Lousiana's culinary history runs deep throughout the state's most rugged depths from the alligator-riddled swamps to the inner-city. From crawfish boils to Po' boy sandwiches, Louisiana has found a way to make something from nothing every single time. However, the state's rich intermingling with their French heritage has allowed them to master one pastry that has broken its way out Louisiana and is now a world-renowned dessert and/or breakfast option. Ladies and gentlemen, the beignet.
The beignet was originally introduced to New Orleans during the 18th century by French colonists and has become a staple ever since. This particular rendition of the beignet is choux pastry consisting of just flour, eggs, butter, and water, ditching a raising agent that provides it with a unique consistency unlike any other pastry on the market. The fluffy deep-fried dough topped with soft powdered sugar is a foodgasm just waiting to happen and with added flavors like strawberry and blackberry jams, it only elevates the delicious pastry's already legendary reputation.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.