While touring the Pelican state several years ago I exited interstate 55 northwest of Lake Pontchartrain and found the town of Ponchatoula, Louisiana's Strawberry Capitol. Early spring is strawberry season in this part of the country and while in Louisiana’s strawberry capitol I knew what I had to do: I stopped at the Berry Patch Café for their signature dish, the strawberry beignet (pronounced ben-yay).
Wow! The famous strawberry beignet may be one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. The beignet comprises eight pieces of fried dough; a small hollow in each piece is filled with strawberry jam. The rounds of dough are accompanied by mounds of real whipped cream—not cool whip—and covered with powdered sugar. To compliment the strawberry beignet I ordered a frozen strawberry malt. The trip to Louisiana was worth it just for that slice of strawberry heaven.
Ponchatoula's annual Strawberry Festival will be held April 12-14, 2013. By describing the strawberry beignet, (and by mentioning the word "strawberry" 12 times in this post), have I tempted you to book your tickets for this mouth-watering feast? If so, visit this website: http://www.lastrawberryfestival.com/
P.S. Average temperatures in mid-April in Ponchatoula range in the 70's.
