Soup and Stews by Lea sounds like one of those incredible finds that cruisers occasionally happen onto. Now, after reading our fearless roving reporter, Captain Jane Tigar’s, message below, you’ll be “in the know” whenever you happen by the charming community of Cocoa, FL!!!!!

Lea's "real" son behind the counter here; everyone seems to call Lea "Mom" -- even we did and that was before dessert.

When I asked the waiter for an allergy check on the seafood stew and he turned around and called out to the woman scurrying past him, “Mom, does the seafood stew have any dairy in it?”
I knew we were in for a treat.
Yes, this is Mom’s cooking for those of us whose Moms are really really really good cooks and for those of us who wish our Moms were. Don’t let the name or the constant running of Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi footage on the TV screen fool you, Soups & Stews by Lea is a whole lot more than great soups and stews. A short walk from Cocoa Village Marina, where Lea and her family live on their boats, Soups & Stews also serves up ceviche, paella, salads, home-made empanadas, sandwiches (from the Cuban American to the Turkey Trot) as well as home made desserts including several different cheesecakes, flourless chocolate cake and creme brulee.
We can personally vouch for the shrimp mahi spicy stew — thick with seafood, spicy and full of flavor (a lot of herbs in there, explained Lea), the black bean soup, a Greek salad which was so big that, unless you know my first mate, you’d be shocked he ate the whole thing. When I say Greek salad — I don’t mean those flavorless iceberg lettuce numbers with a sprinkle of feta and some olives. This was fresh mixed field greens piled high, with real homemade Greek vinaigrette, and every ingredient high quality and full of flavor. Even a side salad was generous and excellent — with wonderful sweet peppers, marinated artichokes, hot house cucumbers and shaved onion.

Lea advising a customer on the important subject of which Empanada to choose.

The menu offers a wide range of food with an occasional Cuban accent. Here are some items from the menu the night we were there: Meatballs in Red Wine Sauce, Chorizo with Potatoes, Ciregnola Olives infused in Citrus White Wine, Paella, Pork Loin in Mojo with Rice, Black Beans and Yucca, Classy Chicken Salad (marinated diced roasted chicken with cranberries, walnuts, tomatoes, mixed greens and gorgonzola cheese.
A huge slice of Lea’s house-made –she made it that morning — blueberry cheesecake reduced my otherwise voluble first mate to silence. Lea came by to check on him and when he looked up in wonder, she said: “This cheesecake, it’s good for your sex life.”
If you look around the restaurant, you’ll see bold and sassy graphics and sayings on the walls, the counters, the table tops… the floor. This is no chain restaurant (though now that I mention it, this is a place I’d love to see at every cruising stop) and the graphics, like the food, are also house-made. Lea’s previous business was digital imaging and signage. When the economy took a downturn, she thought to herself, what did you do in a depression? “You open a soup kitchen.”
This is no depression soup kitchen, this is one uplifting place. Lea is fun, bubbly, and really cares that you love what you are eating. She came by the table several times to make sure we were happy and that we didn’t leave a thing on our plates or in our bowls. She didn’t know I am the Fearless Roving Reporter Captain Jane — we were just two bedraggled looking cruisers coming in from the cold hoping for a cup of soup. What a surprise find this was for us. This is real food made fresh with honest ingredients and most important, made with love. Guaranteed.
And get this — Soup & Stew offers free delivery of food to your boat at Cocoa Village Marina, or even at the anchorage by the bridge. (321)-504-4004.
Captain Jane Tigar

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Cocoa Village Marina