nearly two years ago i started my affair with pearl barley, through a now tried and tested soup.

yet again i remembered the pleasure of pearl barley, and of kale. except tonight it was silverbeet, no kale at the co-op. and then even more exciting to wander home at midnight to find jane going back for seconds of the soup still in the pot on the stove. not quite knowing what the secret ingredient was (the pearl barley!) and challenging me to a winter of soup-offs. the challenge is on.