The Verdict...

Italian Chicken Soup -- everyone liked it.  The favorite element was the orzo pasta, which they at first thought was rice.  I thought it was quite good.  I was a little afraid of all the fennel, but it was good in it.  However, I'm not sure that the homemade stock was worth it.  This soup would be quite easy with store-bought stock, and I don't think the flavor would be that different.  The best phrase to describe it overall -- really good, but nothing special.