Chronicle of the bread puddings I've tasted in different cities. It includes recommendations. Breadpuddinglovers, unite!
The bread pudding was ok (OK, like this terrible photo). I give it 2.5 forks, and an extra half fork for the fun I had while ordering. I love pecans and walnuts in everything, so that made me happy. However, it was really dense and light on flavor, so I wasn't crazy about it. However, I would be willing to try the next Willie's take on BP if I ever happen by on the right day. I think it was about $6.
Shotgun Willie's
New location coming soon (3/2024)
CLOSED - Aura should be called Aaaaah-ruh because it has an incredibly relaxing environment. The owner/head chef is a dedicated bread pudding lover and keeps it on the menu, tweaking flavors now and then.
he penultimate BP from Muriel's Jackson Square. It blew me away and deserves a scale of its own; four slices does not do it justice. The texture was pudding perfection (for me, firm and slightly chewy, well integrated, with a firmer top and a smooth look), the serving was plentiful but not obnoxious, the pecan topping gave it character, and the rum sauce knew what it was and what to do. Notice there's no whipped cream or ice cream. Muriel's knows this BP can hold its own. I would drive back to NOLA just to have more of this.
If you see bread pudding on the Acme Seafood menu, ignore it. I sent it back because it had no redeeming qualities. The texture was mush, the flavor was missing, and it was a ball of dough dumped into a pool of sauce. Ick.
Emeril LaGasse will live without me being impressed by the 
bread pudding at his eponymous restaurant. It's called warm sticky toffee pecan pudding cake and I thought it couldn't go wrong, but it did. The center was undercooked and for some unexplainable reason the pastry chef put a fruit with a skin in it (can't find my notes) and the skin was a total distraction from an already diminishing culinary experience. At least the ice cream was what it said it was, vanilla.
Mulate's was consistent and lovely in every way. The BP 
was smooth in texture, flavorful and satisfying. It did not have a gimmick, it was just good.
Dining al fresco at Court of Two Sisters was the perfect antidote to a stressful conference. The evening was blissful. The bread pudding was plum full of raisins but it tasted so good and buttery that I forgave it and my companion and I ordered two! It was soft and creamy and, did I say, buttery?
Palace Cafe's white chocolate BP is supposedly famous. I think it's slightly intriguing, and struck me more like an appetizer. The white chocolate is subtle, perhaps too much so. The texture is chewy, 
but too chewy, like I didn't get a fresh wedge. I liked the dark chocolate shavings.
These next three are just thrown in gratis - a plug for a fantastic breakfast at the Ruby Slipper. I didn't have a chance to get Bananas Foster so this French Toast version helped me not feel deprived. Wonderful service, too.
