A new Super Bowl Champion was crowned on Feb. 3 when the Baltimore Ravens of the east coast played the San Francisco 49ers from the west coast.

The week before, ArtsQuest sponsored Souper Bowl IV on the former Bethlehem Steel property in south Bethlehem. Restaurant and pub chefs from across the Lehigh Valley showcased their soup creations with the ultimate goal of being named "Souper Bowl Champs."

More than 450 soup tasting attendees sampled 35 different soups presented by 20 Lehigh Valley restaurants.

"It was difficult to choose a favorite, but I liked the halupki soup best. I will definitely attend again," said second-time attendee, Kathy Colarusso of Whitehall.

The halupki soup was prepared by the Hampton Winds, Northampton Community College culinary students.

Colarusso attended the Souper Bowl with her sister, Sue Christoff and her husband Larry, of Northampton.

"I liked the chocolate soup (Congo cocoa chocolate soup) and the berry soup (banana berries Chambord)," said Sue Cristoff.

Both soups were prepared by the Gander Room, Main Street, Bethlehem. The banana berries Chambord won the prize for the most Original soup.

"I was disappointed the chocolate soup did not win," Sue Cristoff said.

"I enjoyed it! I find the soups I like and keep going back in those lines," said Larry Christoff.

Jena Lilly and Aaron Andresen of Northampton were among the satisfied Souper Bowl attendees.

"The soups were good and very filling. They had a nice variety," Lilly Andreson said. "I had attended the Appetizer Bowl and definitely wanted to come here. I love soup; I often eat soup as my meal."

"This was my first Souper Bowl and it did not disappoint. My favorite soup was the Thai green curry and shrimp soup," said Annie Mehalshick of Catasauqua.

Her friend, Natalie Rutman, also from Catasauqua, added, "This is wonderful. Very well run. I always look forward to the ArtsQuest events."

Tasting one's way through 35 small cups of soup is quite a feat. Tasters walked about the Yuengling Musikfest Café with plastic spoons in hand moving from table to table tasting the wonderful offerings.

Many participants narrowed down their soup choices by reading the soup descriptions and ingredients listed in front of each soup vessel before deciding on what soups to taste.

The winner of the Best Ethnic Soup was Thai Green Curry and Shrimp Soup prepared by chef Cathy Bodish, owner of Cathy's Creative Catering & Café, Catasauqua. This soup was also the First Runner-up in the People's Choice Awards (voted by the attendees). Her Chicken & Mushroom Marsala Soup took the top prize.

The second runner up was the Banana Berries Chambord created by the Gander Room's chef, Bethlehem. This soup also won the Most Original Soup.

The Rhode Island Crab and Clam Chowder prepared by the Hops Fogelsville Hotel chefs won the prize for the Best Cream Based Soup. The Best Chowder was won by Vintage Restaurant and Bar, Easton, for their Spanish Crab Chowder.

Iron Lake's Country Club won the prize for Best Vegetarian Soup with Roasted Apple Butternut Squash with Dumpling Soup.

The Best Meat-based Soup was the Pork Carnitas Chili Verde Soup prepared by the Copperhead Grill.

"We are extremely pleased with the turn out and we appreciate the restaurants' participation," said Julie Benjamin, vice president of community partnerships.

The soup judges this year included Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan; Dr. Johnny S. Chung and Dr. Badar Jan of Kevitch and Chung Aesthetics Surgery Associates; Carol Koenig, Levitt Pavilion board member and interior designer; Denise Rohrbach, administrator at the Rehabilitation Hospital at Grand View and food enthusiast; and Bill White, Morning Call columnist and blogger.