Established in 18th century, Cafe Du Monde is the cornerstone experience of new Orleans. This is the Cafe that gave the city very famous Chicory Coffee and utterly sweet beignets. Your visit to New Orleans is incomplete without a visit to this Cafe!
Cafe Du Monde is probably the oldest thing I have found in the whole of the US so far. One of the Oldest living thing that common people enjoy. A place that lives and breathes history of the yester years, dating back to the days of European settlers.
It is a coffeeshop. But make it old. Make it older than a few centuries!
Cafe Du Monde gave NOLA the famous beignet. It is not everyday that you find a city known by one single food. Or may be you do? Like Kolkata is famous for Kathiroll, Hyderabad has Biryani at her soul and Hanoi is warm as Pho. Nola is that crispy and crunchy beignet served with a side of Chicory coffee.
The chicory coffee is unique to NOLA. Cafe Du monde came up with a substitute for coffee beans during the blockade during war.
Chicory is a coffee bean lookalike, almost similar tasting, less acidic product that can easily substitute coffee. But I hear t is a little more bitter than that of the real deal.
However locals in NOLA seem to love it!
We did too.
We were still a bit taken over with ornate architecture and beauty of French quarter, NOLA. We crossed the Jackson square and walked towards the riverwalk when Cafe Du monde appeared at the side.
It is hard to miss the cafe that is abuzz with people. It is a no frill cafe with marble top tables and iron chairs. there are a few of them but the original one, which travel writers often describe as legendary, appears right next to Jackson square, at the start of the French market.
You get a plate of beignet for USD 8. Pair that with a cup of chicory coffee, or black coffee served on ivory cup and plate.
I stood in front of the kitchen for a while. the servers are wearing white dress, walking in a brisk manner, with a rare smile. Their servers plate is topped with beignets, cups and glass tumblers. The kitchen and food hall is painted in sepia tone, taking you back to a few centuries when the French traders had just stepped in the port of Mississippi river where Native Indians would often bring in their trade. There are iron plaques commemorating the old glorious days of starting the cafe.
The beignets are served hot. Refined powder sugar is dusted on top the beignets. the coffee can be taken in paper cups, so that you can walk back to the mystique alleys of FQ, where you came from .
There is a website listed with all the products on offer. You can order for your chosen things online.
Beignets were brought to New Orleans with Cafe Du monde but it is not an unique offering from this cafe. there are more cafe and restaurants serving this warm four dough of love with gooey goodness of sugar! take for example Cafe Beignet, which looks prettier and offers a wider selection of menu, with full breakfast and NOLA special gumbo.
Planning a trip to New Orleans? Also read these free resources:
How to spend three days in New Orleans
The Bayou Swamp Tour of New Orleans: Is it worth seeing the Gators
10 Free things to do in New Orleans
How to spend two days in French Quarter in New Orleans
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