Bread Pudding? Huh??

What's this rumor about vast quantities of delicious bread pudding suddenly being prepared in kitchens all over Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County? About local restaurants dusting off their favorite recipes or inventing new ones, about local amateur bakers scrounging through granny's old cookbooks in search of the Perfect Pudding? All for a really, really good cause?

Well, it's true, and that glorious scent beginning to waft over the island means only one thing: one of the year's most popular events is right around the corner. On Friday, February 6, 2009 we sponsor our yearly benefit for Helpline House, also known as. . .

The 4th Annual Bainbridge Island Pro-Am
Bread Pudding Bakeoff!

Here's how it works:

Bakers, Pro and Am: Call or come in for a registration form (there's a small registration fee, $5 per entry, donated to Helpline House). Whip up your finest, most artful, sweet or savory bread pudding (or two, if you like). Bring it/them to the gallery around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6th.

Last year we had 23 puddings, including: Flaming French Bread Pudding with Walnuts; Momma’s Scoop of Heaven Bread Pudding; Pan de Sal and Toasted Coconut; Amaretto Bread Pudding with Almond Sauce; Savory Pudding with Cornbread, Caramelized Onions and Jack Cheese; Piña Colada Bread Pudding; Cherrywood Smoked Bread Pudding with Butter Sautéed Apples & Home-Made Caramel Sauce; Pear Frangelica Pudding with Hazelnuts and a Frangelica Sauce; Seattle Mocha Bread Pudding; Oklahoma Southern Comfort Bread Pudding with Pecans, Shredded Coconut, and Southern Comfort-Soaked Raisins.

Are we drooling yet?

February 1, 2008: A fine array of puddings. . .

Tasters (i.e., everyone): Come to the gallery between 6-8 pm to taste and vote on Bainbridge Island's Best Bread Pudding. Buy tickets, at $1.00 per ticket, each ticket entitling you to one taste of one pudding. Do Not Attempt To Control Yourself! Try as many puddings as you like. Every dollar you spend goes directly to Helpline House, our community food bank and resource center. You can even throw in a donation in addition to ticket purchases - it's for a good cause, folks!

February 1, 2008: Let the tasting begin! The locals dig in.

Voting: After you've sampled as many puddings as possible and if you are still standing, vote for your favorite by dropping your tickets in the lucky pudding's vote jar. You can apportion your votes, too, say by giving five votes to your favorite, three to your second favorite, and two to your third favorite (that's only $10 - a sweet deal!). Around 8:00 we count the votes, and hand out medals in the following categories: Bronze Runners-Up and Honorable Mentions; Silver, Amateur; Silver, Pro; Gold, Amateur; Gold, Pro; and Gold, Best of Show.

Last Year's Grand Prize Winner:

Ron Wade

Best of Show and Best Amateur gold medals

for his

Raisin Cloud Bread Pudding

with Croissants and Caramel Sauce.

The Money: Every penny we raise goes to Helpline House, including registration fees. Last year we raised over $800 for this worthy cause; this year, with your generosity, we'll do even better!

Bakers, check back soon - we'll try to post a downloadable registration form. In the meantime, if you're ready to sign up now, contact us at ssn@theislandgallery.net or sr@theislandgallery.net and we'll e-mail you a form. Please return before Wednesday, February 4, 2009, with all information filled in, and the registration fee. Or, call the gallery at 206-780-9500.

More information about this wonderful event coming soon!