There Is Always Room For Bread Pudding

Just want to journey back to my New Orleans weekend one more time -- time enough to share a valuable lesson in the art of excess and indulgence.

It was a tutorial first taught to myself and my travel companion over an abundant brunch at Mother's on Podryas Street, featuring Cafe au Laits, OJ, two Eggs Over-Easy with Grits, thick slices of Baked Ham, a buttery Biscuit Sandwich with Smoked Sausage, and a heaping bowl of Jerry's Jambalaya, which was crammed with Chicken and Andouille. Needless to say, we ate our fill. OK - more than our fill.

Yet, when the owner of this longtime N'Awlins home cooking mainstay came by the table to offer us a slab of the restaurant's Bread Pudding, we didn't have the heart to say "no."

So, the gargantuan brick of sweet, eggy Bread Pudding arrived (see above). Stuffed to the gills, we forced ourselves to take a taste.

Then, as if by some form of black magic, we actually felt hungry. Seriously hungry enough to finish off the entire helping in record time.

We were frightened. What was going on here? How was this possible?!? Was it something in the air in the Big Easy? In the water? In the alcohol?

We decided to stop questioning this mystery and headed out of Mother's as quickly as our feet could carry.

Realizing that it was necessary to stay away from food as long as possible, we hit Magazine Street for another brand of decadence: shopping. The visit included browsing in antique stores, shoe emporiums and even a stop at an artist's studio...

...where we were not only introduced to some fine paintings, but the artist's fine fido as well.

And, the trip continued with walks around the Quarter, a look at the Voodoo Museum, listening to a local jazz crooner at the Ritz, a chance to catch a sneak peek of Mardi Gras at a rousing Halloween parade where we caught beads aplenty, and much, much more.

Unsurprisingly, "much, much more" also included French 75's at The Pelican Club, an extravagantly good dinner at Restaurant August, Pimm's Cups at Napoleon House, Shrimp and Grits at Luke, etc...

Then it finally came time to leave. But something was missing. Sorely missing. Two hours before our flight home, we sidled up to the Hermes Bar at Antoine's and instantly knew what was called for...

Only after we licked the plate clean, were we full. Contentedly so. Ready to sleep on the long flight home. Ready to go on diets.

Comments

[Brooks]

As an ex-pat New Orleanian, I couldn't agree with you more.....there is ALWAYS room for bread pudding! (One minor cavil: modern whiskey sauces aren't nearly bold enough. The sauces I grew up on kicked your ass up, down, and sideways.)

Wish BP were more popular in NYC!