New Orleans "Mardi Gras" Honeymoon. What should we expect?

A couple of friends and me, Mardi gras right after Katrina. I love New Orleans. It is alot of fun. Great food, music, and a great time. I recommended Two Sister's Cafe, Crazy Lobster, and Deanie's (sp?, but a little pricey).

I know Deanie's is popular- I went there once and did not like it. I got the Crab meat au gratin and I think I will accept that Mike Anderson's is the only place that can cook that dish. My husband was not impressed with his meal either, and the waiter didn't bother to tell us they were out of crawfish etouffee which was supposed to be on his platter. Deanie's had boiled red potatoes on the table which was kinda neat/different. We ate there the weekend of Jazz Fest and right when the oil spill happened, so they were really busy. I have co-workers that have gone and loved some big seafood platter they have. I like Mulatte's. I went to Pat O'Brien's earlier this year and was not impressed with the food or the service from our waitress- they are popular for their Hurricane drinks. I've always wanted to try Two Sister's Cafe, so maybe this weekend for the Saint's game, but our new tradition is going to Tropical Isle.

I may try Two Sister's when I go in a few weeks- I have a client who used to be a cook there and ever since he mentioned it I've been wanting to go.

LOL@ "spring break on crack"... Thank you ladies for all that insght. We already booked our tickets and our hotel so backing out isn't an option. We'll be staying at Bourban Orleans which looks pretty nice from the pictures we've seen. I will be heeding the advice to not indulge in the actual festival though. I have a very weak stomach and urine and vomit is something I can't tolerate. The reason why we chose Mardi Gras to visit is because we've both been DYING to go there, and we figured that the whole town will turn it up and we can exprience the city at it's greatest potential. Not only that, my family on my mother's side originates from there, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I'm a history nut so I'm excited to do some research on my family history, and see all the historical things I've heard about. I really want to visit spots and see if I can volunteer with the Katrina relief efforts still going on too. Most improtantly, we are on a missin to find the best Gumbo and Jambalya cont'd.

…in the city, restaurant by restaurant. @Michelle S., I will not be showing off the tata’s, my husband would kill me. The actual Mardi Gras festival is kind of at the bottom of the list, we want to see it, but we don’t do well in crowds and I hate being around belligerently drunk people. Thanx again ladies, after the trip I will post pictures and let you know how it went. We’ll definitely be taking a lot of suggestions I’ve read.

I'm from the Jambalaya capital of the world........Gonzales, Louisiana. Every May there is a Jambalaya Festival, and the cooks have to cook the jambalaya in a big cast iron pot over a wooden fire- making it much harder to cook. (I wish they wouldn't have it in May- it's too hot then). There are different types of jambalaya and gumbo's.....So if you try one and don't like it, don't be scared to try it somewheres else. I like to make a pastalaya which is similiar to jambalaya without the rice. If you make it to Baton Rouge, I like TJ Ribs- they have this huge brownie on the dessert menu I actually live between 2 homes, because both my husband and I own homes, so I get to spend time in BR and NO.

We definitely will be going to Baton Rouge, that's were my ancestory begins. I am SUPER excited to go. How far is Gonzales from N.O? Oh yeah, the "Pastalya" sounds yummy, might try that for Sunday dinner this week. Thanx for the input...

Where*

Gonzales is 20 minutes from Baton Rouge and about an hour from New Orleans. Gonzales is kinda in the middle of both. There is a place called the Jambalaya Shoppe that sales Jambalaya daily I believe- the one in Gonzales is a place you just drive up to-nothing fancy.

http://jambalaya-shoppe.com/default.aspx

Girl you had me sold at "Jambalya capital of the world". I don't care if it's a drive thru window, lol. We'll be there for a little over a week, I'm trying to get in as much sight seeing, gumbo, and jambalaya eating time as I can.

LOL, I wish they'd change the time of the year for the festival- it's on Memorial Day weekend. Another neat place in Gonzales is "The Cabin" restaurant and I love Mike Anderson's Restaurant (which is within a Holiday Inn Hotel) but it's nicely decorated with alot of New Orleans and LSU decor. We also have a Tanger Outlet Mall and a Don's Seafood, and LSU is about 20 minutes up the road from us, and it is a very pretty campus with the live oaks.