Desmond Hotel, Albany, NY

Perfection. The only reason I'm not doubling the forks is that it's made with hot dog buns and the thought of that pedestrian source makes me a little sad. Though to taste it I would have no idea. The Desmond Hotel has been in the BP business for 40 years and they have achieved a recipe and a technique that I must replicate.

No raisins, simple vanilla sauce, smooth. I asked for the pecans but they were totally unnecessary, especially because I had asked for the spiced pecans from another dessert, but they were out,

Warning, according to MyFitnessPal, a serving without sauce is 700 calories, and with sauce is 1196!

Recipe: http://www.desmondhotelsalbany.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bread_pudding.pdf

It is $7 well spent. I cannot wait to make this with Rumchata, but now that I know the caloric impact, I'll have to slim it down somehow.

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

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
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