vichyssoise

American  

[vish-ee-swahz, vee-shee-swahz] / ˌvɪʃ iˈswɑz, ˈvi ʃiˌswɑz /

noun

1. a cream soup of potatoes and leeks, usually served chilled and often garnished with chopped chives.

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vichyssoise British  

/ viʃiswaz /

noun

1. a thick soup made from leeks, potatoes, chicken stock, and cream, usually served chilled

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Etymology

Origin of vichyssoise

1915–20; < French ( crême ) vichyssoise (cream soup) of Vichy

Explanation

Vichyssoise is a creamy, rich potato and leek soup that's usually served cold. If you're hungry for something other than salad on a hot summer day, you should try making some vichyssoise. The history of this soup is uncertain. One story attributes it to the French king Louis XV, who was terrified of being poisoned and ordered so many people to taste his soup that by the time he ate, it had grown cold. The cook Julia Child insisted it was an American invention, and a New York hotel's French-born chef claimed to have created it in 1917, using a name inspired by his hometown of Vichy in France.

Example Sentences

It’s also great in soups, like a watercress and potato vichyssoise.

From Salon • May 14, 2025

The most luxurious soup in town might be Joy’s warm vichyssoise.

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2022

Normally, entree prices at La Bise are around $35, but for $20 more during restaurant week, you’ll get a three-course dinner with such dishes as cucumber-buttermilk vichyssoise, olive-oil-poached salmon and a blueberry tart for dessert.

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2022

But we're also going to make the case for spring soups — big crocks of cool cucumber soup, cozy vichyssoise with potatoes and leeks, hearty cabbage and sausage soup, and brothy bowls with ramps.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2022

Melinda is sui generis, and so generous too. vichyssoise.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• bouillon
• chowder
• porridge
• puree