Behind-the-scenes Beignets

Eating beignets at Café du Monde is a New Orleans tradition that goes all the way back to 1862 when the coffee stand first opened up in the city’s French market. Today it’s the most renowned café in the city, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and serving their amazing powdered-sugar lovelies to thousands a day. Dunked in a cup of cafe au lait or the traditional chicory, New Orleans beignets are both classic and delicious — honestly, it’s just one of the things you have to do. Already, I’ve made a few visits to their outdoor patio on the edge of the Mississippi River, and most recently, I couldn’t help sneaking behind the scenes to see how this awesome New Orleans pastry magic gets made.