Budino is budding?
Budino gets no respect. How else to explain why when I type “budino” it autocorrects to “budding.” Budino is nothing fancy – it’s just the Italian word for pudding. But do not think you can make this pudding at home from a JELL-O package. No, budino is DeathbedFood – at least when made by masters as was the case in 2011 when Scarpetta’s version was rated my #1 dessert!
Picco Restaurant in Larkspur has masters at work. Their version with Tcho chocolate, chantilly, hazelnut wafer and toasted meringue qualifies for the coveted rating. So if you see “budino” order it. And when you tweet a photo, make sure it doesn’t say “budding.”

tcho chocolate budino, milk chocolate chantilly cream, coca nib hazelnut wafer, toasted meringue {Photo: Diane Wagner}