Combine heavy cream, milk and vanilla bean. Heat to boil. Remove from heat and steep 10 minutes with vanilla bean. Scrape bean seeds into the milk mixture.

With an electric mixer, combine eggs and sugar. Add the milk mixture in a steady stream. Strain mixture through a fine strainer. Skim foam.

Divide into 8 small ramekins (about 5 ozs each) set in baking dish and pour enough hot water around ramekins to come 1/2 way up the sides. Place in 325o oven for approximately 25-30 minutes, until just set (trembles slightly).

Cover top with brown sugar. Caramelize under broiler.