Culinary Spotlight: Stuph'd Beignets & Burgers
When I turned 16 I got my first job at Cafe du Monde. Becoming a beignet chef only enhanced the love I already had for New Orleans sugary delights. The word beignet translates to fritter or fired dough in English. While the beignet in New Orleans is associated with a mound of powdered sugar in, that’s but one way to enjoy them.
When I was growing up my great-grandmother’s beignets were something that we looked forward to on most Sunday mornings. As the aroma of coffee and chicory filled the kitchen there were no signs of powdered sugar. My great-grandmother would put butter and red beans on the table. Crispy and hollow in the inside we would cut them open, put a dab of butter in them, and fill them with red beans. Talk about delicious!
Stuph’d Beignets and Burgers brings back some of that nostalgia. They not only have the traditional beignets that you would expect with powdered sugar, they have beignets with both savory and a variety of sweet options. As the name of their business indicates, they are stuffed with incredible fillings.
My favorite are the Creole Crawfish beignets. However, they have savory beignets for all appetites and palates from Veggie to Philly Cheese Steak. In New Orleans we love our sweets! They also have a plethora of sweet filled beignets as well. My favorite are the Pecan Praline Cheese Cake beignets. My daughter likes the Strawberry filled.
If you’re looking for some local beignets off the beaten path. Make your way down St. Claude Ave. to this delicious 9th Ward eatery. With a chefs kiss! Mmm, Mmm, Mmm! (Stuph’d is located at 3325 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117).
Joie de Vivre,
Eric Gabourel