Fall is officially here, and Panera Bread is celebrating by tapping two stars from one of the season’s coziest comfort shows to reveal their seasonal menu of comfort foods.
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 24, the bakery company’s fall lineup will be available nationwide — including the return of the Black Bean Soup after a seven-year hiatus.
At the heart of the menu is the “Fall for Your Favorites Meal,” featuring the beloved Black Bean Soup, Fireside Chili and Autumn Squash Soup.
Like a warm bowl of soup, nostalgic TV rewatches are a vital part of the fall season.
“Gilmore Girls” stars Matt Czuchry and Jared Padalecki — who played Rory Gilmore’s boyfriends Logan and Dean, respectively, on the hit TV show — star in the new campaign to put the best features of each soup in the spotlight, which mirror the personalities of each of Rory’s three main suitors.
The Hearty Fireside Chili is a rich chili made with beef, kidney beans, fire-roasted tomatoes and green chili peppers, simmered in broth with chili spices and cilantro.
The chili is described as “the reliable one” that’s “always there for you” and “feels like home,” a nod to Padalecki’s character Dean Forester, whom Rory dates in high school.
Autumn Squash Soup is a seasonal classic at Panera, featuring butternut squash and pumpkin blended with vegetable broth, honey, apple juice, and warm spices like cinnamon and curry, finished with sweet cream and topped with roasted pumpkin seeds.
The autumn classic is depicted as “more sophisticated” and “rich” — much like Rory’s college boyfriend, Czuchry’s Logan Huntzberger.
Then there’s the “bad boy,” the Black Bean Soup, which Padalecki said “back and hotter than ever.” The characterization of the soup as “brooding, mysterious, hot” is a reference to Milo Ventimiglia’s Jess Mariano, often categorized as the “black cat boyfriend.”
The fan-favorite soup favorite is a vegetarian soup with black beans, onion, celery, red bell pepper, carrots, lima beans, potatoes, lemon juice and garlic.
“Fall and Panera soup just go together, just like a nostalgic rewatch of your favorite fall show,” Padalecki said in a statement.
“It was so much fun to get back into the autumn spirit for this campaign and it didn’t hurt having some delicious soups and new menu items from Panera while on-set.”
Also on the fall menu are two new items that highlight the flavors of fall — a Crème Brûlée Latte and Harvest Medley Chicken Salad.
Harvest Medley Chicken Salad features mixed greens and fresh arugula tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, topped with whole grain blend, grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, feta, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, toasted pecans and crunchy beet strips.
The Crème Brûlée Latte is freshly brewed espresso, foamed milk and naturally flavored crème brûlée syrup, topped with whipped cream and salted caramel sugar.
Plus, Panera’s seasonal Pumpkin Cookie is back.
“Fall is one of our favorite seasons at Panera, when we get to spotlight warm, comforting classics alongside fresh, seasonal flavors,” Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer at Panera Bread, said in a statement.
“This year, we’re celebrating not just with the return of guest-favorite soups, but also with playful content that personifies them in a way fans will instantly recognize. It’s all about delivering the cozy, craveable flavors our guests love – and yes, that includes the long-awaited return of Black Bean Soup.”
The company teased the return of the Black Bean Soup on Instagram, and fans were ecstatic to see the photo.
“OMGGGGG the black bean soup is back I’m crying,” one person wrote.
“you know what we really asked for,” another commented.
“BLACK BEAN SOUP ! #1 BEAN FAN ! I LOVE BEANS !” someone exclaimed.
“Tears of joy to see black bean soup returning!!!!” a comment said.
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