Restaurant Review: Beignet

The purpose of Mountain Librarian Reviews is to discuss books and library topics. I've debated whether to broaden my posts to other things that I enjoy, such as cooking and the foodie world. It's summer, I'll be doing a vast amount of traveling for my summer art show and photography tour, and I'll have plenty of new places and travels to write about in addition to all the books I'll be blogging about. It's a blend of two worlds I often keep very separate-- my library career and my photography tour/art world career, with a side of foodie. But why not? Travel writing, restaurant reviews, and a bit of non-library business will be discussed. We'll get back to the business of libraries in August.

My first restaurant blog is about a great little restaurant in Kansas City's City Market called Beignet. The first thing you notice about Beignet, other than the name, is the decor: Mardis Gras beads and masks are everywhere, along with colorful artwork of skulls and the occasional picture of New Orleans. You can't help but feel as if you've stepped into the heart of the French Quarter, just off Jackson Square. You don't have to look too closely to see the Cafe Du Monde coffee tins holding the napkins and plastic silverware. This isn't a fancy place; Beignet is set up in a permanent stall at the City Market, just up from stalls selling vegetables and fruit just off the truck. The kitchen is cramped and out in the open, just behind where you place your order. The food is served in paper trays with a napkin and plastic fork, designed to be eaten while you wander the stalls at the farmer's market. This is comfort food at its best in the heart of the city, with the skyscrapers of Kansas City looming in the background once you walk outside.

Beignet Kansas City during lunch service

Cafe Du Monde coffee tins at Beignet Kansas City

The menu offers a variety of drinks and foods, but the highlights are the sweet and savory beignets, a fried dough with a slightly crunchy exterior and, regardless of your choice, very tasty interior. The first I tried was the chocolate raspberry, topped with powdered sugar. It was heavenly bliss; a wonderful pairing of two flavors that go so well together, deep fried inside the beignet breading. It was so good that it was also the second beignet I had, and it still might be my favorite. But there are plenty of options to try: including a Nutella variety that's also tasty if you're a fan of the hazelnut spread.

The Nutella Beignet at Beignet at City Market in Kansas City

The Crusty Crab beignet features, as the name suggests, a blue crab filling mixed with herbed goat cheese and hickory bacon. The Crab I sampled had wonderful flavor, and the crab chunks are just right. The taste was fantastic, especially with a dip of the savory relish that comes on the side.

The Bronx beignet is stuffed with different meats-- Italian sausage, ground beef, pepperoni -- plus mozzarella. It's essentially a Calzone with different breading, or at a minimum, deep fried. Which of course makes it taste incredible. The outside has a nice crunch, and the inside is bursting with gooey flavors. The chop on the interior meats and filling was very fine, which created a mouth feel that left me wanting more variety and chunks. Mine fell apart after several bites, making it a little tough to eat. But the taste is worth the effort of keeping the remainder of your beignet together to finish the job.

The Crusty Crab Beignet at Beignet at City Market in Kansas City

The Bronx Beignet at Beignet at City Market in Kansas City

The service is quick for what the staff has to do: they hand-make each beignet in the small kitchen while you wait either at one of the few tables or ancient New Orleans-style sofa inside the restaurant, or at one of the nearby tables outside in the City Market. 

My 13 year-old daughter, who was with me on a couple visits, gave the name Voldemort for our order. She loves throwing out literary reference names on orders, and it is always fun to see what the restaurant workers will do with that. On a trip to Boston last year she gave the name Primrose Everdeen at a number of Starbucks, hoping to yell "I volunteer as tribute!" as soon as the barista said the name. Unfortunately, none ever said the name aloud-- either to avoid someone yelling in the cafe or just because they didn't get it. We did get one woman to smile and wink as she handed over the cocoa. This day, the cook at Beignet walked out with our order, the word Voldemort written on the outside of the beignet baskets, and said, "I believe these are yours," with a big smile on his face. My daughter, knowing she had found a solution to the Primrose dilemma where she was just out of luck if no one said the name, said to the cook, "Fear of the name only creates fear of the thing itself." Without missing a beat, the cook said, "I was a nerd before I read Harry Potter." 

Beignet is open until 6PM most nights, and opens between 7AM and 9AM depending on the day. Park in any of the City Market lots. Find them at 307 Main Street in Kansas City, or view the menu online at http://www.beignetkc.com