Bread of heaven

I've rediscovered a old fashioned culinary gem that I'd almost forgotten....bread pudding.

I picked up a chunk today at the Hindley's bread and sandwich shop in the city centre and it was magnificent - sweet, moist, packed with dried fruit and stodgy enough to make me forget (almost) how much I've missed chocolate since I gave it up for Lent.

It was a proper working class stand-by in the days when households had to use up every last bit of food, including stale bread. But I reckon it's about time some enterprising local chef introduced a sophisticated version on a restaurant menu. Come on - it will make a change from bread and butter pudding.