Spring Break Bread Puddings from VA to NC

I was lured to Meadowview, VA, to the Harvest Table Restaurant because I heard that they made great bread pudding.  Yes, I drove across the Virginia line just for BP.  Ok, I had a terrific lamb sausage burrito also, but it was mostly for the BP on the left.  I called weeks ahead and the young lady said I could choose the flavor.  Wow!  That's customer service.  We agreed that apple pie was the sure thing and yep, it was on the menu as apples and cinnamon.  The serving was HUGE, enough for several people to share (though I didn't).  I found it to be just OK, at moments decadent and buttery, and at other points dry because the custard didn't seep throughout.  The fresh whipped cream, however, was divine through and through.

The second photo is from a diner in Jonesborough, TN, the oldest city in the state.  We just happened upon the Old Courthouse Diner and saw this sign saying "Bread Puddin $1.99," which I took as a sign. There was no 'g.'  I ordered it to go and they gave me warming instructions.  Once we got to NC, I heated them both and had friends taste test.  You probably guessed that the $1.99 puddin showed several forks above the $7.00 pudding.  It reminded me of the cinnamon raisin biscuits from Hardees.  The appearance was almost like a saturated cornbread in look, but not texture.  It was a fun and tasty contest.

I had one more BP in Chapel Hill, NC, at Mama Dips.  I previously reviewed this restaurant so I figured it was a safe bet.  It was pineapple upside down BP, which offended my lodging host. She didn't expect fruit in the BP, and I had to tell her that I didn't get it for "us," I got her a few other desserts to sample.  We're still friends.

Boscos, Nashville, TN

My photo wasn't good so I'll just review.  I ordered the flavor of the day, Apple Caramel White Chocolate.  It was decent.  Firm enough, but like the creme brulee at Colonel Sanders in Washington, DC, that allegedly had different flavors but all tasted the same, I did not detect much apple and tasted no white chocolate essence.  The custard sauce was the lovely vanilla bean flecked variety I drool over, like homemade ice cream before it meets the chemistry of rock salt and ice.  The caramel was indistinct.  It was served with vanilla ice cream, which was superfluous, but made it seem like a better value.  The ice cream did not taste like premium, but it was ok.

Price: 6.99
Raisins: No
Sauce: Caramel and custard
Ice cream: Yes, vanilla
Visited: February 2013

http://www.boscosbeer.com/

Soulshine, Nashville, TN

How in the world did I not know about a place that has a dessert called "smack yo' mama bread pudding?"  I saw the ad in a Nashville Scene yesterday and had to go today.  I didn't really care about what else they had, though I am glad to say that the wheat crust Mississippian pizza was delectable.  I am eating the bread pudding right now, and I couldn't wait to write about it.  Now, I wouldn't smack my mama over it, but it is darned tasty.  A very generous portion and it's basic, bread, sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla.  It was supposed to have sauce but it wasn't included in my to-go bag, and that's just fine.  It's totally lovely and that is strange considering I cannot isolate anything distinctive about it.  I like the texture, the flavor and even the way it looks, as bread pudding can be pretty disgusting in photos, according to my friends. The only complaint would be that I could distinguish bits of bread that hadn't succumbed to the custard, but that's nit-picking.  And at less than $5, it gets an extra thumbs up from me, since I so often pay $8 for less.


Price:  $4.99 (it's the right price for me!)
Raisins:  No
Sauce:  New Orleans style bourbon sauce, but I didn't get any
Ice cream:  No
Visited:  February 2013

South Street, Nashville

South Street is one of my favorite places for the Sausage Basket, if nothing else.  But of course I had to reacquaint myself with the bread pudding since it had been more than a year since I had it last, and I forgot to post about it.  You can see that the presentation is unappetizing, but don't let the looks fool you.  In fact, that's pretty true about bread pudding in general, unless it's firm enough for slicing.  What you see has whipped cream on it, and the Jack Daniels sauce is in the little container above.

