Soup parties: easy fall entertaining

Twice this fall, we've been invited to soup parties. Soup parties are my idea of heaven. I love to host them, love to attend them. Soup is so comforting and warming on a wintry day, and it is so versatile (and forgiving) to make. You can make one pot almost as easily as two. You can make one "fussy" soup that requires attention, and one simple soup that cooks itself. Just add warm bread and an assortment of cheese, a green salad, and some wine and you've got the makings for a really memorable party. Vegetable cheese chowder and butternut squash apple soup were on the menu at the first party we attended. (I brought a frisee salad with coddled egg and warm bacon vinaigrette to round out the meal.) This week we are invited to a friend's house for clam chowder and chicken noodle soup (for the kidlets).  When I host I love to make sweet potato and sausage soup or posole or puree of chick peas and leeks. A really nice cookbook for creative soup ideas is The Covent Garden Soup Company's Book of Soups. Fellow soup lovers—what are some of your favorite party-friendly soups?