Soup Nazi
From Wikisein
In this episode, Jerry introduces George and Elaine to a soup restaurant run by a draconian owner, whom the customers have nicknamed the "Soup Nazi" (it is revealed in the last episode that the Soup Nazi's name is actually Yev Kasem). The restaurant is based on Soup Kitchen International in New York City. The owner enforces strict rules about ordering: State your order, then move quickly down the line with your money ready. Jerry coaches Elaine on the rules, but she disregards them, wasting the Soup Nazi's time and infuriating him. He kicks her out, yelling, "No soup for you!", which would become a catch phrase. The episode also includes a plot about an armoire that Elaine buys and then leaves on the street, asking Kramer to watch it. It is stolen right in front of him by a pair of effeminate, antique-loving men, who Kramer later refers to as "street toughs." Later, Elaine finds the Soup Nazi's recipes and distributes them widely in an act of vengeance, ruining his business. Larry Thomas received an Emmy nomination for his role as the Soup Nazi.
Yev Kasem (a.k.a. the Soup Nazi) was a fictional character portrayed by Larry Thomas in the sitcom Seinfeld. The Soup Nazi was a stone-faced immigrant chef with a thick Stalin-esque moustache, who was well-known throughout the city for his delicious soups. He demanded that all customers in his restaurant follow his meticulous (and seemingly arbitrary) soup-ordering instructions to the letter, lest they be refused service by his insistent avowal, "No soup for you!" Some of the soups that he served were cold cucumber, corn and clam chowders, jambalaya, turkey chili, mulligatawny, crab and lobster bisques. He encountered his Waterloo when Elaine discovered his secret recipes. He made a brief cameo in the Seinfeld series finale.
His character was based on an actual New York City soup vendor named Al Yeganeh, who runs Soup Kitchen International in midtown Manhattan. The store is open only part of the year. In the summer, his customers are greeted with a sign indicating he has gone to "Argentina for the winter".
According to an AP Article published April 29, 2005, Yeganeh plans to open a chain of soup stores under the name "The Original Soup Man" across the country. The first franchise was slated to open in Ridgewood, N.J. in the summer of 2005. His company, Soup Kitchen International, plans to open 1000 outlets nationwide. Another franchise of the Original Soup Man recently opened in Princeton, NJ.
Trivia
- Like Jackie Chiles, the Soup Nazi has appeared in commercials after the end of the series. The Center for Consumer Freedom has him denying food to people he considers too fat.
- In the background, you can see a sign in the restaurant saying "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
- Yeganeh dislikes the Nazi label, but he is renowned both for his excellent soups and for his rude treatment of customers. Cosmo Kramer's inspiration, Kenny Kramer, agrees that Yeganeh's nickname is unfair, and jokingly suggests his nickname be changed to Al, The Soup Rat Bastard."
- The fictional restaurant featured has a sign stating "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."
[edit] Menu
- MED 16 OZ. $2.99
- LARGE 32 OZ. $3.99
- Mulligatawny
- Crab Brisque
- Turkey Chili
- Jambalaya
- Black Bean
- Chicken Broccoli
- Clam Brisque
- Split Pea
- French Onion
- Mushroom Barley
- Tomato Rice
ALL SELECTIONS MADE FRESH DAILY
NO SUBSITUTIONS OR PHONE ORDERS
