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

Chappy's, Nashville

I was wandering one night, with a good book and nowhere to land, and found Chappy's listed on another bread pudding site.  I had been here for food years before, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.  This time it did as the hostess was ever so solicitous and set me up in the cute little sitting area to enjoy my dessert as if I had a private lounge.  What she brought out was yet another strange manifestation of BP, more like a bread pudding stew.  The dessert chef made the bread pudding, then chopped it into small cubes, which were then drenched in the sauce.  When the hostess saw the quizzical look on my face, she asked how it was.  I told her the BP was delicious, but that I was surprised by the presentation.  She said she had them add extra sauce (she had no way of knowing I am do not like an excess of sauce, and usually eschew sauce, on any food).  In short, this deconstructed traditional bread pudding with praline sauce tasted lovely, but fell short on the soupy plating.

Price: 7.95 (pricey, but thankfully that was all that I ordered)
Raisins: No
Sauce: Praline
Ice cream: No
Visited: October 2012

Chappy's on Church

Motor City Casino Hotel, Detroit, MI

This was going to be where I told you that I would no longer be posting to this site, or at least I am taking a hiatus.  Bread pudding has gotten to be a habit that I need to break (among others).  I was ready to prey on your sympathy, though I can't think of a reason that anyone would feel sorry for me.  This is not a necessity.  ANYWAY, I am giving up bread pudding dessert, but on a technicality let me tell you about the GARLIC bread pudding I had at the Motor City Casino Hotel!  I totally avoided the sweets table because I was sated by this magnificent savory offering. A hint of rosemary and a subtle garlic flavor melded with some really good bread - I mean, could it have been stale and tasted this good?  I think some places are cheating and using fresh bread, but I digress.  I am thankful for this "transition" bread pudding and y'all pray for me that I have strength to resist any other surprises of the bread pudding variety that come my way.

More reviews in a bit (duration to be determined).

Price:  None, part of a lush buffet
Raisins: n/a
Sauce: n/a
Ice cream: n/a
Visited: July 2012

Cafe 4, Knoxville, TN

I searched and searched for bread pudding reviews in Knoxville and every place I found was either closed or no longer serving it.  Quel Surprise! I went to Cafe 4 for dinner, resigned to having to choose another dessert and lo and behold, a peach bread pudding!  The peach helped me forgive them the gelatinous texture.  I would have liked more than the sparse custard to bind the bread.  Somehow that made it a bit gummy.  But it was s solid 3.

Price: ~$5
Raisins: No
Sauce: Yes, bourbon?
Ice cream: No
Visited: July 2012

O'Possum's, Murfreesboro, TN

My friends who I was having lunch with in Murfreesboro should have known what motivated me to pick O'Possums.  Unfortunately, they don't serve bread pudding during Sunday brunch.  I was so disheartened the owner gave me a gift certificate and invited me back.  Well, as life would have it I had to be in Murfreesboro again that next week (after being in TN for a year).  I adore the place and the staff, but this is about bread pudding so let me get to it. 

I would give this BP a 2.75 because I have a feeling it can be better.  At first I thought, "Heavenly," but then I realized that I was fooled into a happy place by the marshmallow-y topping and powdered sugar.  O'Possum includes whatever fruit or flavoring they have available or left so this one was vanilla with a hint of cinnamon.  I guess there was no fruit handy.  The texture of these three slices was fine but the bread pudding itself lacked any umph, which is why it was dependent on the sauce.  That said, because I really liked the owner, waitstaff and comfy atmosphere, I would try again one day.

