No, I didn't go to New Orleans this weekend, but I discovered a taste of the city at the Super G Mart in Greensboro. There I was, surrounded by a Wal-Mart sized selection of Asian delicacies and staples when a display of Cafe Du Monde coffee caught my eye. So I bought some. And while drinking a cup today, I did a little research.
Cafe Du Monde is the original French-quarter coffee stand and it has faithfully stuck to the basics - coffee, beignets (doughnuts), and a few other drinks - orange juice and soda. According to its website, coffee was successfully cultivated on the Caribbean island Martinique in the 1720s and first came to the U.S. with French settlers. Merci beaucoup, French settlers! During the French Civil War, coffee was scarce, so the French added chicory (the root of the endive lettuce plant) for body and flavor. This tradition made it through the new world French colonies to New Orleans.
CoffeeCat likes this blend, but I'm sure it would taste even better if I could go to New Orleans for some fresh roasted, fresh ground Cafe Du Monde with some hot, sugary doughnuts!
On this 5th anniversary of Katrina, it's great to have a piece of the city as a reminder of its resilience. Stories are all over the news about the rebuilding that continues and the survivors who've made new lives for themselves here in the Triad. Hooray for all of you!
The Triad doesn't have the historic Cafe Du Monde, but we have great, local coffee shops with fresh roasted beans, fresh pastries, friendly people, pet-friendly patios, and great entertainment. So, whatever city you're in today, I hope you're all enjoying a great cup of coffee and savoring the moment. Whether our coffee shops are world-famous or not, we treasure them just the same.
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No negative reviews of coffee shops, please. CoffeeCat likes 'em all!