New Orleans Hard To Find Places, Food, and More

Mary Ramsey IBBP.com's innkeeper from 1870 Banana Courtyard Bed and Breakfast located in The French Quarter of New Orleans is back today for more tips on traveling New Orleans. Todays Tips: Hard to find locations, food, restaurants and more in New Orleans.

WHERE DO I FIND this lists both THE BEST, most ECONOMICAL, and sometimes THE ONLY place you can find items . . . . . .?

WHERE CAN I FIND THE BEST REGIONAL DISHES?

• Alligator: Finding alligator MEAT, is a challenge, but Margaritaville usually has alligator. Dry Dock Café has alligator SAUSAGE, as does Praline Connection, or try Gumbo Shop, Redfish Grill, or Cajun Cabin (more expensive). Usually available year round.
• BBQ (barbeque): N’Awlins isn’t ‘big’ on BBQ, but you can find good pulled pork sandwich at 13 Monaghan, and better yet, a pulled pork sandwich & ribs to die for at Zydeque Barbeque on St. Charles Ave.. (BBQ shirmp, see shrimp)
• Baked Alaska: Signature dish at Antoine’s, but the restaurant is very pricey.
• Bananas Foster (Flaming dessert): You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy this wonderful, flamed dessert (The expensive Brennan's and Antoine’s restaurants are not the only venues serving this delightful New Orleans specialty dessert). Redfish Grill is a lively restaurant that serves it. Go at lunch.
• Beignets and Chicory Coffee: (Café du Monde)
• Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce: Dessert, but locals eat it for breakfast, as well. Praline Connection, Dizzy’s Café (4 blocks from main B&B on Esplanade Ave. Toward the lake), Gumbo Shop, Deanies Café (warehouse district)
• Calas: Creole fried rice fritter. Emerils, Brennans, and most lod line N’Awlins restaurants. Or for the cheapest, try Elizabeth’s (it’s worth the long walk or taxicab to go. See RESTAURANT LIST for details).
• Cooking Schools: There are a number of options for cooking classes or demonstrations that many of our guests have enjoyed. The most popular is The New Orleans School of Cooking +.
• Crab: Season is March through November. Most paces with boiled crab are in the ‘burbs, but you will see some with vats in the restaurant window
• Crawfish: Crawfish Etouffée, steamed/boiled Crawfish, or Crawfish Pie (Fiorelli’s on Decatur St.)
• Crawfish, Boiled: Season usually runs from November through July. Best bet, go to King Rogers , a block down N. Rampart from B&B (@St. Claude) boils crawfish daily, in season, take out. In the French Quarter, take out from Matassa’s (Fridays, but call 1st) and Royal St. Grocery. Eat in = Acme Oyster House, The Alpine, French Market Restaurant, but they ain’t cheap! Ship: www.lacrawfish.com, www.nuawlins.com/crawfish.htm
• Crawfish Monica: You may be out of luck finding this one! JazzFest enthusiasts have made this dish famous. The bad news is that about the only time you can get it, is at JazzFest. The spicy-creamy Rotini pasta dish, is a product of the locally based Kajun Kettle Foods company who only does catering for large events.
• Crawfish Pie: Post Katrina, I only know of one place in French Quarter to find them: Fiorella’s (Hugh makes them for family Christmas dinner).
• Creole Food: Arnauds, Galatoire’s, Oliviers
• Crepes: Petunias (they are rather pricey, maybe not worth it in our city) . 817 St. Louis St. 504-522-6440.
• Deep Fried Turkey: your guess is as good as mine. You have to fry it for a large group , to be served immediately, so I doubt that you’ll find it in a traditional restaurant. If you do, please tell me so I can add to this list (much of our info is gleaned from guest feedback)
• Dirty Rice: Popeyes Fried Chicken on St. Charles Avenue.
• Fried Green Tomatoes: Liuzza’s+in Mid-City or Café Atchafalaya+ in Uptown.
• Grillades and Grits: Galatoires: Or for the cheapest, try Elizabeth’s (it’s worth the long walk or taxicab to go. 

WHERE ARE THE BEST RESTAURANTS?

• Gumbo: Gumbo Shop on St. Peter or Praline Connection on Frenchman
• Jambalaya: Gumbo Shop
• Lobster: That’s NOT a New Orleans specialty, so you’ll probably pay dearly for it. If you ‘gotta have it’, try Andrew Jaeger’s. At least it’s less expensive there, but it’s in the ‘burbs, so you’ll need a car.
• Oysters: 3-ways Rockefeller, Casino and Bienville, in a po boy, or raw oysters, shucked at the bar.
• Po-boy Sandwich: (Yep. Anywhere else this would be called submarine sandwich, but ours are on French Bread): shrimp, oyster, or Softshell Crab are most popular, but roast beef with gravy is a favorite in any language). It’s worth the drive or streetcar ride to go to Liuzza’s in Mid City or Parkway Tavern in Faubourg St. John near City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Lots of tourists go to Johnny’s Poboys and Mothers.
• Pralines: Loretta’s.
• Praline Cured Bacon: Elizabeth’s, (it’s worth the long walk or taxicab to go.
• Red Beans and Rice (with or without smoked sausage). sausage: Andouille or Boudin.
• Shrimp: Shrimp Creole, Shrimp Remoulade, Shrimp Etouffée, fried or boiled/steamed shrimp
• Southern Fried Chicken: Fiorelli’s
• Tasso (local, highly seasoned, intensely flavored smoked pork): Adds a wonderful flavor to a variety of dishes, from soups to jambalaya to pastas and seafood. You’ll also find it in grits. Try Coop’s Place
• Malt Milkshakes: Clover Grill 
• Muffuletta: In 900 block of Decatur Street, Central Grocery (Napoleon House, if raining)
• Oysters, raw, on the half shell: BEST are in Uptown @Pascal Manale’s + Acme Oyster > (good prices, but LOTS of tourists) 522-5973 @724 Iberville, or best surroundings @ Redfish Grill’s oyster bar (gorgeous bar), Bourbon @Iberville. Best season is mostly ‘R’ months, but they are usually available year round. http://www.oysterlover.com/5lb2.html.
• Pralines: Loretta’s in the French Market or on N. Rampart St..
• Seafood/fish/shellfish/crustaceans: You’ll find seafood at almost any good restaurant in New Orleans, here are a few of our favorites:
Creole style seafood, oh la la, oysters in Brochette: Feelings + wide variety: Deanie’s > Worth the drive to Crabby Jacks in Jefferson (yum, yum). Owner also owns Jaques Imo in Uptown. And a seafood distribution serve, so you know it’s fresh!
Liuzza’s in Mid City
Seafood, packed to ship: Big Fisherman (Garden District) or P&J Oysters (French Quarter).
Wide variety and HUGE portions. Ain’t cheap, though. French Quarter
• Shrimp, BBQ: go to Pascal’s Manale (by car, taxi, or streetcar)
• Shrimp Po-boy Sandwich: Fiorella’s on Decatur, Verti Marte on Royal ,or King Rogers on N. Rampart Street. Season February through October.
• Soul Food: Praline Connection+ or Dizzy’s Cafe