Beignets are Back

I see from Normblog that ABC have reported that Cafe Du Monde reopened yesterday for the first time since it was shuttered at midnight on August 27th as the hurricane approached New Orleans.

This is great news, the Cafe Du Monde describes itself as "the original French Market coffee stand serving cafe au lait and hot beignets 24 hours a day year round".

Indeed cafe au lait and beignets are all they serve, but to linger over them opposite the wrought-iron balconies of the French Quarter and across from Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral is a great Nawlins tradition.

In New Orleans, caf� au lait is strong dark roast coffee and chicory, served with equal part hot milk. In the early history of Louisiana, chicory was added to coffee to stretch dwindling supplies and now they prefer it that way. As for the beignet, it is believed that the Ursuline Nuns of France, who came to Louisiana in 1727, brought this simple pastry to the city. The recipe remains the same to this day. The beignets are hand rolled and deep fried then covered with heaping amounts of powdered sugar.

I had a fine old time in New Orleans all those years ago. I wonder if the Central Grocery has started dealing out Muffuletta sandwiches again?