New Orleans treat - Cafe DuMonde

Cafe Du Monde is a favorite stop when ever I visit New Orleans. It has a long tradition, first opening in the French Market in 1862. It is open 24/7, except on Christmas day and in the case of a hurricane passing through the city. The main location on the corner across from Jackson Square is always bustling with people morning, noon and midnight!

When I take high school youth to New Orleans, everyone enjoys stopping at this unique coffee shop. The menu is simple including dark roasted coffee with chicory, beignets, white or chocolate milk, iced coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice and a choice of sodas. Coffee with chicory is a New Orleans tradition and is served either black or au lait. Cafe Au Lait is mixed half and half with hot milk. Everyone has to experience a beignet which are a square French style puff donut doused in powered sugar.

Its wise not to wear black when eating beignets and don't inhale as you take a bite! Inhaling as you bite into the beignet heaped with powdered sugar can cause coughing and choking - not a laughing matter.

Some say that coffee was first brought to the United States by the French through New Orleans and during the Civil War chicory was added to the coffee when actual coffee beans became scarce. Chicory is made from the root of the endive plant which is a type of lettuce. The root is roasted and added to the coffee to take the bitterness from the dark roasted beans.

I also enjoy visiting the Cafe DuMonde location in the Riverwalk Mall where a viewing window allows you to see the beignets being made while you wait your turn to order.

Ahh, I finally have my bag of 3 beignets and iced coffee!

Time to dig in!



What a delight

And now my bag is empty and I look forward to my next opportunity to visit Cafe Du Monde!