BLU HALO, Tallahassee, FL

IT WAS A GREAT, GREAT ESCAPE........... Our Great Escape Dining Group, together for more than a dozen years, disbanded when a couple of the members moved away. But we don't let a little geography get in the way of a good time do we? So we chose a spot on the map that was midway between Atlanta and Tampa and came up with Tallahassee, a comfortable drive for all. We dined out for Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast together, catching up on our lives and reminiscing about Great Escapes past. The most enjoyable meal we had was at Blu Halo, a beautiful and classy restaurant located off Thomasville Road. I gave it high marks for ambiance. The eponymous 'blue halo' spanned the center of the restaurant emitting a beautiful glow and the decor was crisp and clean with just the right amount of adornment.

The food was delicious and our server couldn't have been more charming and efficient. I had to order the Blu Halo Martini and it not only looked good but tasted wonderful. We had prime rib, petit sirloin, pasta, caesar salad with chicken, swordfish. All of it was prepared perfectly and presented with style. For dessert we ordered a couple of Bread Puddings to share around the table and here was my one disappointment. Not that it wasn't tasty, but I consider myself somewhat of an aficionado on this dessert since I grew up eating it on holidays made from an old family recipe that I'll share below. Blu Halo's Bread Pudding tasted more like french toast. I challenge you to try my Abuela's recipe and judge for yourself!

It was a lovely one night 'escape' and we plan to do it on a regular basis because nothing beats good food, good company, and good friends.

ABUELITA'S (GRANDMA'S) BREAD PUDDING Ingredients:

2 loaves bread (any variety *)

½ gal milk (whole, skim or 2%)

1 lb sugar (brown, white or combination)

3 eggs (or egg beaters)

½ cup Karo or maple syrup

1 tspn vanilla

½ tspn cinnamon

8 oz raisins (or prunes, dates, dried cranberries etc)

Cut the bread into 1” cubes and put in a large 6 qt bowl. Add milk and let stand for 20 minutes while bread soaks it up. Using a potato masher, blend the softened bread with the milk till it looks mushy. Add all the other ingredients and blend well.

Pour into two 9x12 lightly greased baking pans and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/5 hours or until brown at edges.

Serve warm or cold.

* save the ends of any kind of bread…Italian, white, wheat, rolls….in a plastic bag in the freezer till you have enough to be the equivalent of 2 loaves.

The Blue Halo

3431 Bannerman Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32312

www.thebluehalo.com

850-999-1696