A trio of beignets (clockwise from left) Cilantro Pesto, Churro and Banana Pudding beignets courtesy of Southern Grit Flavor during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018.  (Photo by Peter G. Forest)  Instagram:  @forestphoto_llc

Fantastic finger-licking Beignet Fest dishes we loved

by Kiri Walton | October 8, 2018

After a festival of beignets, it’s understandable that it may take a day or two to recover. Whether you attended Saturday’s Beignet Fest or couldn’t make it, our delicious roundup of the tastiest and most interesting dishes from the fest is just what you need as you come out of your beignet coma or as that Beignet Fest FOMO begins to subside.

Not all beignets are sweet, and Loretta’s Authentic Pralines shows us that they don’t necessarily have to be either sweet or savory, but can be a delectable combination of both.

A Praline and Crabmeat stuffed beignets are on display courtesy of Loretta’s Authentic Pralines during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

Beignets are usually thought to be relatively messy, with all the powdered sugar and all, but these unique beignets are bringing it with all the barbecue sauce on one and the addition of peanut butter and jelly on another. Loretta’s kept bringing the surprises with their beignet dishes.

Barbecue and Peanut Butter beignets are on display courtesy of Loretta’s Authentic Pralines during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

Seeing these three together makes for a pretty picture but with the large variety of flavors, you wouldn’t want to munch on this trio all at once. Southern Grit Flavor showed us what they were working with in their creation of these fried dough pockets exploding with flavor. The banana pudding flavor is the beignet you didn’t know you’d been waiting for…

A trio of beignets (clockwise from left) Cilantro Pesto, Churro and Banana Pudding beignets courtesy of Southern Grit Flavor during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

It seems like a perfect fit– fruit and beignets. Valerie’s Creole Sneaux combined strawberries, peaches and sugar for a beignet dish that feels like it’s best enjoyed in sunshine.

A fruit salad beignet along with some shrimp creole on french fries (courtesy of Valerie’s Creole Sneaux Catering) are on display during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

Some of the savory beignets were the most interesting, like this shrimp etouffee creole beignet, also from Valerie’s.

A Shrimp Creole Beignet courtesy of Valerie’s Creole Sneaux Catering is on display during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

 

And if you haven’t had a crawfish beignet from Katie’s, you are missing out on one of the city’s best dishes. We’re serious. Not only is Katie’s one of the best spots to bring out-of-town guests, but when you go, we highly recommend getting this crawfish beignet with its explosive and slightly spicy flavors and its decadent cheesiness as a dish to at least share with the table if not to have for yourself. These beignets also won Judge’s Choice on Saturday.

A stuffed Crawfish Beignet courtesy of Katie’s Restaurant is on display during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

Just like chicken & waffles, chicken & beignets can work and we think it definitely does. These fried chicken & powdered beignets from Sweet Legacy are covered lightly in a slightly sweet sauce that makes the dish a crowd-pleaser.

Sweet Legacy’s Fried Chicken and Beignets are on display during the Beignet Festival at the City Park Festival Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo by Peter G. Forest) Instagram: @forestphoto_llc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kiri Walton

Kiri Walton

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