Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Life and Times of a Beignet

A beignet (say ben-yay) is fried square of dough covered in powdered sugar. It's also the French word for donut and the official state donut of Lousiana. They're also addictive. Hotrod will probably marry a beignet when I pass.

Cafe Du Monde is the place to get your beignets in New Orleans - and has been since 1862. Fortunately for Hotrod, they're open 24/7, which means his unnatural craving can be assuaged at any hour. How fabulous. Here are some shots from our most recent trip. Those cups are full of hot chocolate, not cafe au lait, although the coffee is equally good. And at a $1.82 for 3 beignets, you can't beat the price.

Here's where the beignets and hot chocolate get whipped up: the infamous Cafe Du Monde server line (we were there during a slow period, normally it's like a battle station in full attack):
Our order. Each person gets water without asking for it. Personally, I think it's to help with any clean-up that might be necessary. I always end up using mine to wipe off some article of Hotrod's clothing. The powdered sugar gets EVERYWHERE.The inside of a beignet - deliciously airy with just the right amout of chewiness.The aftermath. Amazingly enough, we kept ourselves pretty clean this time.The inside of Cafe Du Monde. Usually the place is packed and usually those green "walls" you see are rolled up to open the place to the air, but it was on the chilly side, so the tarps have been down. I can only imagine what an errant gust of wind would do with all that powdered sugar.
We never made it to the aquarium yesterday, so we might do that today or some shopping. I vote for both, but there's a store having a great purse sale here so...

14 comments:

  1. You are Evil. Just say'n.

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  2. I agree, evil. I just lost 2 pounds. I want to keep going.. but then this LOL

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  3. Anonymous11:18 AM

    It's my dream to go there someday, thanks for taking pics! Man, those things look good.

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  4. Remind me to make some for our next meeting. I have three boxes of the mix from my last trip home!

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  5. Anonymous1:04 PM

    Oh man, I'm needing me some "bee-yays"

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  6. How hard can beignets be to make? I think some investigation is in order. Because now I have a craving, and there's no way I'm finding a beignet in Ohio outside of my own kitchen.

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  7. Cafe Du Monde is the ONLY place for a proper beignet. Buy some of the mix you have mack a pretty good batch at home for Hotrod too. That's what I did when I was there. Now I want to get online and order some. Of course my butt doesn't need it it but YUM!

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  8. I love New Orleans..I love beignets..I don't love you at the moment for making me drool at the sight of such delectable goods!

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  9. Those look yummy! Great photos.

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  10. Yummy! Thanks for the great pics!

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  11. That looks quite delish!

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  12. that sounds so relaxing - to sit in a warm place with beignets and coffee, talk, spend the afternoon.

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  13. Beignets and coffee...so very yummy.
    I should have hidden away in your luggage. :)
    L

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