World's Best Cream of Garlic Soup

From Food & Wine Magazine. This smooth soup is a specialty of chef Susan Spicer at Bayona in New Orleans. What seems like a prodigious quantity of garlic and onions is mellowed by the long, slow cooking. If you can, make the soup a day ahead; the flavor will be even better.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 1 pot of soup

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 2  lbs onions, chopped (about 4)
• 2  cups garlic cloves, chopped (about 4 large heads)
• 2  quarts chicken broth (rich stock preferred, use vegetable stock for vegetarian version)
• 1⁄4 lb  bread, cut into chunks (1/2 loaf day-old French bread)

• 1 bouquet garni

• 6  parsley stems, 9 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 1⁄2 teaspoons  dried and 1 bay leaves
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 2  cups half-and-half
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, fresh-ground
•  croutons (optional) or   fried garlic  chips (optional)

Directions

1. In a large pot, heat the oil and butter over low heat. Add the onions and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and beginning to turn golden, about 30 minutes. Raise the heat to moderate and continue cooking the onions and garlic, uncovered, stirring frequently, until deep golden, about 10 minutes longer.
2. Add the stock, bread, bouquet garni, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer about 15 minutes.
3. Remove the bouquet garni and puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Strain the soup back into the pot. Add the half-and-half and pepper and bring back to a boil. Serve topped with the croutons or garlic chips, if you like.