By Michelle M. Sharp, Founder and Content Creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers
Bridget O’Boyle wants to nourish the world, one soothing bowl of soup at a time, through her Minneapolis small business Oh Soup! and as a traveling chef for First Descents.
Through Oh Soup! Bridget offers weekly vegetarian soup and bread menus prepared with fresh ingredients with custom topping accompaniments. Orders open on Tuesday with pick ups of prepared quarts and freshly baked bread on Sunday.
With the encouragement of her husband Jim Rabidue, who is the Oh Soup! sourdough bread specialist, Bridget launched Oh Soup! in the early months of 2020. Oh Soup! specializes in
tasty and nutritious vegetarian soups. All the soups come with toppings to customize each bowl and a bread pairing to make it a meal.
Bridget long dabbled in food as a hobby, finding joy in feeding neighbors or teaching kids to cook. She worked as an assistant at Cooks of Crocus Hill as well. Bridget wanted cooking to stay fun so she hesitated to turn it into a job.
“My passion is feeding people,” shared Bridget. “It’s great to hear the personal stories that go beyond saying that my soup is a great comfort food. It fills my soul to know that someone bought my soup for a neighbor who just had surgery or for a friend who just lost their dad.”
For fun Bridget loves reading cookbooks and watching cooking videos. She regularly finds inspiration among New York Times recipes, Milk Street Kitchen, and Cooks Illustrated. She’s obsessed with Chef and Cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi. “I don’t go to concerts, but I go to see cookbook authors. I saw him when he was here last summer at Temple Israel.”
Bridget views cooking as her art, her form of expression. “What interests me the most about food is coming up with new flavor combinations. It’s not just the research—it’s the doing. It’s almost like a science experiment for me. I enjoy the process. Usually I have very good results.” 
A Minnesota native, Bridget grew up with three sisters on a raspberry farm in Inver Grove Heights. Her parents raised cattle and chickens and maintained a humongous garden. “We always had canned vegetables that my mom prepared. I know how much work it was to grow and source our food that way. Even if it costs a little more, I will always source as much as I can from local farmers.” Bridget orders produce directly from Dragsmith Organic Farm, who delivers to the Linden Hills Farmers Market.
When Bridget is not preparing soup or grilled salads (available seasonally) from her Minneapolis kitchen, you’ll find her on the road preparing nourishing meals as a chef for the non-profit First Descents. First Descents provides week-long adventure therapy for people who have or have had cancer. They now offer a parallel program for multiple sclerosis patients and Health Care Workers.
Bridget’s first experience with First Descents was as a participant. “Being a part of First Descents changed the course of my life. When I was diagnosed we had little kids. We had our own business. I felt lost,” shared Bridget. “Being a young person with cancer, you’re terrified. Then you meet this group of people who are totally your people. It’s the only time when your life isn’t consumed by cancer. I feel so fortunate to be on the other side.”
Now that her children are attending college in Montana, Bridget has the flexibility to travel in support of First Decent trips. She cooked for six of them this year. While she would never compare herself to her chef idol, José Andrés, she too helps to make amazing things possible by feeding people when they most need true nourishment.
Bridget spoke of her admiration of José Andrés’ humanitarian work as the founder of World Central Kitchen. José Andrés highlights the unique ability of chefs to
feed the world, to meet people when and where they are hungry. In her corner of Minneapolis and throughout the United States on First Descents programs, Bridget O’Boyle uses her work as a cook to match her values–to nourish the people she can feed exactly the way they need.
Bridget is one of three makers participating in the inaugural Taste Makers class at the Minnesota Arboretum on Saturday, March 16. This intimate class brings makers together to share the behind the scenes of their small businesses. Engage with Minnesota Makers as they share their stories. Learn how these entrepreneurs shape their crafts. Sample delicious products. Take home recipes and samples. Registration available through the Arboretum website.
Follow @ohsoups! on Facebook and Instagram for weekly menus and other creative kitchen creations from Bridget.
Watch Bridget make one of her favorite recipes, Red Curry Sweet Potato Soup, in this video from First Descents.
Learn about the life-changing outdoor adventures of First Descents at their website https://firstdescents.org/who-we-are/ or by following @first_descents.
Visit https://www.ohsoups.com/ to place your order for next Sunday’s pick up.
Follow @meettheminnesotamakers on Facebook and Instagram to discover more of the people who make Minnesota an amazing place to be!