Price: ~$5
Raisins: No
Sauce: Yes
Ice cream: No
Visited: June 2012

O'Possums

Urban Grub, Nashville

The problem with establishing a rating system is that one day you are introduced to an entry that is either more fabulous than you could have imagined or the opposite.  This was definitely the former.  I want to give special credit/bonus points/a gold star to Urban Grill, a new restaurant with an inspired dessert chef named Megan.  I went last night and decided after the first bite to compromise my own system by anointing the cornbread-peach bread pudding with five forks (more would be excessive though deserved)!  It was pure bliss, that square of exquisitely sweetened cornbread mixture topped with an in-season peach (I can't give the exact title because the menu isn't online).  The subtle grit of the cornbread took me and my food spirit to a whole new place and my companions gave me a moment of silence to savor and bring my attention back to the table.  A food memory was born that will call me for a repeat more often than I can respond.  I realize that's a mixed metaphor, but know that I am absolutely ga-ga over this treasure and cannot find the words to do it justice. My fear is that it will be a seasonal dish and, like the chocolate version at Wild Hare, may not be seen again.  Just keep changing the fruit!  Or ignore the fruit!

The buttermilk-based sauce was totally unnecessary, good enough, but like one accessory too many on a perfect outfit.  I'm sorry the photo doesn't do it justice but that restaurant is really dark inside and out.  I don't think they're hiding anything, it's about ambiance.

PS - See Laura, I was telling the truth about the Bread Pudding Blog.  And I want to share the crumbs if there's ever a portion of this ambrosia left!  You have my card.


Price: 8.00
Raisins: No
Sauce: Buttermilk
Ice cream: No
Visited: May 2012

Urban Grub
2506 12th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN
and on Facebook

BB Kings, Nashville, TN

I went to BB Kings for the music and the greens, and was I feeling like God was smiling when I saw that there was banana bread pudding on the menu.  Now, I will recommend the greens with their smoky meat seasoning all by themselves, but if you are in a party of at least two, try the BP.

This brick was very dense, and had a nice proportion of bananas, though as is becoming quite common, they seemed to have been devoid of innate flavor.  The banana slice accessories were ripe.  And the bourbon caramel sauce could have been served by itself.  I'm giving this a low four, only because it was slightly dry.  And I give myself a high four for sharing with a co-bar-sitter and for tossing the remaining half because I really didn't need to have the last wedge.


Price: $8
Raisins: No
Sauce: Bourbon caramel is what I would call it
Ice cream: No
Visited:\ March 2012


BB King's Restaurant and Blues

Islamorada Fish Company, Prattville, AL

I am still shaking my head that there is a pretty decent restaurant in the Bass Pro Shop/Outdoor World in Prattville, AL.  I didn't take a picture of the BP, but it was so delicious.  By the time I got to it, I just wanted to eat it.  When the waitress came by, we were too full for dessert, but bread pudding were the first words out of her mouth.  Evil woman.  So once again, I got it to-go.  The portion was generous enough to share.  And I must mention that fantabulous aquarium behind the bar.  It's such a cool place in every way, except for that bar tender who asked me if my friend was my daughter.  She still owes me a drink.

Details for the Islamorada Fish Company Restaurant in Prattville:

Price:  I think it was around $5.00
Raisins:  No
Sauce:  Yes, but it's not on the menu so I can't remember what kind.  I didn't put it on the BP.
Ice cream:  Premium vanilla
Visited:  February 2012

Abbey Road Pub and Lucky Oyster, Virginia Beach, VA

I tasted the best and worst in Virginia Beach.  The best was at Abbey Road Pub.  Texture and flavor were top notch.  It comes with a bourbon sauce and premium vanilla ice cream, but it can truly stand alone.  I am giving it a 4 fork, though I would rate it a 3.5 only because it's so darned sweet.  It has baked in brown sugar on top.  It was so good my non-bread pudding lover friend liked it (I let her have a spoonful) so much that we went back another day and got 2 orders, because I didn't want to share again!

Maybe worst is too dramatic, but look at this to-go portion from Lucky Oyster and what would you think?  This is unappetizing and I really don't like the sliced bread version.  Thankfully, Lucky Oyster is famous for seafood, not desserts.  Ick!  I admit the apples were good and it didn't have raisins, but it looked so afterthought undressed, I couldn't eat it.  It came with two sauces and ice cream.  I suppose when it's cloaked, it's better.

I am not telling you anything more about Lucky Oyster.  For Abbey Road Pub:
Price: $4.99 (a bargain)
Raisins: No
Sauce: Bourbon
Ice cream: Premium vanilla
Visited: February 2012