Beignet Fest announces 2023 Best Beignet winners
NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 12,000 fest goers attended the sixth annual Beignet Fest, presented by Children’s Hospital New Orleans, this past Saturday in City Park where they sampled nearly 50 unique takes on beignets and in doing so raised funds for children on the autism spectrum.
"There was a tremendous response this year to Beignet Fest and our mission," said Sherwood Collins, co-founder and executive director of Beignet Fest and the Beignet Fest Foundation. "We have gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback from our vendors, attendees and volunteers. We're thrilled with the results."
Photo credit: Laura Lee Williams
The Judge’s Choice award was presented to The Vintage NOLA for their Pear and Brie Beignet. Two year’s running, the Crowd Favorite Best Sweet Beignet award was given to Old School Eat’s for their Blackberry Cloud Beignet and Best Savory Beignet award to Loretta’s Authentic Pralines’ Famous Crabmeat Beignet. New this year was a Crowd Favorite award for Best Traditional Beignet, and it went to Café Beignet.
While attendees chowed down on their favorite sweet and savory beignets, Flagboy Giz and Flow Tribe headlined the entertainment with additional performances by Black Magic Drumline, Imagination Movers, New Soul Finders featuring Marilyn Barbarin & Marc Stone and Mia Borders.
Keeping true to Beignet Fest’s charitable mission, a fully activated and sensory friendly Kids Village created by Children’s Hospital New Orleans offered a one-of-a-kind experience for all children. The Kids Village provided an opportunity for all families, especially those who might not be able to attend other festivals, to come to Beignet Fest and have a wonderful experience.
All proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation to celebrate, embrace and empower the lives of children with autism and their families. To learn more about the Beignet Fest Foundation, visit beignetfest.com.
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About Beignet Fest Foundation
Beignet Fest is a premier food festival in Louisiana that celebrates one of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes all in one place on one day. Proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation, which raises awareness and support for programs in Greater New Orleans that serve autistic youth and their families.