The Best Of team knows how to beat sweltering summer heat, and our list of cool, shady places to find a cold drink is extensive. Shocking as it may seem, however, alcohol is neither our exclusive coolant nor always the best choice.
When the midday sun is upon us, we escape the humid confines of the Best Of lair (in the name of investigative journalism, of course) and indulge in the cold comfort that is best provided by a bowl of gazpacho - the ultimate summer soup.
Gazpacho is a traditional Spanish soup that, despite being served chilled, has a spicy warmth imparted by bell peppers and garlic. A vegetarian dish low in both calories and fat, it satisfies all but the garlic-averse.
Though its base is made from tomato juice, dispel the notion that gazpacho is a kissing cousin of the thick Campbell's cream of tomato soup Mom would ladle out on cold winter days. This is an altogether different potion.
Traditional gazpacho is chock full of diced cucumber, bell pepper and onion. Add a smattering of chopped olives and hard-boiled egg, some fresh crushed garlic and perhaps a chunk of ice to keep it cool - ole!
There are a number of restaurants that serve this simple rustic country soup and given its humble ingredients and the ease with which it is prepared and served, we were surprised that some cafes charge a fortune for it.
At nearly $7 a bowl, Gold Cup's gazpacho (Hr 36) is the priciest we tried. A small bowl of the tomato base was served with a side dish of diced onion, egg, green pepper and croutons.
Barcelona serves a tasty but altogether non-traditional variant for Hr 17. The ingredients are blended together to create a zesty if fairly unappetizing-looking gray-colored soup with the consistency of Cream of Wheat.
But the best gazpacho in the capital is offered up by Podil's unassuming yet bustling Corsair Cafe. Located in a huge blue tent adjacent to the Samson fountain on Kontraktova Ploshcha, Corsair's gazpacho (Hr 5) is not only the least expensive we sampled, but also the closest to the traditional Andalusian classic. The serving is copious and packed with crisp chunks of cucumber and bell pepper. Garlic's influence on Corsair's entry is pronounced, however, and the soup should be approached with caution if your next stop is a first date or a job interview.

Cutline
A shady spot on a hot day, a bowl of Gazpacho, a few slices from a crusty baton and a cold draft beer - ah!

BOX:
Corsair Cafe.
Kontraktova Ploshcha, Podil.
Tel: 417-6410.
Open 24 hours.