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From Merriam-Webster:

vi·chys·soise
Pronunciation: \ vi-she-swäz [you say the last syllable, "swahz"; the Merriam-Webster robotman will say it for you over here, and his voice is very cooling]
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from feminine of vichyssois of Vichy, from Vichy, France
Date: 1939
: a soup typically made of pureed leeks or onions and potatoes, cream, and chicken stock and usually served cold

If this sounds icky to you, you need to try it—it is a perfect and beautiful hot-weather food, it is ridiculously easy to make (you don't have to be anywhere near the hot stove), and Julia Child's recipe is (in its most basic form) vegan. Personally, I recommend you use chicken or veggie stock instead of the water, definitely do the puree step, and stir in at least a bit of cream. (I also sautee the leeks in butter, then add the potatoes and water/stock, but this increases your hot-stove [and fat] quotient.)

Having a pot of this in the fridge will improve your outlook immensely. Enjoy with a very cold glass of rosé.

Photo by wesh from The Stranger's flickr pool.