There’s always something to be said for longevity. In the general way of things, demand and public response will weed out the less-than-desirable and the not-up-to-scratch. There’s also plenty to be said for unfussy and unpretentious simplicity, a dedication to doing something with excellence and without a lot of fanfare.
So by that logic, I guess there’s quite a lot that we could say about the Banana Delight dessert from Barnacle Bill’s. We first came across the dish when a number of our readers heralded its praises when asked for their favorite dessert in St. Augustine. If there was such a brouhaha over it (we said to ourselves), we had to take a trip to Barnacle Bill’s to see what all the fuss was about. And the fuss, it turns out, has been going on for 36 years. The Banana Delight has graced the restaurant’s menu since its beginning and remained their unaltered signature dessert from the get-go. Like I said, longevity speaks volumes.
But of course, there’s got to be a reason for the dessert’s tenure on the menu. That reason is the pure simplicity of the dish, an achieving of great flavor through modest ingredients and unflashy construction. The dessert comes in layers of fresh bananas and strawberries, creamy vanilla pudding, and whipped cream on a crunchy pecan and vanilla crust (with a few secret ingredients thrown in, we’re told). The pudding, whipped cream, and even bananas give a soft creaminess throughout while the tartness of the strawberries cuts through the sweetness. The crust and the pecans on top add a crunch and complexity of texture.
Each bite of its layers gives you a variety of sweetness – sugary from the pudding, tartness from the fruit, and nuttiness from the crust. We’re not surprised that it was memorable to so many of our readers.
The dessert seems to fit perfectly into the atmosphere of Barnacle Bill’s. For more than three decades, they haven’t moved with the trends or felt the need to go for something ostentatious. They have stayed with what they do best and stuck with a dessert that’s been making diners happy for 36 years.
Barnacle Bill’s is located at 14 West Castillo Drive. Visit them online at www.barnaclebillsonline.com. Photography by Brian Miller.