New Orleans Reports: Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter

Serving Beignets and Coffee Since 1862

By: Charles Giuliano - Apr 28, 2008

Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

Andrew Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans.

The Cafe du Monde is open 364 days a year.

Musicians serenade the patrons of the cafe.

Our serving of beignets and cafe au lait.

Inside the cafe.

Our waitress on standby.

Hovering about the kitchen.

Getting the orders out.

Loading up a tray.

Getting ready to serve.

Pouring the coffee.

Taking a break after the rush.

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http://www.cafedumonde.com /
800 Decatur Street
New Orleans, La. 70116
504 525 4514

The beignet is a traditional, New Orleans style, fried dough or donut which is smothered in piles of fluffy powdered sugar. The Cafe du Monde in Jackson Square in the French Quarter of  New Orleans serves them with cafe au lait, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The business was established during the Civil War in 1862.

The Cafe is closed only on Christmas and during the occasional hurricane.

We sampled this local treat and took a look back in the kitchen where the staff of waitresses filled trays full of the confections and beverages for eagerly awaiting customers.

Having loaded up on sugar and caffein, we took a stroll around nearby Jackson Square, then titubated a cakewalk along the waterfront.