Cafe du Monde, New Orleans

Have you ever had a beignet? Beignets are fluffy pillows of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. It sounds simple, but the soft slightly chewy interior is hard to master and it's only good when eaten hot and fresh out of the fryer. Popularized in Louisiana by French colonists, the beignet is now a staple of Creole cuisine. 

When you visit the French Quarter in New Orleans, you have to visit Cafe du Monde. It's been in the same location since 1862, serving the best beignets and the popularized cafe au lait. In New Orleans, a cafe au lait is much more than just coffee with steamed milk. At Cafe du Monde, they also mix the coffee with chicory, giving it a more bitter taste that is offset with the milk or the sugary fluffy pillows of perfection. There’s no better match. 

After a walk through the French Market, a stop at Cafe du Monde for a beignet and cafe au lait is a must! During the days, the takeout counter can get crowded, so I recommend getting a table (the turnover is quick). It's worth it, and it's the a lively corner to enjoy an afternoon break and to watch the traffic or marching bands on Decatur Street. But even if you have a beignet craving in the middle of the night, no worries! This cafe is opened 24/7. 

Cafe du Monde
1039 Decatur St
New Orleans, LA 70116