The Making of a Rice Queen?

When Michael's nephew Justin told me there was a "rice pudding place" in Soho, I was immediately intrigued. Although I only tried rice pudding for the first time a few months ago and didn't think too much of it -- I come from a strict tapioca family -- the mere idea of a place that serves only pudding was too fun for me to ignore. Still, when we finally made it RICE TO RICHES on Sunday afternoon, I was expecting some tiny hole in the wall or "stand" type of joint.

Instead, I was stunned to see that it's a huge, smartly designed store with hilarious signs hanging everywhere and 21 flavors to choose from, plus dozens of toppings. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed and on the spot -- Michael and Justin suddenly announced they weren't hungry and the women behind the counter were these giant Eastern Europeans who looked like they weren't in any mood -- I didn't try any of the flavors and just ordered a small French Toast (one of Justin's recommendations). Watching them serve it was a lot less visually pleasing than the decor -- the pudding sort of glops in one ball into the fun reusable container everything's served in, like a big spoonful of gruel at the location orphanage.

But the actually pudding was quite tasty, and lived up to its billing as "a rice pudding that finally doesn't suck." Still, at $6.75 a pop I probably won't be going back again anytime soon. But if you're a true rice pudding connoisseur, you definitely wanna check this place out. As for me, I am busy plotting my "all tapioca" shop across the street. These rice queens won't know what hit 'em!

The tone of the signs was perfect. But doesn't it seem like they could have come up with a slightly better name? I haven't quite figured out what it should have been called, but I will.