It looked to mushy to me so I brought it home, de-raisined it (there were a few near the top) and baked it again at about 400 degrees for what I swear was about 30 minutes.  That caramelized the bread and firmed it up.  It is a basic vanilla, and I enjoyed the custard flavor, like ice cream.  I skipped the sauce, you know, watching my calories.  Parts were almost chewy and I go for texture anytime.  So, what it would have been from the restaurant will remain a supposition until I go back, but I think the extra time in the heat enhanced it greatly.

Price: $6.95 (it was a gift from a friend who wanted me to post about it - thank you CJS)
Raisins: Yes, but easily separated
Sauce:  Jack Daniels
Ice cream: No
Visited: January 2013

Random bread puddings and recipes, including salted caramel

 
This is random photos of BPs that I forgot to notate. I'm going to give myself credit for the one of the right, a kale savory BP, which might be this recipe, with butternut squash and mushrooms.  I have no clue why I would have made it.  The one of the bottom right is one I had in St. Louis, based on the date, but I can't remember from where.  Basically, this is a pointless post. Some may be repeats, and yes, I know the top photo is terrible, but I feel moved to post any that I take.  I should feel moved to take photography classes!  Happy New Year.

What I don't have a photo of is the fantastic BP I made for my birthday, a salted caramel bread pudding that was low fat and all that.  I used Kroger's sweet Italian bread.  After making the sauce with rum, instead of bourbon, I decided to make that my "liquored up" version that I had on the side.  It was too strong for me.  I made an alcohol free version for pouring on the BP.  The guests raved - 4 forks for me!

Holland House, Nashville

Holland House is known for its potables, but it should be known for it's bread pudding!  I can't believe I didn't find it on any of the lists.  I just happened to stop in and saw it on the menu.  Again, it reminded me why I'd rather have a forkful of bread pudding than a drink any day.  And why my tour of bread puddings this month has got to end!  I'm on a roll and don't want to gain a roll.

This was elegant in name, execution and taste.  Warm cocoa nib bread pudding featuring chocolate chunks, walnuts, Nutella brittle, chantilly cream and chocolate ganache.  It was a mouthful to read and a mouthful of pleasure to taste.  Please forgive the to-go box for not giving it the setting that it deserves.  Whoa - this was not some thrown together dessert with bits of whatever the cook had handy.  This BP is at a whole other level, and I again had to up the fork-quotient to give it its due.  My goodness, the description can't even do justice to the complexity of textures and tastes that abounded in this treat, but it's a start.  It made me wish I was a real food writer. Nothing in it was off-balance, it was a new combination of wonderfulness with each forkful.  Ahhhh.


Price: 8.00 (well worth it, unlike Chappy's)
Raisins: No
Sauce:  Chantilly creme, chocolate ganache
Ice cream: No
Visited: October 2012


Holland House Bar and Refuge

Copper Kettle, Nashville

Ok, it might look unappetizing, but this here reminded me of why bread pudding is my drug of choice.  Just think of this, a red velvet bread pudding with Goo Goo Cluster sauce.  Ok, even that might sound unappetizing but the sauce was only the chocolate from the Goo Goo, maybe with the marshmallow, but definitely not the peanuts.  It's the Goo Goo Cluster 100 year anniversary and Copper Kettle's dessert chef is making sure she pays homage.  Copper Kettle, by the way, always has bread pudding (unlike these sometimey places like Silo), with a new flavor each time.

I got the last serving, and was moved to share a taste with an extremely disappointed woman who wanted some also.  She had better be glad she had the first bite because if I had tasted it first, I would not have offered.  I must say I was doubting that this could taste good.  I was blown away.  Now, the red velvet flavor was very subtle, though the color kept reminding me.  The texture, sweetness and drizzle of chocolate Goo Goo were marvelous.  I am so glad I only got an order of their tasty greens and then went right into the dessert.  It was a balance I highly recommend.


Price:  3.99 (a total bargain)
Raisins:  No
Sauce:  Goo Goo Cluster
Ice cream:  No
Visited:  October


Copper Kettle