A former computer programmer quit his job and became the Soup Peddler
AUSTIN, TEXAS ? David Ansel, aka the Soup Peddler, is standing on the back patio of his magnificently funky south Austin home, dressed only in shorts and a smile, his mop-top of curls pleasantly unruly. He unsheathes a machete, holds it high above his head (both for power and dramatic effect), and then whacks down hard, halving the acorn squash on the tray before him.
Folks who aren’t at home leave a cooler and ice and a check for him. Folks who are home pop out to say hello, share a story, and inquire about his latest adventures. He also maintains an amusing and informative website (www.souppeddler.com), which includes weekly updates, such as the history of his latest offering.
This community bonding leads to countless rewards beyond the financial. Ansel, a hippie Mister Rogers, has been so inspired by his customers, he’s incorporated them into a book he’s developing. The tome features accounts of the Soup Peddler as he winds his way through various adventures, from procuring a certain type of basil for a Thai soup to seeking wisdom from the proprietor of a local coffeehouse.
https://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1022/p14s02-lihc.html?entryBottomStory