Sopan Tike, owner of Lilah's Deli & Bakery on Olive Street in Shreveport, puts some king cakes in the oven. They are the biggest sellers of the year. / Val Horvath Davidson/The Times When Sopan Tike opened Lilah's Deli & Bakery on Olive Street in

And it's one of New Orleans' two iconic sweets (the other being the party loving king cake). With Mardi Gras approaching, it's a perfect time to get to know beignets. Truth is, beignets are a form of doughnut or fried dough. They originated in France,

Sopan Tike, owner of Lilah's Deli & Bakery on Olive Street in Shreveport, puts some king cakes in the oven. They are the biggest sellers of the year. / Val Horvath Davidson/The Times When Sopan Tike opened Lilah's Deli & Bakery on Olive Street in

King Cakes have many looks, the most classic being a crown shaped pastry dotted with the sugared colors of Carnival: purple, gold and green. Some have fillings, others do not,

By Judy Walker, The Times-Picayune Chris Granger/The Times-PicayuneThe winner of the 2012 King Cake King contest is the pecan praline made by Manny Randazzo. Q: You have to taste the king cake at (name your favorite) bakery. A. No, I don't.