An excerpt from a short story, “Breach of Promise“, by Damon Runyon:

“One evening when I am in Mindy’s restaurant on Broadway enjoying a little cold borscht, which is a most refreshing matter in hot weather such as is going on at the time, who bobs up but Harry the Horse, and Spanish John and Little Isadore, and I am so surprised to see them that some of my cold borscht goes down the wrong way and I almost choke to death.

However they seem quite friendly, and in fact Harry the Horse pounds me on the back to keep me from choking, and while he pounds so hard that he almost caves in my spine, I consider it a most courteous action, and when I am able to talk again, I say to him as follows:

“Well, Harry, I say, it is a a privilege and a pleasure to see you again, and I hope and trust you will all join me in some cold borscht, which you will find very nice, indeed.”
<end of excerpt>

Cold borscht is indeed a most refreshing matter in hot weather such as is going on. There’s a small deli in walking distance from my home that sells, among other things, beet borscht in jars (from Poland), and “home made” beet borscht in 8 or 16 ounce plastic tubs. I buy the latter. With a dollop of sour cream it is a delightful hot weather treat, and a welcome change up from my usual fare.

My mom hated me for it but I used to swirl a handful of canned crispy onions into her homemade borscht. I miss my mom's homemade borscht.

There are several cold soups that I enjoy during the summer. Gazpacho, Cucumber, Vicysoisse, Leek and Pistacio, Two of the soups are from Eastern or Central Europe; Cherry, and Borscht.

I love soup of any kind; hot and cold

Worked at a place where they made some pretty amazing cold potato-leek and gazpacho.

You need more salt and seasoning than with a hot soup as the cold tends to dull your palate a little bit.

My buddy's wife is from Ukraine...LOVELY young woman. She can make a borscht that you can't stop eating. I had had borscht before at an "authentic" Russian restaurant, but it didn't impress. When my buddy said his wife was making borscht, I wasn't excited; but mother raised me to try something to be polite. Apparently there are HUNDREDS of techniques/recipes to make borscht and hers hit a home run!!! After the first spoonful, I wanted to dunk my head in the pot.

About this time of year I always make a huge pot of gazpatcho using fresh vegetables from the garden, thank for this thread reminding me to do such. Didn't grow cucumbers this year, but the store-bought aren't usually that bad (and they don't grow into a six-footer overnight if unpicked).

Soups like borscht are highly underrated. On a cold Winter day, a nice bowl of borscht with a dollop of sour cream and some crusty bread....so good.

Now that it's Summer time, I should work on a gazpatcho

There are as many borscht recipes as there are families in eastern Europe. I don't care for the versions with meat.

We make ours as a Christmas Eve traditional meal along with pierogi. Grandma used to serve it room temp, but I prefer it hot to melt the sour cream.

I can't say that I have had any in years, but I do like it with that cool sour cream.

Since our inaugural experience with borsch was in Siberia, and since that is where we got our recipe, we have only enjoyed it hot and of course with smetana—i.e. sour cream. The borsch my wife makes is perhaps I’m prejudiced—superb.
We recently found a Russian deli in nearby Poway, and bought some frozen pilmeni. But haven’t tried them yet.

My Russian / Polish grandmother made incredible borscht.

Good lord! Last I made was in September 2018 using nice beets from a friend's garden.
And yes I love the stuff (I favor chunky beets with cabbage recipes) and it has been far too long since I last had any.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
My Russian / Polish grandmother made incredible borscht.

mine too. All my grandparents were Russian/Eastern Europe immigrants. It was a fairly regular part of dinner at grandma's.

I could never stand the stuff. I like some other cold soups like gazpacho and I like beets but a bowl of borscht with a dollop of sour cream front of me made me gag.

Me personally love all kinds of soup...But I have a younger brother that always complained that soups were for sick people.......... drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
Good lord! Last I made was in September 2018 using nice beets from a friend's garden.
And yes I love the stuff (I favor chunky beets with cabbage recipes) and it has been far too long since I last had any.

Great looking borscht! And a vintage-pattern Corelle soup bowl to boot. Thank for the photo!

"Waiter -- this soup is cold!"

Never had it but I'll try almost anything . Kinda hard to find in the deep South .

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:

Never had it but I'll try almost anything . Kinda hard to find in the deep South .

Where y'at in Louisiana? If near New Orleans, check "The Green Room" -- they show a couple varieties on their menu.

I'm an hour away from New Orleans but I try to avoid going there as much as possible .

As pictured it is best with a good dollop of sour cream on top.