BREAD PUDDING

Bread pudding is the best thing since sliced bread judging by local menus. At Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Café, the "Blonde Stranger" is a New Orleans-style bread pudding served warm in a caramel-rum sauce and topped with toasted coconut. A white-chocolate bread pudding with rum sauce tops the dessert menu list at the French Market Restaurant. The House of Blues' white-chocolate banana bread pudding comes with Jack Daniel's creme Angels, whipped cream and a caramel "halo." Mimi's on Jefferson Highway offers a mix of wild berries in its bread pudding, which is topped with a caramel sauce. A warm, golden raisin bread pudding is a grand "finale" at the Rib Room. Schiro's Cafe's Sweet Sue's Saucy Bread Pudding is "made by someone who knows how." Café Pontchartrain at the Treasure Chest combines two Louisiana favorites into one in its Bananas Foster bread pudding. Louisiana Star serves bread pudding with New Orleans Rum sauce.