Only in New Orleans can a single weekend offer a festival for both sugary beignets and iconic po’boy sandwiches. This year, Beignet Fest and the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival arrived back-to-back, turning the city into a playground of fried dough, crusty French bread and culinary creativity with a cause. Here’s everything I ate — and everything that made this weekend one to remember. 

Beignets may be simple — just dough, oil and a blizzard of powdered sugar — but at Beignet Fest, they’re something much sweeter at play. Beneath every bite is the story of a New Orleans family whose son was diagnosed with autism and whose mission is to create a more inclusive world for neurodiverse children. The festival uses its sugar-dusted charm to fuel programs, camps and sensory-friendly spaces for neurodiverse kids across Louisiana. I got a variety of beignets to support the cause and my cravings — both sweet and savory — which were all unbelievable.  

My first beignet of the day was the espresso chocolate ganache beignet, which was $11 fromVintage. I was impressed with the flavors, with the chocolate and espresso both coming through. The filling wasn’t too thick, and the beignet itself remained fluffy and the star of the show.  

On the savory front, I had to make some tough decisions. Ultimately, I went with the seafood beignet from Lillie’s Cajun Kitchen for $11. This was a huge beignet stuffed with seafood and cheese with a seafood sauce drizzled on the top and in a cup on the side. This might have been my favorite thing I ate, loaded up on seafood and seasoned to perfection. 

Going back to the sweet, and aiming for a healthy choice of fruit, I got the crown apple pie beignet from Diva Dawg for $8. This beignet had a scoop of pie filling on top with chunks of apple and icing. This was a hefty portion, with the dense filling going well with the fluffy beignet. 

I finished off with the cheesecake stuffed beignet from Divine Cuisine for $15 for an order of two. This came with the options of Oreo topping or strawberries, and they were kind enough to do one of each. There are few things better than an Oreo or strawberry cheesecake, and theirs felt like the deep-fried equivalent that melted in your mouth.  

At the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival, the sandwiches show creativity, coming far from the simple roast beef “poor boys.” Produced by the Oak Street Merchants, Residents and Property Owners, the festival is part of a broader mission to uplift the Oak Street corridor — improving safety, preserving historic character and supporting the diverse, homegrown businesses that make the area thrive. What began as a simple tribute to a beloved local staple has grown into a celebration that also fuels the work of Son of a Saint, helping fatherless boys access mentorship, stability and support.  

Seither’s Seafood Voodoo fish and chips po’boy had blackened redfish, shredded cabbage and carrots topped with tartar sauce and Zapp’s Voodoo Chips. This redfish was spiced and cooked to be perfectly flakey. The shredded veggies were a nice crunchy touch, and the Voodoo chips added an additional layer of texture and flavor. This was all brought together with the tartar sauce, which was heavy on the dill to brighten up the dish and add moisture. This won best seafood po’boy at the festival, and I could not agree more. 

Next, I had Rosedale’s bananas foster po-boy for $13 with brûléed bananas, candied pecans, rum brown butter sauce and French toast style Leidenheimer bread with a scoop of vanilla ice cream by Quintin’s Natural Ice Cream & Sorbet. I can’t even begin to describe how terrific this po’boy was. The banana was warm from being brûléed complimenting the ice cream and the crunch from the walnut. I will be upset for a long time that they don’t serve this at their Mid-City location. 

I finished off with another treat from Rosedale, mixing it up from the usual po-boy for a mango lassi ice cream sandwich for $11 with pistachio cookie, yogurt and mango ice cream. The mango and pistachio paired well, making a great addition to our po-boys. 

This was another unforgettable weekend in New Orleans with two festivals and two iconic dishes. From the flaky beignets, crispy fish, brûléed bananas and everything in between, it was clear that these festivals are about more than indulgence — they’re about the people they uplift. Beignet Fest and Po-Boy Fest showcased the best of New Orleans cooking while supporting missions that matter.