Victorian French Onion Soup
Chrissy Kutlenios • January 20, 2025
Holly Hotel's Famous Victorian French Onion Soup!
As a warm treat George made a batch of Holly Hotel's famous Victorian French Onion Soup! As my treat to you, I watched, and took notes and recreated his recipe sized down to 6 servings. George cooks with his heart, and constantly tastes for measurements, so here is a good start to help warm you as we head into below zero temps this weekend!
Remember to taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.
Servings: 6
Time: Approximately 1hr 40mins
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 Cup Salted Butter
- 6 Medium Yellow Onions Sliced
- 1 Cup of White Wine (drink remainder with soup)
- 3 Tbs Brandy (optional)
- 1 Quart of Chicken BROTH
- 1 Quart of Beef BROTH
- 1 1/2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Cloves of Garlic chopped
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Pepper
- 6 oz of Grated Gruyere Cheese (more is better)
- Puff Pastry (we use Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets)
- Egg Wash for Pastry
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- In a large dutch oven, melt butter. Add sliced onions and cook covered for 20 minutes.
- Place pot in oven with the lid slightly ajar to assure onions will brown. Allow onions to cook in oven for one hour, stirring once halfway through to assure onions don't stick and burn.
- Remove the pot from oven and place on stovetop over medium heat. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, stirring and scraping off all the brown flavorful bits until onions are golden brown.
- Turn off heat and pour in wine, and simmer on medium heat and allow liquid to reduce for 5 minutes.
- Then add broths, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to simmer and reduce to low. Simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in Brandy. At this time instruct your assistant to make you a Brandy Old Fashioned for a pre soup Aperitif. Or just pour the wine in glasses if preferred.
- Heat oven to 375ºF.
- Roll out puff pastry and cut in squares large enough to cover entire rim of oven proof soup bowls or ramekins with 1/2 inch pastry hang over.
- Ladle soup into bowls leaving enough space for cheese, and place on a sheet tray.
- Generously sprinkle cheese on top of soup.
- Press cut puff pastry firmly on soup bowls to form a seal. Cup around sides of bowl.
- Brush with egg wash. Pastry will "puff" during baking if seal is tight.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown!
- Enjoy this classic soup served at the Holly Hotel for 45 years!
Wishing you a delightful weekend filled with family, great food, and lots of good football. STAY WARM!
Post pictures and don't hesitate to email George with questions. megiste@gmail.com
As Always,
Chrissy
At The Holly Hotel, we believe in honoring the past while savoring the present, and one of our favorite ways to do that is with a timeless Wisconsin tradition: the Brandy Old Fashioned.
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Watch Christmas at the Holly Hotel ~ The movie! On Amazon. The film can be watched without Ads. Free if you have Amazon Prime. If you do not, it may be rented without Ads for 3.99 (you have a 48 hour rental) On Tubi. The film may be watched for free, with Ads. On Youtube. You can watch FOR FREE! We are so greatful that the movie could feature the inside of the Holly Hotel at Christmas. The fire destroyed everything inside, but certainly not the memories. Hope you enjoy this campy movie, and remember some good times within her walls.... hope to see you all in our restaurant very soon! We remain Greatful, Chrissy and George
Updates on Holly Hotel Reconstruction! Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly... For over 43 years, George and I have warmly honored Christmas at the Holly Hotel. In December, as tradition held, many of you walked through our doors with lovers, family, and friends to meet the fragrance of fresh pine, cinnamon, and delightful aroma from our kitchen. You've watched with swelling hearts the children's choir sing during dining. You have all been greeted with a sincere and heartfelt "Merry Christmas" as you stomped your snow-filled boots in our foyer, only to be instantly transported to Victorian hospitality. We strived to make you feel nostalgic, served, and satiated. It was our distinct pleasure. But not this year, nor last year...and most likely the 2024 Yuletide Season either! Our case continues to work its way through the legal system and, despite our efforts to place this case on a fast track, the court scheduled the trial for August 2024, if we can't resolve the case before then! We continue advancing our position that The Historic Holly Hotel should be entitled to rebuild its west-side wall. Were it not for a fire with an origin that was confirmed to be within the former Arcade building and were it not for the Arcade’s contractor destroying the west-side wall, we would not be in this situation. We will continue trying to move forward to the best of our ability. Many of you have asked how you could help. Your daily emails, antique donations, pictures of Christmases past, prayers, and good wishes fall warmly on our hearts. Thank you for supporting our efforts to reopen. Make Merry this Holiday Season! George and Chrissy