Hot Ben-Gays!
So I was looking at Maitri’s post and I followed the link to that condo website. I’m not a huge critic of architecture etc., but I do love making fun of poor websites and marketing campaigns, and well, the first line on that “tracage” website jumped out at me:
“Savor beignets and coffee on your private balcony.”
Ah…. yes. As New Orleanians, I’m sure we all share the pleasures of waking up on Saturday mornings, filling a cauldron with oil, heating it up, preparing a batter, and deep-frying beignets on our own stoves. Myself, I do this every single morning, as beignets are just so intertwined with the culture of this city that I feel I must eat them every day. The Domino sugar truck pulls up to my doorstep every week to deliver a fresh sack of confectioners sugar. I eat beignets on my porch, but only because I cannot afford a balcony, which is of course the preferred vantage point for consuming homemade beignets and cafe au lait.
Okay, I’m joking. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m pretty positive most people here do not eat beignets frequently, much less prepare beignets in their own homes. In fact I would venture to say that most of us have been to IHOP more recently than Cafe du Monde. Anyway, my point is, can you marketing idiots out there please put this whole beignet thing to rest? It’s a piece of fried dough with a mountain of powdered sugar on top. Whoopdee doo. You get them at that place with all the tourists, not in your own home. Or if you want to hang with the old school beignet gangstas, you go to Morning Call in Metairie.
In conclusion, I hope some idiot burns down their stupid new condo trying to make beignets.
Further in the site they mention that it’s located in the “historic warehouse ‘arts’ district”. I don’t live in New Orleans (visited once in that general vicinity), and only have a vague sense of where the building is located…But is that a valid description of THAT “district”?
Once again I am wondering who makes THAT kind of money, and how confident would I feel living that high up, with many walls made up of windows, in a hurricane prone area?
Drury
I made beignets – once.
Delicious, but not for a residential kitchen.
A.
That area could absolutely be considered part of the warehouse arts district. the warehouse district is not very large and there are plenty of galleries, museums and artists in the area.
As for the ridiculous original post, I agree the marketing is pretty lame, but in my experience almost all marketing for large residential developments (in any city) are terrible. You do need to remember, however, that they are most likely trying to bring in people that do not already live in new orleans. People that either have the money and want to move into a great art/cutlural city or people that travel to the city often enough to want a vacation condo in the city.
I lived in that neighborhood until last month, and I agree it’s a terrific area. We loved it.
BUT, I don’t believe those who have the bucks to plunk down on those high-end condos will expect the hordes of downtrodden who camp under the Interstate right there; the occasional dead body (while we lived there for 18 months Post-K, three were found), and the constant question asked before going out to eat in the neighborhood: “Should we walk or drive?” Not because of weather or laziness, mind you, but for the ever-present feeling that you may become victim to a brutal, random and all-to-common crime.
Not worth it, my friends.
They’re selling a romantic vision to people who want to feel like they’re spending their money on something culturally relevant. Everyone knows a damn beignet is the French word for fritter anyway. But to borrow Chris’ example, there’s a big difference in ‘beignets and cafe au lait on the balcony’ and ‘fritters and coffee on the porch’.
But then I’m not one to believe the advertising hype since I drink a lot and my life in no way resembles a beer commercial.
I think the squatters were trying to fry up some beignets at the Econolodge on Tulane and Claibourne last night and Chris’ wish came true!!! Burned that sucker almost to the ground
I am highly offended by people joking about my city and what we have culturally. My grandfather died while making beignets and our family has never been the same. He slipped on some sugar on the floor and fell into the grease fryer. You should be careful as to what you joke about! I’m soooo angry. We often sit on the veranda of our home and sip mint julips while dining on crawfish and beignets. We also love to watch the minstrels in the fornt yard sing negro spirituals. I haven’t worn my white summer suit in quite some time but I believe it’s time to break it out.
A few months back, one of my neighbors had his house painted by some of those spiritual-singing minstrel types. I could hear them from my front room, and see them from my front porch, but I did not know I was supposed to deep-fry beignets as well.
Then again, I’ve also avoided making pastries since I got sued for baking someone a cake…
Laureen and I are sitting in my kitchen makin cracklins. The pig won’t stop squirming and looks like we will be cleaning up for the rest of the night but boy oh bot them cracklins are some good eatin.
My grandmother used to make beignets weekly for us kids, until she tught us to do it and we made them for her.
I prefer French toast (or purdypain as my silly cousins called it) or grits for myself now. I wonder if that would be acceptable on the veranda. :O