New Orleans suggestions?

Someone wrote:
: JazzFest is one of the finest times N'awlins offers, and the food at JazzFest : almost outdoes the music.  Don't miss the softshell crab PO-boys (usually : offered from a booth back near the Gospel tent) and the City Parks jambalaya. : If you really don't get stuffed at the fest,... : : There's a terrific little dive called Casimento's, uptown on Magazine Street, : not only are they the best they're the only safe place to eat them in the city, sterile, sterile, sterile which is what you want.  I lived 2 blocks away and it is at the corner of Napoleon and Magazine (towards the river on the downtown side- South East corner to you and me.  Right across from a park and the Victorian police station- look for the Porsche Cabriolet parked in the police lot, I'll let you have fun speculating as to how that was payed for.)  It's just 1 long block away from the infamous Tipitina's, at the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Napoleon.  If you're into good music that's the place to go.  Rosie's big easy is 1 block from there avoid it.  1 block further down tchoup is F & M's Patio bar great for post 3 a.m. food and drink (that's right I said drink- remember there are no laws in the city, it is the 4th world.)

 that serves fresh oysters any way you want them, shrimp, beer and Barq's. : (For heaven's sakes DON'T order the spaghetti!)  Last time I was there they : were serving fried softshell crabs to die for. Guaranteed no atmosphere : whatsoever.   Near the corner of Carrollton and St. Chuck, is the RiverBend : --wonderful fresh crawfish salad.  And if you find yourself greeting the dawn : from the wrong side, mosey on down to Cafe Du Monde, get a bagful of beignets : and a cafe du lait, then take them across the levee and watch the sun rise : over Algiers.  It will cure what ails you. Laissez les bons temps roulez. : Hmmm... There also used to be a wonderful little place called "Mai Oui",

great place, good call, homestyle- check it out.
: which was the nickname of the proprieter, Mary Louise.  It was uptown on : Magazine as well, I think, or maybe Tchoupitoulas.  Not sure.  Hope it's still : there! It's on Magazine past Nashville going uptown.

: Oh, by the way, if you'll be there over the 23rd, the Hammond : Strawberry Fest will be going on as well, just across Lake Ponchartrain. : Louisiana strawberries are the finest in the world...

: >I'm heading to N'awlins for the first week of Jazzfest, and am looking : >for suggestions of good but not obvious restaurants.  I've been there a : >couple of times already, and have hit all the spots touted in visitors' : >guides and the like. Now I'd like to try a few places that are not so : >well-known. My requirements are modest: any type of food, nothing overly : >ritzy. Any suggestions?

I could sit here all day and rattle off the places to check out, but the best place for info is the new orleans mailing list- food is all they discuss. you can subscribe at [email removed] by typing subscribe new-orleans in the body.  Mr. Branley will set you up. My top recs are Franky and Johnny's (uptown, can never find it, it's near tchoupitoulas on a funky street that' perpendicular- take a cab, enjoy the trip) Crawfish are out of control and the Bud tastes like the nectar of the Gods here for some reason.  Get the etoufee and the beans and rice. No limit on the Crystal sauce, it ain't tabasco (it'll all make sense when you get there).  Domilisie's is not far from that and is an absolute code red priority visit for lunch- the PoBoys are better than Uglesich's which is where everyone's going to reccomend so even if you did get to Ugly's you'd think it was Disney Land.  For nice food check out Gautreau's on Soniat (cab it, don't even try to find it yourself- and make reservs). Mandina's is another top pick for me.  The atmosphere is great, they do fish right.  They don't take reservations, it's casual (it's on Canal or Tulane actually, look it up, you can find this place yourself though, it'll be good for your ego as you have been letting someone else do all the driving up til now).  Oh yeah, the Praline Connection just North of the Quarter on Frenchmen street- the definitive beans and rice place (they're not consistent at the aforementioned Franky and Johnny's so hold out for this).  Alright sparky, you're on your own now. BTW DO NOT EVER EVER EVER refer to NO as N'awlins- you will undoubtedly be punched in the head numerous times literally if not figuratively (i.e. definitely don't use that spelling on the mailing list, they get really bent over that).  It is not the big easy, it is not New Orleens (although that's permissible, it makes the locals wanna hug you cause you're so . .
 out of town).  It's simply New Orlins, always has been, always will be. Practice saying it in the mirror.  I hope you realize that I've just talked myself into going down for the festival- it really is the best time to go- Mardi Gras is the complete antithesis, I hated it when I lived there.

Bars- Howlin' Wolf, Maple Leaf, Howlin' Wolf, Carrolton Station, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy's, Howlin' Wolf, Benny's, Howlin' Wolf, Madigan's (when John Mooney's playing), Howlin' Wolf and the Howlin' Wolf.  These are all great music bars especially . . . Cafe Brasil is good too, it's x the st from praline connection. I'm done.  Goodnight, goodluck and God Bless. My work is done here. Jeff Krupman [email removed] 415 648 7936 I'd like to thank the members of the Academy . . .