Lagniappe Bakehouse & Coffee Rises as New Orleans' Celebrated Bakery

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At Lagniappe Bakehouse & Coffee in New Orleans' historically Black Central City, pastry chef Kaitlin Guerin has turned a pandemic-era passion project into one of the nation's most celebrated bakeries. Drawing on classical French technique, seasonal Southern ingredients, and the rich foodways of the African diaspora, Guerin's innovative pastries have earned Lagniappe nationwide acclaim, including a James Beard Emerging Chef nomination and spots on national 'best bakery' lists.

Why it matters

Lagniappe Bakehouse & Coffee's success highlights the vibrant culinary culture of New Orleans' Central City neighborhood, a historically Black community that has faced economic challenges but remains a hub of local food traditions. Guerin's bakery not only showcases the city's diverse foodways, but also centers Black culinary history and community in both its flavors and its physical space.

The details

After training and performing as a modern contemporary dancer, Kaitlin Guerin pursued pastry at the Culinary Institute of America. She returned to her native New Orleans in 2020 and launched Lagniappe as a pop-up, selling curated pastry boxes. The bakery's innovative offerings draw on classical French technique, seasonal Southern ingredients, and the rich foodways of the African diaspora, creating items like honey-butter corn muffins, grains of paradise buns, and savory laminated treats. Since opening the Central City brick-and-mortar shop in 2024, Lagniappe has received nationwide acclaim.

• Kaitlin Guerin launched Lagniappe as a pop-up in 2020.
• Lagniappe opened its Central City brick-and-mortar shop in 2024.