurants over the next seven years throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Promoting the Seinfeld link marks a change of heart for Yeganeh. According to the "Seinfeld" Web site, he was unhappy with the publicity from the episode and was quoted as saying he threatened to "smack" comedian Jerry Seinfeld's face.

A spokesman for the "SoupMan" confirmed that originally Yeganeh did not want to be associated in any way with the hit show, although he now gives a "slight nod" to the jokes that made him famous.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Hey, that episode was just on last night.

I wonder if they did that on purpose like when they replay the holiday episodes on those specific holidays.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The shop is open again !!

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/07/20/new.york.soupman.reopening/#fbid=OM_fkIxChGK

Real-life 'Soup Nazi' reopens shop in Manhattan
From Jessica Naziri, CNN

New York (CNN) -- Get in line, have your money ready and move to your extreme left -- Al Yeganeh, "the Original SoupMan," is back. He reopened his famed soup store Tuesday in midtown Manhattan.

Yeganeh and his Soup Kitchen International first rose to fame after he was caricatured in the long-running NBC-TV show "Seinfeld" as the "Soup Nazi," a cranky and demanding soup-stand cook who bellowed "No soup for you!" to customers who didn't follow his strict rules for ordering.

Yeganeh, who first opened his shop in 1984, closed the store six years ago, but kept the lease to pursue franchise opportunities and a line of frozen soups with the Original SoupMan brand.

Loyalty to the brand apparently has not faltered. Avid soup fans lined up around the block Tuesday during New York's steamy heat wave to get a taste.

Greg Packer secured the first spot in line by getting to the storefront at 5 a.m. "I love Al. I love soup. And I can't wait for that first bowl of soup," said Packer, who chose chicken vegetable.

Daniel Hank, also in the line, said he didn't care if it was 90 degrees or 90 below outside -- he would wait for his favorite soup, the lobster bisque.

"It's like there's an entire lobster in the cup. You open up the top and a claw comes out and strangles your taste buds. It's so special," Hank said.

Chef Dan Rubano, who mentored with Yeganeh, was at the store a day before its opening, helping to set things up.

"We are keeping the original recipes and adding more to the menu," Rubano said.

Although Yeganeh didn't stop by for opening, Rubano said he's expected to make sporadic appearances.

According to the "Seinfeld" Web site, Yeganeh was at first unhappy with the publicity from the "Soup Nazi" episode and was quoted as saying he threatened to "smack" comedian Jerry Seinfeld's face.

Seinfeld, whose title character was banned during the "Soup Nazi" episode, declined to comment on the store's reopening.