Blossom, Charleston, SC

I came for the red velvet bread pudding and it was... definitely tasty, appearing that they chopped pieces of cake into squares as one would the bread in bread pudding, and I couldn't figure out what happened after that.  It was a small portion (for $8!), not enough for me to stop and think about it before it was gone.  It went down smoothly.  The ice cream was good, not great; the strawberry popped but I didn't get an impression of the cheesecake flavor.

I took the picture with my sad phone and I'm still trying to figure out how to get it out.

Price: $8.00

Raisins: No, that would be disgusting in red velvet BP

Sauce: No

Ice cream: Yes, strawberry cheesecake

Visited: November 2013

Bread Pudding Boutique featured on Shark Tank

I was rooting for the lady pitching her bread pudding boutiques because I think they should be a chain, of course.  It's been a while, and I can tell you that the country of Panama is not known for its bread pudding.  I am sure I've been to other places and tasted other bread puddings since July, surely, but at this moment, I can't think of where.  Or maybe I was being a good girl?

Breakfast with Vonetta

Here's another non-BP shout-out. My friend Vonetta probably didn't make me a picturesque breakfast in response to my pitiful attempt at an omelet a few days prior; she's more of an encourager and naturally gifted in all things culinary.  I'm thankful for those who can come into my kitchen and create masterpieces.

If you need a caterer, contact Vonetta Johnson at ZawadiFeast@gmail.com.  She's amazing, and also skilled at crafting menus for a variety of eating habits and needs.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffins with Jason, Nashville, TN

A non-bread pudding shout out to my cousin, Jason, for suggesting we try dough in muffin pan.  Voila, these chocolate chip cookie muffins!  He's an interior designer and modeling coach from Chicago with a wonderfully creative mind.  We had a great time.  His wife helped and our kids waited for it all to be done.

DeJa Vu, Memphis, TN

I know the restaurant is right, but I hope I'm making proper attribution with this photo.  I searched and searched for bread pudding in Memphis, promised at several places but they all seemed to be sold out.  I happened to choose DeJa Vu for bp, but let me tell you EVERYTHING was worth a second or third trip.  This BP was my version of perfect in texture and taste.  Nothing fancy, just did what it was supposed to do.  I want more!

Price: $3.75 (you know I was happier)
Raisins: No
Sauce: Yes, light whiskey sauce
Ice cream: No
Visited:  June 2013

http://dejavurestaurant.org/

Sunflower Cafe, Nashville, TN

Now I love some texture and unexpected combinations, which seem to
be specialty at this "meatless and three" semi-elegant version of Copper Kettle.  There's no affiliation, they just remind me of one another, but one vegetarian (SC) and the other decidedly not, though veggie friendly (CK).  Sunflower Cafe is tucked among the other tasty treasure troves across the street from One Hundred Oaks Plaza/Mall.

As usual, I went just because a friend told me about the BP.  I could not resist (as if I ever do), a restaurant that had the courage to mix chocolate, mango AND coconut.  I can't imagine there are so many bread pudding and coconut fans as to make this a permanent part of any menu, but I'm happy to be wrong on this one.  It was... pretty good.  I imagine that it was lacking the fat components that would make it a 4-fork.  I generally don't expect to feel virtuous when eating BP, and appreciated the flavors that made it feel a little sinful.

Price: I can't remember and it seems to be off the regular menu,but no dessert is over $6.75
Raisins: No
Sauce: Yes, vanilla
Ice cream: No
Visited: April 2013

http://www.sunflowercafenashville.com/

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!