Sunday, April 5, 2009

Bambino Hueys Anyone??

Google has finally let me down. I am often called the Google Girl at work because if something or someone is out there, I can almost always find what I am looking for through Google.

There was once a restaurant in San Antonio called Boccone's. It closed the Blanco Rd restaurant maybe 7 years ago and eventually opened another on Embassy Row that they called Bambino Huey's. I never went to that restaurant and it has since closed as well. They made a dessert that would make you think you went straight to heaven from the first bite to the last. It was their Bambino Huey. It was served warm in a little ramekin topped with whipped cream that would melt into a gooey goodness - like I said, heaven in a ramekin. They were bambino sized because you couldn't eat too much without going into a diabetic coma. For awhile they marketed them and you could buy them in the frozen food section at HEB. Those have disappeard long ago as well.

I have always had an interest in replicating restaurant recipes and love to visit sites like CopyKat or Top Secret Recipes. A few weeks ago Hayley and I were eating at Apple Annie's and she asked me if I thought I could make the spread that they serve you when you are seated. She always asks for extra (which by the way is very OK at Apple Annie's. Although it is not advertised, you can always ask for seconds or thirds of your meal and they will bring it at no charge). I told her to ask the owner if he would give her the recipe. He made her guess all the ingredients but we eventually left with all the information she needed typed in her Blackberry. That was an easy one but sometimes more work is necessary to get a recipe or faux recipe. She has been asking for at least 6 months if we (meaning me) could make Bambino Hueys. I told her to search on line to see what she could come up with. She obviously doesn't share my gift of searching. I finally looked yesterday and found a few recipes that were all pretty similar but not what I was looking for. I googled until I could google no more and I wasn't able to find the real Bambino Huey recipe. We did try a recipe from Recipezaar.com that Hayley's friend Jessica & I tried to half heartily convince ourselves was close to the real thing. Jessica said if we put more sugar, more butter and more whipped cream we might have it. Doesn't THAT sound appetizing? Funny thing though. ...Between Mike, myself & 3 girls we ate almost the entire pan - all in the name of research - ha ha!

Google is still my friend and I realize it is a very good thing we didn't find the real thing because those bambinos are the last thing my diet needs. It was a fun adventure though.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know the recipe but I can't tell you. The Huey Family threatened to BAM my Bino if I told. Sorry, but I'll give you a clue. W-D 40 was involved. Keep you lips sealed.

Nicole said...

I love the bambino huey! I'd gladly be a tester of this recipe for you.

the grimm wife said...

I *love* Bambino Huey, and I too am desperately wanting one. Needing one is a different story. LOL If you ever come across one that is closer to the real deal, *please* post it for all to see!

Anonymous said...

Found another one on Google (Bakespace). Looks like it could be closer, due to calling for 1 pound of powdered sugar!!

I don't think the real version will ever be released, it is actually a closely guarded secret. Friends aren't even privy!

Robyn said...

Thanks Annonymous, I printed the recipe from bakespace.com and will try it this weekend with my daughter.

harvey said...

any success with the new bambino huey recipe? I'm from Austin and I got hooked on the HEB desserts many years ago. I'd pay big time for a bambino now... :(

Robyn said...

no luck finding the Bambino Hueys Harvey. Sorry I failed. :-(
The recipe annonymous told me about was good but not what I was looking for.
Both restaurants that had them have closed as well.

Anonymous said...

The Italian baker was the creator of the bambino huey and has been seen at other san antonio establishments. I don't know where she is at now, she was at Il Panino (blanco 1604) but it has closed. YOu can try Al the original owner of Boccones
http://www.alsmeatballmoments.com/

tinker said...

Hi, I was a waitress at the original Boccone's on Blanco. Al Diliberto and his wife owned the place and his daughter and soon-to-be-son-in-law worked there also. I loved the Bambino Huey- but I had to beg the guys in the back to let me help them make them. I was not allowed to write anything down though...I have never told a sole mostly because I was afraid of Al!!!! He interviewed me for the job in Italian!!! Good luck getting him to give up the recepie! Boca lupo! tinker

harvey said...

i will give anyone $150 for the recipe right now. I promise I'm not a restaurateur or pastry chef, just a bambino addict in recovery - I need a fix!

Robyn said...

How funny Harvey! I wish I could help you. It is probably a good thing for our health I can't find the recipe.

Anonymous said...

Try here, this is the son-in-law and daughter of Al's place, I bet they have them or could make one for you. http://julianspizzeria.com/ Also I found it on Google, so it does still work!

Anonymous said...

I have it on good authority that the Bambino Huey is certain to contain the following ingredients: sugar, butter, cream cheese (along with all the other goodness). Any updates on perfecting the recipe? Hope this nugget helps. :-)

Robyn said...

I have slowed down on my quest for an authentic recipe. I will let you know how my next recipe works out. Thanks for the tips!

Unknown said...

Take the recipe at recipezaar.com and make the following changes ....
For a more authentic Bambino Huey served @ Bacone's & Bambino Huey Cafe (both closed now : ( ) I replaced the 1/4 light corn syrup with 1/4 cup plus another couple of tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk, added 1 1/2 tsp vanilla & a pinch of salt. Serve warm with real whipped cream. My co-workers said it tasted as close to the real thing as possible.

Unknown said...

Why did there second restaurant close? Financial problems or what?

Lisa said...

I have been searching for a Bambino Huey ever since Boccone's closed. My mom used to buy them from H-E-B when I was a little girl, and I came across them at Boccone's....now it's closed and I am Bambino-less....thank you for writing about the copy cat recipes....that saved me from a lot of would-be heartache....

Anonymous said...

Lucianno's @ 281/Evan's Rd in San Antonio was advertising a renamed Bambino Huey, but it did have Al's name on it so I'm sure it is the authentic thing!

Anonymous said...

I recently made a receipe by Paula Dean called a Gooey Butter Cake and it tastes VERY similar to a bambino huey and smells just as heavenly! It consists of a layer of yellow cake on the bottom and a "gooey" layer on top. I think if you just made the gooey part, it would be a bambino huey. Try it, it's delicious!!

Anonymous said...

It's back! Al DiLiberto just opened a new restuarant in San Antonio and the Bambino Huey is on the menu- although its been renamed as Al's Famous Dessert due to copyright issues.

2950 Thousand Oaks (intersection of Jones-Maltsberger & just across Thousand Oaks from Bill Miller's & the HEB).

Phone is 210-495-4608

Al said...

260445Bambino Huey,my famous dessert is on the market again! Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/BambinoHueyDessert?ref_type=bookmark

and www.freshbreadco.com Our website is currently under construction.

Al DiLiberto

Syd said...

I came across this thread while searching for the receipe to make it for my husband for valentines, it's his all time favorite!!! I found this website....

http://www.bambinohuey.com/

Unknown said...

Rumor has it...it is available under a different name at Julian's Italian Pizzeria.