This morning, Mr. Handsome and I, along with Little Buddy (who was in a great mood and loved being out and about), went on a date in the 12 South area of Nashville. We took a walk through the nearby residential neighborhood to get a bit of exercise. Then we picked up two 100-layer donuts from Five Daughters Bakery (Mr. Handsome’s favorite treat–regular donuts just don’t compare) and iced coffee from Bongo Java.
While in line at Bongo Java, we saw a display case containing a cinnamon bun and were immediately curious. We were shocked to learn that this cinnamon bun (which was actually a replica of the real thing) is world-famous.
In 1996, an employee took a second look at a Bongo Java cinnamon bun and realized that it bore a striking resemblance to Mother Teresa. An article in Nashville’s newspaper, The Tennessean, went viral, and the bun was featured in publications across the world and received air time on multiple radio and TV programs. Visitors flocked into the coffee shop to see the bun in a display case where it had been preserved.
It wasn’t long before the owner of Bongo Java was contacted via phone by Mother Teresa’s attorney, and then in a letter from Mother Teresa herself, asking him not to use her likeness to sell merchandise. “I have always refused permission for the use of my likeness for commercial ventures,” she wrote in her letter. As one would expect of Mother Teresa, she was very kind in her request. “I do know that you have not done anything out of ill-will, and so trust that you will understand and respect my wish,” she continued.
It was decided that Bongo Java would call it the NunBun instead of the Immaculate Confection or the Mother Teresa Miracle Bun. The shop also negotiated a limit on the amount of NunBun merchandise it could sell. But despite her request, it sounds as if Mother Teresa was not upset about the bun but rather got a kick out of it. Apparently she joked about it shortly before her death in 1997, mentioning in the presence of her attorney and successor that they should have the people in Tennessee fun a bun that looks like her successor.
In 1997, a thief broke into the coffee shop and stole only the NunBun. It has not been recovered, but if it ever is, the person who finds it will receive a $5,000 reward. The photo above is of the replica that is displayed at Bongo Java.
Ok, that’s hilarious.
What an odd thing to commit a crime over! My favorite treat is a donut as well and the occasional iced coffee as long as it’s not overloaded with sugar.
No, it looks like Gimli from “The Lord of The Rings”!!!!!
That is a very interesting story. In about 1980’s I bought two tickets and went with another lady to see Mother Teresa speak at a football stadium. In the 90s there really were strange things happening all over the place. Once on a Sunday morning on our way to McDonalds for a breakfast my son climbed a tree to get a black cloth he saw up there. It was a black t shirt with that Mary Guadalupe miracle image in white on black! AND when we got to the restaurant the daily newspaper Sunday edition had a front page feature about a miracle image. This was in 1995 in August. My memory doesn’t serve me but I suppose I could find that story in archives.
Today I was thinking about Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration. If people from heaven could glow and meet Jesus there then it is possible Mother Mary has visitations too. And if we can all send our comments to Ellie and she prints them and sometimes even answers them, doing all this lovingly for our benefit. Then it is possible Mother Mary has some means of listening to prayers and assisting in answering them.
And it should have gotten through Mother Teresa’s head that it was a phenomena not a commercial venture. Maybe she was just being very careful.
Who’s Mother Teresa! I never hear of her before.
She was the mouth piece of the Catholic Church!!!!
Oh my goodness that is funny. No disrespect intended but I love “Immaculate Confection.” Again, no disrespect to Mother Teresa but It’s sort of gross. How did they keep the bun from getting moldy? I wonder what it looks like now that it’s out of the case and on the run?
I know, isn’t it hilarious? And apparently Mother Teresa got a kick out of the whole ordeal, too. The original bun was preserved using shellac, but this one is just a replica.
Ellie
My daughter lived in that area for a while at Velocity. The place with the Angel wings on the wall. It was a nightmare getting in and out of the parking garage! But there were a lot of choices for good meals!
Hi Ellie,
I was just scouring your blog for restaurant recommendations in Nashville but came up empty except for the donut suggestion of Five Daughters’ Bakery. We’re going to be in town next week/end visiting Belmont with our oldest and I thought maybe you’d have some great insight into where we should eat? We’ve got 2 nights. Especially interested in eating some good `ol southern fried chicken. Any recommendations you could give would be appreciated!
Hi Sarah,
That’s exciting! Is your daughter a high school senior? Hattie B’s is an iconic place for traditional Nashville hot chicken. If you get it with no spice, it’s just regular fried chicken. Their mild is pretty spicy, and their medium is really spicy. There are multiple locations, but they are usually very full at lunch and dinnertime. They have an easy online ordering system that allows you to pick it up and eat it at a park or other location.
If you like burgers, Burger Republic is great. Jeni’s ice cream is iconic and very tasty. With BBQ, you can’t go wrong with any of the big names (Jack’s, Peg Leg Porker, Martins, and Edly’s). All of these places have multiple locations around town. Mission BBQ is also really good. It’s located near Opryland Hotel, which is fun to walk around. If you park at the mall, eat Mission BBQ, and then walk over to the hotel, you don’t have to pay for parking.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Ellie
Thanks, Ellie, for the suggestions! Our son is a senior, heading off next fall (God willing) to Belmont. We’re planning on Hattie B’s for lunch after we arrive on Thursday – and thanks for the heads up on the spice scale! Ice cream recommendations are a must as I always look for great ice cream places when I travel. I’m assuming a mask mandate is in place right now for Nashville?
Thanks again! We’ll definitely be using some of these suggestions.
I’ve heard that Belmont is a great school. Yep, masks are required for indoor spaces and for outdoor spaces where you can’t social distance. Hope you have a wonderful visit!
Ellie