I remember the first time I went to New Orleans. I was in my late twenties and one of my best friends had just moved down there. Of course, our first visit was to the famous French Quarter. We had dinner and walked around for a bit, and then he took me to Cafe Du Monde. I did not realize what a landmark Cafe Du Monde was at the time. It seemed crowded and noisy. After I took a bite of my first beignet, I realized why!
The original Cafe Du Monde coffee stand was first established in New Orleans in 1862. It was located in the French Market at the time. Today, there seven Cafe Du Monde’s located all over New Orleans, but all still adhere to the hours. They are open 24/7 – only closing on Christmas Day. Cafe Du Monde was a great coffee shop before the explosion of Seattle’s Starbucks. On their simple menu, you will find dark roasted coffee and chicory (served black or au lait – half coffee and half milk), beignets, white and chocolate milk, iced coffee, soft drinks, and orange juice.
Coffee is a big part of Cafe Du Monde and it comes with a history. The French acquired a taste for coffee and chicory during their civil war. Chicory is the root of the endive plant and was used to add both body and flavor to the coffee, an item that was in short supply at the time. It gives the coffee served at Cafe Du Monde a bit of a chocolate flavoring.
I like coffee, but to me, the real treat in visiting Cafe Du Monde is the beignets. If you have never had one of these, you are really missing out! A beignet is a square piece of dough that is fried then sprinkled with powered sugar. It tastes something like a donut, but they are always hot and tasty at Cafe Du Monde. Each order comes with three, but I refuse to share an order with anyone else.
New Orleans has been through a lot lately, but even the hurricane could not destroy the history and spirit of Cafe Du Monde. If you visit the Crescent City, be sure to visit this historic attraction.