What should I bring back from N'awlins?

King cakes were being sold immediately after Christmas. That’s standard these days, even though it is an unusually short Mardi Gras season. Gambino’s Bakery has the best ones.

Pralines! I’m partial to Aunt Sally’s . They have a big store very near the Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.

Winnie, so you’ll be there during the first week in February? That’s the week before Mardi Gras. Do you know where you’ll be staying, i.e., in one of the 'burbs, or downtown? Check out this link for parade schedules. You should be able to catch at least one or two nighttime parades.

Careful!

This was more like Chuck E. Cheese style pizza (blech). Some place on Bourbon St, but I forget the name.

Anyway, sorry for the hijack. My point is, if you can get it at home (like pizza, McDonald’s, spaghetti and meatballs, etc.), don’t waste your time with it in New Orleans. There’s too much variety waiting for you to enjoy to settle for a Big Mac.

There you go. Mama Rosa’s is on Rampart, directly across from Armstrong Park.

Quite right, stick with places that are uniquely New Orleans.

A good place for seafood is Cajun Catfish at 521 Central Ave, just off Jefferson Highway.

Actually, the more I think about it, I’d happily pay any local N’awlins people if they could ship me some Big Shot root beer in Florida.

[OT]Old Forge Style Rulez![/I’m related to the Revellos]

As for NO, if you were going in the non-Mardi Gras part of the year, I’d recommend the MardI Gras museum, where you can see cool float-design facilities and such. It’s just a short ferry trip from the French 0.25, and has an okay giftshop, if that’s your thing.

On the (east?) end of the Quarter, there’s an interesting museum in the old Mint building, with an assortment of minting and printing gear, as well as Jazz-related displays.

Go to Don’s Seafood hut on Veterans Blvd and order the shrimp and crabmeat etouffee. It’s good enough to make you move here.

If you have a really good time in New Orleans, you’ll bring back a dose of the clap.

There’s also Marie Leveaux’s House of Voodoo, which is a pretty interesting stop.

Port of Call used to serve a pretty darn good greasy cheeseburger. It was huge…real sliced cheese (not the Kraft Singles type of stuff) and if you ordered mushrooms on it you got like, half a pound of them. Seriously. It came with a baked potato rolled in salt instead of fries, as I recall.

I like to cook, so I always bring back spices and sauces and cookbooks.

One time, I was there on business and bf was going to join me but was unable to make it. I took pictures around town, and bought him some small stuff to go with each (hurricaine mix at Pat Obrien’s, key chain from Cat’s Meow, a wish spell from Marie Leveaux’s, etc.). Wrapped it all up in a box and told him it was his own tour of New Orleans. He loved it.

Please stop by Port of Call on Esplanade for the best burger EVAR!!11one They also have the always intoxicating/delicious Monsoon. Highly recommended. That’s all I can offer food wise as I’m the only person in the state that doesn’t like seafood hangs head in shame.

If you do it right, about three extra pounds’ worth of pudge. :smiley:

Maybe some locals can elaborate on this suggestion, but there’s some excellent musicians and bands performing regular gigs there. You might be able to find some self-produced CDs of their stuff for sale…

I liked the real gator paws they sold in the gift shop at the Voodoo Museum.

It’s been years since I’ve been to New Orleans, so I don’t remember any useful details about specific locations, but I do recall there being several quite interesting art shops in the French Quarter–not on Bourbon Street itself, but I think on the next block over and on some of the cross streets.

I wouldn’t necessarily bother bringing back beignet mix or coffee; I’ve seen them in my local grocery stores, so they may also be convenient to you. You might want to bring back some herbsaint, though–that seems to be more difficult to find.

While you’re there, go to the zoo. For one thing, it’s an excellent zoo. Also, it’s the only zoo I’ve ever been to that has alligators on display and on the menu.