Dominican Cream of Pumpkin Soup (Crema de Auyama)

In the colonial district of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the Casas del XVI hotel surrounds visitors with quiet opulence and refined service. If you're lucky enough to arrive in time for lunch, you may be treated to chef Henry Horne's rosemary-accented crema de auyama —Dominican cream of pumpkin soup—served in the shady solitude of the courtyard. Silky-smooth and studded with cubes of queso de freir, a firm white local cheese, it makes a rich first course or a simple, satisfying meal all on its own.