Beignets

[donna]

Thank goodness we have our memories.

 

[18thVirginia]

Thank you, sir. I'm an old guy and grew up in Jackson, Miss. We spent a lot of summers in Biloxi, my grandfather was at the Veterans Home there and so it was a go-to place to visit. Camille changed it forever, all those beautiful waterfront homes gone and the ones she didn't get, Katrina did. The big old style hotels, the spectacular for then Broadwater Beach, the Friendship House, Mary Mahoney's, Ship Island and the Hermit on Deer Island. Loved all of it.

We looked forward to going through the Bankhead tunnel in Mobile, stayed in cottages at Gulf Shores before the hotels and condos, at Destin when it was just a fishing village, the amusement park at Panama City I remember well. Last time I was in Tampa, some 15 years ago, you could still get a feel of what the old downtown was like before the central Florida boom. All those places looked pretty much the same back then, Galveston and Corpus also. It's funny about getting older, these memories just pop up out of nowhere and they are clearer than ever before. Those were very good times indeed.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature brings changes to coastal communities.

However, Katrina seems to have restored an energy, a sense of liveliness to New Orleans that had been somewhat lacking in the years prior to the storm. The last time we were in the French Quarter, my husband said it was the best he could remember it, with lots of art, music and young people from all over. Which is really what made New Orleans the city that it is--the diversity of people who came because it was a great port.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Thank you, sir. I'm an old guy and grew up in Jackson, Miss. We spent a lot of summers in Biloxi, my grandfather was at the Veterans Home there and so it was a go-to place to visit. Camille changed it forever, all those beautiful waterfront homes gone and the ones she didn't get, Katrina did. The big old style hotels, the spectacular for then Broadwater Beach, the Friendship House, Mary Mahoney's, Ship Island and the Hermit on Deer Island. Loved all of it.

We looked forward to going through the Bankhead tunnel in Mobile, stayed in cottages at Gulf Shores before the hotels and condos, at Destin when it was just a fishing village, the amusement park at Panama City I remember well. Last time I was in Tampa, some 15 years ago, you could still get a feel of what the old downtown was like before the central Florida boom. All those places looked pretty much the same back then, Galveston and Corpus also. It's funny about getting older, these memories just pop up out of nowhere and they are clearer than ever before. Those were very good times indeed.

As a native Jacksonian that spent every summer with relatives in Ocean Springs, I can relate to all those memories.
Remember Baricev's Seafood before Hurricane Camille ?

 

[RobertP]

As a native Jacksonian that spent every summer with relatives in Ocean Springs, I can relate to all those memories.
Remember Baricev's Seafood before Hurricane Camille ?

Absolutely, at the end of the pier across from the Buena Vista Hotel. They used to say that had the Legislature opted to put Ole Miss on the Coast instead of Oxford it would have been the biggest school in the South. Biloxi was a wonderful place to be.

 

[RobertP]

Unfortunately, Mother Nature brings changes to coastal communities.

However, Katrina seems to have restored an energy, a sense of liveliness to New Orleans that had been somewhat lacking in the years prior to the storm. The last time we were in the French Quarter, my husband said it was the best he could remember it, with lots of art, music and young people from all over. Which is really what made New Orleans the city that it is--the diversity of people who came because it was a great port.

New Orleans had been on the decline for many years before Katrina. Business started leaving the city in the 70's - 80's, and when the major oil companies consolidated to Houston it was over for the economy. NOLA ceased to be a thriving business hub and became mostly a tourist town. White flight, crime and ever present corruption have changed the city dramatically since I was young. But hey, the food's still great, as is the music and the sights. Just be careful.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

And the beignets are still the best in NOLA.

 

[18thVirginia]

New Orleans had been on the decline for many years before Katrina. Business started leaving the city in the 70's - 80's, and when the major oil companies consolidated to Houston it was over for the economy. NOLA ceased to be a thriving business hub and became mostly a tourist town. White flight, crime and ever present corruption have changed the city dramatically since I was young. But hey, the food's still great, as is the music and the sights. Just be careful.

New Orleans was like a lot of port cities--when the port begins to die, they lose that vitality. And New Orleans had a different thing in that the suburbs had originally been the blue collar areas, with those who grew up there being the guys with energy, but they started out in the suburbs and stayed there.

Are there port cities known for their lack of corruption?

I think Katrina made New Orleans remember what it was traditionally about--surviving. It's a city that had survived hurricanes, cholera, invading British troops and occupying Yankees. A place where they'd tell you that Jean Lafitte really saved the City as he understood the defense of the swamps better than Jackson and he had better cannons.

Where the same French Quarter balconies over which the ladies poured chamber pots on Butler's men had banners two years ago that said, "Free Sean Payton."

And the best beignets.

 

[donna]

Since Beignets and Chicory coffee mentioned in 17 Favorite Southern Foods, thought bring this thread up again.

 

[Georgia Sixth]

I love em !
View attachment 32607

You are a very cruel man to post that photo. I can taste everything in that picture except the tablecloth. Please. Whatever you do, don't post a shot of a platter of fried oysters or steamed mussels.

 

[Georgia Sixth]

We (my wife and I) love New Orleans. Even after Katrina it is still my second favorite city after Chicago. We always go to Cafe Du Monde, always do the beignet...you can see the trail of powdered sugar everyplace.
When I first started going there in the 1970's the wait and cookstaff was Black and Cajun. Now it seems to be mostly young ladies of Vietnamese descent. Anybody else notice that cultural change?
Here in Chicago we have a big Vietnamese colony. Foodies here say they combine the best of both worlds: French and Oriental/Chinese variant.

I believe Vietnam is the only Asian nation that has bread in its everyday diet. That's all thanks to the French colonials. I guess imperialism isn't all bad.

 

[TinCan]

Looks like a sopaipilla to me.

 

[Nathanb1]

Thank goodness I have some Cafe du Monde in my freezer and that I had the foresight to purchase My K Cup so I could have a fix when I need one. Now I need to go to the store and get some real half and half. I think beignets would make a great "Last Sunday before School" breakfast!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Looks like a sopaipilla to me.

Sorry TinCan,

But there are no comparisons between a Naw'linz Been -Yay & a sopaipilla.

NOLA Beignets and Chicory coffee rule.

 

[TinCan]

I guess ya have to be there!

 

[nitrofd]

Groceries here in Dallas carry it.

Publix in Florida carries it.

 

[Nathanb1]

Wal Mart carries all the Cafe du Monde products and lots of other good stuff like Tony Chachere's Just for those who need a fix from time to time.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Wal Mart carries all the Cafe du Monde products and lots of other good stuff like Tony Chachere's Just for those who need a fix from time to time.

I have never tried them but the beignets in the photo 7th Mississippi posted look irresistible! Glad to know I can get the mix locally rather than ordering it.

 

[Nathanb1]

I have never tried them but the beignets in the photo 7th Mississippi posted look irresistible! Glad to know I can get the mix locally rather than ordering it.

I'm not going to promise you Badgers have it....but I suspect you can get it many places at Wally World.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I'm not going to promise you Badgers have it....but I suspect you can get it many places at Wally World.

Oh well, if I have to order the mix I will. Either way I'm giving them a try!

 

[nitrofd]

I'm not going to promise you Badgers have it....but I suspect you can get it many places at Wally World.

If your local Walmart doesn't carry it they do have a program you can order from there website and it is sent to the store nearest you at no expense to you.