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Our daily bread: Bread pudding in BR


The rest of the country only just recently figured out what we know: Stale bread can be really, really good if you know what to do with it. Bread pudding became one of the trendiest desserts nationwide last year, but it’s hard to find a local restaurant that hasn’t already been serving it for years.

Day-old po-boy bread is the perfect canvas for chefs to experiment with flavors and textures while building a warm and gooey dessert that’s simple yet still decadent. If you think you’ve tried them all, consider that its resurgence in popularity means local chefs are stepping up their game and creating new twists on this classic dessert.

So even if you’re bread-pudding weary, don’t give up on it until you at least give these unique versions a try. Because national trend or not, bread pudding isn’t going anywhere.

Bacon Praline Bread Pudding from City Pork Brasserie & Bar

House-made meats are the star of most of City Pork’s dishes, and this dessert is no exception. French bread is soaked in creme brûlée custard and topped with pecan pralines and homemade bacon caramel ice cream. Crispy, house-cured bacon is piled generously on top. The result is a multi-layered dessert that is sweet yet savory, soft yet crunchy. It’s so good, the restaurant serves it 90-100 times a week, says Executive Chef Ryan André. citypork.com

Eggnog Bread Pudding from Alexander’s Highland Market

Day-old French bread soaked in eggnog, mixed with cinnamon-spiced pecans and topped with a finishing sauce made of eggnog and Old New Orleans Rum. Mmm, tastes like Christmas. Available during December. alexandersmkt.com

Bananas foster bread pudding from Sullivan’s Steakhouse

It’s the age-old Louisiana dessert debate: Should you get the bread pudding or the bananas foster? This dish is the best of both worlds, and it’s served with caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Thanks for keeping dessert decision-making stress-free, Sullivan’s. sullivanssteakhouse.com

Krispy Kreme bread pudding from Walk-On’s Bar & Bistreaux

Warm, Krispy Kreme doughnuts baked into an icing-soaked bread pudding and topped with whipped cream. We know; it sounds scary. But doughnuts make everything better and YOLO, right? walk-ons.com

Sweet potato bread pudding from Zea Rotisserie & Grill

Chunks of baked sweet potatoes mixed with French bread, topped with cinnamon and pecans and soaked in a rum praline sauce. Since it technically has vegetables in it, it’s OK to have a second slice. zearestaurants.com


This article was originally published in the December 2016 issue of 225 Magazine.