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Published on July 22, 2024
New Orleans Flavors Arrive in Honolulu with the Opening of Nola Café Serving Authentic Beignets and Savory DelightsSource: Google Street View

Honolulu's taste buds are getting a New Orleans touch with the introduction of Nola Café, a new establishment promising to satisfy cravings for the classic New Orleans-style beignets. Co-owner Rowlinson Aczon appeared on Good Morning Hawaii Sunday and spoke about the journey to creating their specialty beignets, attributing inspiration to his wife's Louisiana roots. "My wife is from Louisiana, and so we spent a few years developing our own original recipe," Aczon told KITV. Alongside the traditional powdered sugar beignets, Nola Café also serves up cream-filled varieties with flavors such as custard cream, chocolate, and ube.

Aczon shared more about their diverse offerings, extending beyond the sweet treats to include savory items such, as a prosciutto mozzarella beignet sandwich complete with roasted garlic aioli and, a Caprese style variant enriched with homemade pesto. For those needing a hearty morning kickstart, options like the Andouille Egg Scramble Sandwich and a Southern-Style Casserole provide substantial fuel for the day. As for drinks, Nola Café is proud to serve beverages using Kai Coffee Hawaii beans, with highlights including their signature Café Nola, a blended delight of cinnamon, caramel, and chocolate latte.

The café itself offers a multisensory experience with an interior that combines Victorian elements and the essence of New Orleans' French Quarter. "The interior showcases rich royal blue walls, white and grey marble counters, and a glittering crystal chandelier," described Aczon on KITV, who has also lent his artistic talent to the venue with a hand-painted mural of Jackson Square. Patrons can immerse themselves in this unique ambiance both indoors and while people-watching from the enclosed patio.

For those unable to linger in the café's eclectic surrounds, Nola Café has made provisions for their beignets to travel. "Although our beignets are best served fresh, beignets to go is not a bad second choice!" a recent Facebook post from Nola Cafe Hnl insists. The cafe provides practical reheating tips to help customers recapture that just-made magic: simply dust off the powdered sugar before microwaving at 15-second intervals, then reapply the sweet dust once warmed. This information was shared directly from their Facebook post.

Located at 3040 Waialae Avenue A-1 in Honolulu, Nola Café is capturing palates and offering up a slice of southern comfort. Visitors can engage with the café on social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to follow their offerings and updates. The touch of New Orleans that Aczon and his wife have brought to the island is proving to be an inviting mix of tradition and local flavor.