On Friday, January 10, Wintersköl’s Soupsköl took over town, featuring the best soups from Aspen’s best restaurants. Soupsköl is a soup contest judged by the public to determine which restaurant has the best soup in town. This year’s winner was the Square Grouper. The winners in the past include:  Ute City (2012), Merry Go Round (2011), Garnish Cafe and Catering (2010-2007), Elk’s Club (2006), Gwyn’s High Alpine (2005), and Johnny McGuire’s (2004).

Last year, over 3,000 locals and tourists attended this event and this year, it seemed just as packed if not even more. Some of those people were volunteering AHS students, including freshman Kaya Storm, juniors Caroline DeRosa, Gaby Magana, Margo Wagner, Marie Wolf, and more.

“I have been coming to Soupsköl for longer than I can remember and this year was my first year volunteering for the event. There were all sorts of vibes; everyone had smiles on their faces even though it was freezing outside. The DJ was blasting everything from Beyoncé’s Single Ladies to Lorde so there were plenty of people dancing, ” Storm said.

Wintersköl, Aspen’s annual “toast to winter,” dates back to 1951. Jack DePagter, the previous owner of the Holland House, created Wintersköl. Noticing a silence in business during the three weeks after Christmas, DePagter decided that there must be something he could do to bring people into Aspen. His idea: a winter carnival to celebrate Aspen’s unique lifestyle. With that idea, Wintersköl was born.

“Wintersköl is always my favorite time of year so I was so happy I got to volunteer for one of my favorite events this year, Soupsköl. Volunteering at Soupsköl means trash duty. We were responsible for checking trashcans until they are full enough to empty in the dumpster down the street,” Magana said. “ It doesn’t sound like the best volunteer opportunity but it was super fun because I did it with a group of friends.”

This years contestants include 39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel, Aspen Meadows, BB’s Kitchen, Big Hoss Grill, Boogie’s Diner, B.P.O.E Elk’s #224, The Cantina, Chair 9 at the Little Nell, Diamond J Guest Ranch, Finbarr’s Irish Pub, Kenichi Aspen, Little Annie’s Eating House, Mezzaluna, Red Onion, Ryno’s Pies & Pints, Square Grouper, Ute City, White House Tavern, and more.

“The only soup I got the chance to try was Ute City’s butternut squash soup. It was amazing. I was shocked it didn’t win,” Magana said.

The registration was free and the set up was simple. All soup must have been made in a certified/licensed kitchen and all entrants must have had a Colorado Retail Food & Service License. Each business/participant was provided a six-foot banquet table, ten-foot by ten-foot tent space, two-foot by four-foot participant name banner, and serving cups for samples. Any other decorations and serving equipment had to be provided by the contestant. Each contestant was urged to make at least thirty plus gallons of their soup for all the hungry customers.

Just as every year in the past, Soupsköl was a hit. The 2014 winner, Square Grouper, walked away with few other Aspen restaurants posses starting their year out on a very good note.