Pralines by Jean…and Cupcakes Too!
Classic Praline, Coffee Praline
Red Velvet Cupcake
Carrot Cake Cupcake
New Orleans Nectar Cupcake
Pralines and Cream Cupcake
Located in a small, homey storefront on St. Charles Avenue in the Lower Garden District, not exactly the tourist sector but easily accessible by the streetcars rumbling by outside, Pralines By Jean…and Cupcakes Too! has made a name for itself as one of the best mom n’ pop stops for sweet treats in New Orleans since opening in the late 2000’s, the family owned shop also offering several kitchen items and gifts featuring a Saints or Mardi Gras theme.
Taking pride in local sourcing and a lack of preservatives, samples often offered of both the eponymous sweets, it is to warm greetings that those entering the shop are universally treated, the lone clerk taking time to explain the store’s concept while juggling the tasks of answering phones and also stocking shelves.
Pricing Pralines lower than some national brands despite the freshness and quality, at least three flavors offered each day, it was with samples of Classic, Coffee and Chocolate that the decision was made to order one-each of the first two, both lacking any of the grit that often mars lesser versions with each bite melting on the tongue into a creamy, sweet puddle.
Impressed b y the intensity of flavors, a statement that no artificial flavors are used in the shop shocking when considering the boldness of Coffee amidst all that sugar, Cupcakes seem a bit overpriced at $3 each for what amounts to, at most, two bites – the Sprinkled Red Velvet making one question whether the colorful decorations or bright red base were indeed “all natural,” no matter how tasty, while the Punch-like New Orleans Nectar as well as the Pralines and Cream were equally well-crafted, the Carrot Cake only falling short as it unfortunately lacked in spice profile.
www.pralinesbyjean.com
