Beignets???

[justmoved]

Does anyone serve great beignets??

[rworange]

I liked the beignets at Elite Cafe, though others on the board didn't share my opinion. I do like tiny, expensive beignets at Boulette's Larder. They are hot and made to order. As mentioned ... Sunday's only.

[vwbug7]

If you are ever in San Carlos down on the Peninsula, La Creola has great beignets, and great New Orleans food in general.

[mandyf]

I would recommend the beignets at Angeline's in Berkeley. They are generously covered in powdered sugar. I've had the ones at Luka's, but was not that impressed. They were covered in cinnamon sugar, not powdered sugar, which does not make it a real beignet by my definition.

[JasmineG]

I agree, I had the Luka's beignets and found them pretty flavorless, which surprised me because I like Luka's a lot.

[Peter Cherches]

I just mentioned Luka's Taproom's weekend brunch in another thread. The beignets were fantastic.

Me: We ordered some beignets for the table (3 adults & two kids), and they were spectacular: hot, flaky, chewy, non-greasy, subtly luxurious, and served with a blueberry coulis and dark chocolate squares.

http://petercherches.blogspot.com

[Atomica]

We had this recently. I thought each component was delicious, but much more better consumed separately. The chestnut shake made the apples in the fritters taste sour rather than complementing them.

[chemchef]

No matter. We have thoroughly enjoyed them everytime. Things are made with such care there. And, maybe the fact that they're fried ahead of time is what prevents them from being little grease balls when we get them like at other places.

[Atomica]

If they are prepared properly, they should be quite greaseless when served. So, no need to do ahead. Heck, even McDonald's throws its fries away after a short while. Fried food needs to be served immediately. Not reheated, not at a restaurant like Piperade.

We had fritters at Bistro 1689 the other night that had been made to order and were quite good.

[Zeldog]

Greasy beignets are more likely to have been reheated. When I was a kid the family would pile into the car and drive to Cafe du Monde. Back then you could drive to a side entrance by the kitchen and buy them to go. Each kid got to eat one right away while Dad rushed to get home before they cooled down. Once that happens the crust starts to absorb moisture (and that happens really fast in NO). The crust gets soft and reheating only helps a little. It's not that reheated biegnets have more or less grease on them. You just don't notice (or care) as much when they are crisp.

[Robert Lauriston]

Exactly. When people say "greaseless" they really mean fried at the right temperature and served hot out of the fryer.

Liaison's and Bocadillos' have been fried to order every time I've had them.

[chemchef]

Phenomenal beignets at Cafe Fanny (owned by Alice Waters). Served with homemade jam. My husband and I go there when we crave 'em. They are great! Here's the address:
1603 San Pablo Ave. at Cedar St.
Go there... you won't regret it!

[Melanie Wong]

Should be noted that they're fried ahead of time and served room temperature at Fanny, and that might not suit everyone.

[Atomica]

I've had the same experience with Piperade's beignets, twice.

[Melanie Wong]

At Piperade, I ask before ordering, and they're honest about saying that they're freshly fried or reheated. Then you can choose accordingly.

[Atomica]

I shouldn't have to ask at a place of Piperade's caliber. Those should never be reheated.

[Melanie Wong]

As Gomer Pyle used to say, "fooled me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." (g)

[Atomica]

When you go with a large group, beignets are bound to be ordered.

[whiner]

Wow, didn't realize they were ever not fresh. I guess I've just been lucky when ordering...

[peterme]

Mabel's Just For You Cafe, on 22nd near 3rd in Dogpatch, has them every morning. Tasty!

[bbulkow]

Seconds on Just For You on 22nd - served scalding hot, just like in NO. Nothin' frou frou about it - plain ol beignets.

[echo]

i have to insert a dissenting opinion here. JFY served me an order which had an acrid baking soda character, and they were pretty greasy. not at all like cafe du monde.

[whiner]

My favorite in the city are the orange blossom beignets at Piperade.

[Ruth Lafler]

Powderface at Oakland's Fruitvale BART Station. It's just a coffee house, nothing fancy, but the beignets are made to order and delicious.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/45969

[lintygmom]

Oh, yum. I'll have to take BART over there one day. Or try the ones at Angelines.

[Gary Soup]

Is that a good beignet? I had my first (and probably last) beignet from Powderface when I had the opportunity to pick up a box for a field crew, and found the thing quite unpleasant, even just out of the oil. It seemed to have the same gooey-chewy consistency as the rice flour sesame balls I hate at dim sum places.

[Zeldog]

No, it's not a good beignet. I had my first and last Powderface beignet a few months back. Very bland indeed. Don't waste the BART fare.

[ChowFun_derek]

Aren't beignets, just flour sugar water, leavening? It IS basic and bland...unless you get the non-traditional filled/stuffed varieties....it is after all just sweetened fried dough?!

You get the spice from the chickory in the coffee...but who serves their beignets in the Bay Area with chickory coffee??

[Zeldog]

God is in the details. Bread is just flour, yeast, water and salt. Beer is just barley, yeast, hops and water. And a Martini is just vodka and vermouth. But somehow each baker, brewer and bartender manages to succeed or fail. Powderface fails.

[ChowFun_derek]

Are their beignets yeast based or baking powder based..do you recall?
Still looking for coffee with chickory though!

[Robert Lauriston]

Does Angeline's in Berkeley have chicory coffee? Seems like they would given the menu.

http://angelineskitchen.com/menu

[ChowFun_derek]

There you go again Robert...taunting me with all the great stuff available in the East Bay...it's january 1st and already my mouth's watering!

[Atomica]

Well, good thing you weren't in the East Bay on Jan. 1st like we were, because almost nothing was open!

[Zeldog]

Chowfun,
From the taste I'm pretty sure they were leavened with baking powder. Odd thing is, Cafe du Monde sells beignet mix leavened with baking powder and it's pretty good.

Instead of driving across town to pay $2 for a cup of coffee and chicory, why not just buy some online. You can get CDM or Morning Call blends by the pound, or buy some roasted chicory and blend your own. Here's where I get mine:

www.frontiercoop.com

[ChowFun_derek]

Thanks!!! I'm following up right now...Thank GOD for Google!!

[LKSugarman]

You're right about bread and beer. But, an authentic Martini is GIN and vermouth. Please deliver me from all these imitations, including vodka cocktails, in Martini glasses!

[Robert Lauriston]

Liaison in Berkeley sometimes has them on the dessert menu. Good.

http://www.liaisonbistro.com

[Oakland Barb]

Sunday only: Boulette's Larder at the Ferry Plaza.
They're wonderful!

[Melanie Wong]

Andrew Jaeger's in SF's North Beach on Columbus and Broadway, if you're looking for NOLA style.