New Orleans native adds beignets to menu

New Orleans native Aaron Hegger has trained with some of the best pastry chefs in his hometown and has brought his skills to Austin with the opening of his restaurant, New Awlins Cafe.

He and his family moved to Austin a couple of years after Hurricane Katrina hit. He chose Austin because it is a melting pot like New Orleans.

"It's made up of different people from different places," he said.

In New Orleans, Hegger worked as a sheriff's deputy for three years before making a career change to chef.

"It's something I love to do," he said. "I thought I liked working in law enforcement, but I like working with my hands."

Hegger also earned the moniker of "Famous Cajun Pie Man" after being named as having the best pies by New Orleans food critic Tom Fitzmorris.

The famous pie man serves several types of pies at New Awlins Cafe, including a variety of fruit, cream cheese and pecan pies ($3.50) and savory pies with fillings such as crawfish, alligator, and shrimp ($6.50).

Hegger said Austin has embraced his Creole-style food, which differs from Cajun food in that the Creole style is big on flavor but not on heat because of the influence of Spanish, French and African American cuisine.

Entrees include jambalaya ($9.95), red beans and rice ($6.95) and crawfish touffe ($13.95) made with a dark roux, green onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and butter. He also serves the po'boys on fresh-baked bread.

"For people that really don't know New Orleans food, it's really authentic," Hegger said of New Awlins Cafe.

Hegger recently added another New Orleans favorite to the menu: beignets. For Mardi Gras, Hegger will also be selling king cakes, which are another New Orleans tradition, in traditional or filled with fruit or cream cheese.

The restaurant is decorated with brightly colored murals that a student from Westwood High School painted. New Awlins Cafe also hosts live music Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. with country and zydeco bands.

New Awlins Cafe, 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste. 111, 512-394-7200, Hours: Mon.–Thu. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:30– 8 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:30–9 p.m.; Sat. noon–3 p.m., 5–9:30 p.m.; closed Sun.