beignets! if you’ve ever had them, the word alone can make your mouth water. i had an order of three of them earlier tonight and they were so warm, fresh and lip smacking that i practically drooled.
for the uninitiated, a beignet (pronounced bean-yay) is a hollow french pastry, fried then smothered in powdered sugar. while they are considered a breakfast item, many tourists are introduced to these square french -style doughnuts in the wee hours of the morning at the café du monde after a night on bourbon street. beignets were brought in by the acadians, who after settling in louisiana became later known as cajuns.
if anyplace else in louisville has them, it’s news to me, but there they were on the menu at the fish house. not only were they on the menu, but a note said “beignets available at all hours of operation.” as i settled down to wait maybe six of eight minutes for my order, i noted a small but steady trickle of customers, many of whom opted for carryout. in no time at all, out came my order.
so taken was i with finding beignets here in louisville, the excellent fresh scrodsandwichthat accompanied them became an afterthought. however a taste of jalapeño tartar sauce from the various dispensers did catch my attention. thesandwichon rye had two plump fillets with a “green river style” cornmeal breading. it was succulent and, at a mere $4.95, strikes me as maybe the best fishsandwichanywhere for that money, both in quantity and taste. it was great!
but, for this evening, the beignet held center stage for me. beignets are traditionally prepared right before consumption, to be eaten fresh and hot. scrumptious! think of getting a fresh krispy kreme doughnut hot off the line and then take it up several notches on the delectability scale. the last tidbit of my beignets was devoured as soon as i took the photo.
i came for the fish, but i am going back, with my friends, for both fish and beignets!