SharkTums Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/14/new.orleans.beignets.ap/index.html NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- After the longest break in its 153-year history, Cafe Du Monde will once again fill New Orleans' Jackson Square with the luscious smell of beignets and rich, chicory-laced coffee. The French Quarter landmark known to tourists the world over for its fried dollops of dough dusted with powdered sugar is getting ready to reopen next week, a month and a half after being shut down by Hurricane Katrina. Cafe Du Monde normally stays open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas. But it sold its last order of hot beignets at midnight on August 27, a day and a half before the storm roared in and devastated New Orleans. The cafe had only minor damage from Katrina, but a combination of storm-related problems -- no power, no drinkable water and no electricity for several weeks -- kept it closed. Its owners took advantage of the shutdown to clean and upgrade kitchen appliances and other parts of the business that are constantly in use. The reopening is set for Wednesday at 6 a.m. -- not soon enough for locals and relief workers. "My mouth waters every time I walk by there," said French Quarter resident Faye Riley. "I've been having withdrawal symptoms." Beignets are French-style doughnuts made according to a recipe brought to Louisiana by the Acadians. The dark-roast coffee is served either black or au lait -- mixed half and half with hot milk. Dried chicory root adds flavor and intensifies it, too. The menu has not changed much since 1852, when the cafe opened in the French Market. Tourists love to get an authentic taste of New Orleans there. And New Orleans students have made it a tradition to close out prom night with coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. "Blowing powdered sugar on your date's tuxedo was a rite of passage in New Orleans," said Kit Wohl, who grew up in the French Quarter. Archie Casbarian, who owns Arnaud's Restaurant, another New Orleans institution, moved to the French Quarter in 1966, and used to go carousing back then. "And I always ended up at Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets," he said. "It's a well-known hangover cure." Cafe Du Monde sells so many beignets that it uses up 21/2 to 5 tons of flour every two weeks. On Thursday, workers painted the walls, boiled water in the deep fryers and hauled in new equipment. The tables and chairs that normally fill the patio were still stacked inside the building, and workers cleaned up tree limbs around the area. "We've found about 50 of our 150 employees, and the cleanup will be finished by Tuesday," general manager Scott Escara said. "We'll turn the fryers on about 5 Wednesday morning and we should have hot beignets pretty quick after that." The part about blowing powdered sugar is so true! I think I used a straw to blow some on Dave when we were in New Orleans in 2001!
Nrthwnd Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 ^ LMAO at your reaction, Elissa! "I mean, duuuuude!" *And just to make sure, that isn't a 'pipe' in your right hand, right? Riiiiiight. ~ ~ ~ ~ Ah sweet beignet memorees of Cafe'Du Monde. We bought a box of the beignet mix to bring back with us, then couldn't get those ^$%#@%&* things to puff up in the oil, if our lives depended on it, LOL. Great fun. And powdered sugar, too! Yum. See - Dan - wheez.
SharkTums Posted October 14, 2005 Author Posted October 14, 2005 Yeah I also tried the mix...it's just not the same. For those of you who don't know. There is another Cafe Du Monde in the Atlanta Underground only about 25 minutes from SFoG! I've gotten some hot Beignets there on several occaisions!
dandaman Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 ^ LMAO at your reaction, Elissa! "I mean, duuuuude!" *And just to make sure, that isn't a 'pipe' in your right hand, right? Riiiiiight. "Whoa, man... this sugar reminds me of somethin'... wait... DUDE!"
CoasterCrazy Posted October 14, 2005 Posted October 14, 2005 I've never had Beignets before, I think I might go down to Underground and try one. I have lived in Atlanta my whole life and I have only been to Underground 3 times!
Kroger8 Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 LOL the only place I can remember in Underground is Johnny Rocket's and isn't there like a Kenny's Alley or something? Yea anyway, next time we are down that way I will have to stop and get some!
Teddymonster Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 I went to the Underground in HS with the band when our competition was in Atlanta. After we went to the Coke "place," (don't know the name) we hit the Underground...that place was too damn cool. I loved Atlanta! To give you an idea of how crowded SFOG was that weekend...Scorcher had a 3 hr wait for most of the day.
CoasterCrazy Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 LOL the only place I can remember in Underground is Johnny Rocket's and isn't there like a Kenny's Alley or something? Yes, there is a Kenny's Alley.
M_Force_4_ever Posted October 15, 2005 Posted October 15, 2005 ^^^^^^^^^oh man that looks like it would send me into a diabetic coma (yes I am a diabetic) that just looks really sick
disneygurlz2s Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 Awesome news.... I have never been to New Orleans, and this is one of the things I have heard about over and over again. I really do hope and pray the city can get itself back on it's feet. Shari "Going to Mardi Gras has always been on my 'to-do' list" Shoufler
Nitro X 230 Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 For those of you who don't know. There is another Cafe Du Monde in the Atlanta Underground only about 25 minutes from SFoG! I've gotten some hot Beignets there on several occaisions! I ACTUALLY REMEMBER THAT!!!! I was in Atlanta like 5 years ago for the MLB all-star game and to see my uncle. We were in the Underground and my mom pointed it out to me. Well, it's just another reason on top of SFoG to "visit my uncle"
BelizeIt Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 I Visited New Orleans about 5 years ago, and I had a Incredible Time! I visited many of the Famous Sites (Including Cafe Du Monde) and I had an Unbeliveable Dinner at Commanders Palace! I hope that perhaps in a few years....Maybe 5 or so, that this Historic City will be back to where it once was. It's an American Classic! They must Rebuild this City to it's Former Glory!
MSLSM Posted October 17, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 I went there every day when I was in New Orleans since the one in River Walk was not too far from our hotel. That place was packed, and the one in the French Quarter was even more crowded. They are just that good.
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