A Famous Bean Soup from the Thumb is Served Everyday in the United States Senate
The small town of Kinde, Michigan was once renowned as the “Bean Capital of the World“. Farmers in the area grew Michigan white navy beans. These beans have been a key ingredient for a soup recipe that has been a staple for over one hundred years in the U.S. Senate dining room. Senate bean soup has been on the dining menu, steadfast, since 1903, the only permanent menu entre. The simple recipe is widely known in the Great Lakes State and over the years home cooks have made all kinds of variations.
U.S. Senate Bean Soup Origins
Senate Bean Soup is one of the Michigan Foods You Have to Try. It’s the ideal comfort food on chilly nights or a thoughtful tailgate treat. Simply made with white canned navy beans, onions, ham hocks, stock, and a few basic spices. Yum.
While beans are still a huge agricultural focus in Michigan’s Thumb region, the mighty sugar beet has nudged the venerable white bean from the first place. However, the temperate climate of the Michigan thumb peninsula that is surrounded by Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay will mean that bean growing will remain part of the area’s agricultural economics and social culture for the foreseeable future.
History of the Famous Soup
In 2003 the 100th anniversary of Senate Bean Soup took place. The Washington Post invited Michigan Senator Carl Levin for lunch and a talk about one o Michigan’s great agricultural exports. Levin noted that it was almost a Patriotic duty to sample the soup from time to time.
In 1988 Senator and One-Time Presidential candidate Bob Dole gave a “Bicentennial Minute” oration on the Senate floor in 1988. “The Washington Times-Herald reported on Sept. 15, 1943, that on the previous day bean soup was not available: Wartime rations had left the kitchen lacking the necessary Michigan navy beans. “Somehow,” Dole said, “by the next day, more beans were found and bowls of bean soup have been ladled up without interruption ever since.”
Senate Bean Soup for over 100 Years
Senate Bean Soup’s following history was found on an old menu of the U.S. Senate dining room. The true origin as to why the soup is on the menu every day is lost to time. However, it appears that Senators from Idaho and Minnesota were the ones who wanted it on the menu. It’s unknown if any Michigan senator had a role in the ingredients. The current menu of the U.S. Senate Dining Room can be found at the link below.
U.S. Senate Bean Soup Recipe
Visting the Senate Dining Room
The Senate Dining Room is off-limits to the general public. If you’re visiting the Capital and call on your Senator or their staff you may get invited for a late lunch. The dress code is all business (Wear a suit), and no cameras are allowed. However, the Capital Cafe is open to the public and shares many of the same menu items.
Related Reading for Michigan Foods
10 Delicious Michigan Foods and Recipes You Have to Try – think you will agree that every state has its favorite foods. Massachusetts has its clam chowder. Louisiana has gumbo, while Texas and Missouri both claim the BBQ has its own. Michigan food is blessed with such variance in culture and resources that you can’t pinpoint any specific Michigan foods as “the” iconic favorite. Here are a few Michigan foods and classic Michigan recipes that are our favorites.
9 Hometown Foods Scream That You’re from Michigan – There is nothing like the familiar Michigan hometown foods where you grew up. If you have spent any time in Michigan, you will find many posts for our love of UP Pasties, Faygo RedPop, BetterMade potato chips, and Vernor’s ginger ale. That is only the beginning. Michigan has unique and tasty varieties of comfort food dishes originating from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the Ohio and Indiana border.
Dill Pickle Soup – Warm and Savory – This is a quick savory hearty main course soup that is perfect for a camp lunch. The potential variations are endless. It’s easy to prepare and this dill pickle soup seems to taste even better the next day. We picked Vlasic dills as they are locally grown and processed in Imlay City. A perfect Michigan meal.
Top 15 Best Foods Which Made Michigan Famous – No trip to Michigan can be complete without trying out some of the famous Michigan foods in the area. Known for its comfort cooking, the Mitten state is famous for re-creating regular dishes by adding a twist like the Detroit-style Pizza, Wet Burritos, Olive Burgers, and Coney Dog.
