Seafood gumbo, a specialty of Gumbo Shop(Courtesy of Gumbo Shop)

A rich seafood gumbo is one of the specialties of Gumbo Shop, in the French Quarter.

Gumbo

Gumbo Shop
630 Saint Peter Street

This rich concoction is made from a thickened fat and flour base called a "roux," along with okra, meat and shellfish in various combinations, and the so-called "holy trinity": celery, bell peppers and onion. The stewy mixture is served over rice, and I'm assuming it could replace chicken soup as a more regional cold remedy. For gumbo perfection, hit the Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter and try the chicken and andouille sausage blend. The rich, garlicky roux is packed with flavor and stocked with shredded chicken and rounds of spicy andouille.

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Beignets and chicory coffee

Café du Monde
800 Decatur Street

Beignets at Cafe du Monde(Peter Frank Edwards, Redux)

Beignets at Cafe du Monde: Is there a more enduring New Orleans tradition?

No city is prouder of their doughnuts than New Orleans. Like Jazz at Preservation Hall, or boozing on Bourbon Street, cramming beignets at Café du Monde is an essential (if touristy) outing.

These modestly dense, chewy French-style doughnuts come smothered with an obscene pile of powdered sugar, which brings to mind a certain scene from "Scarface" and decorates anyone unfortunate enough to be wearing black. The sugar melts on the outside creating a layer of warm glaze; it's best to wash beignets down with a creamy café au lait -- made with the café's classic chicory-flavored French Coffee.

Po' boys

Domilise's
5240 Annunciation Street

Po' boys -- New Orleans' take on sub sandwiches -- are built from meat or seafood on crusty-yet-airy Louisiana-style French bread. They're meaty and sloppy and at their best when "dressed" (topped) with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles and slathered with mustard and mayo. If you're not already po' boyed out from Mother's, Domilise's is a must. That's partly for the disheveled ambience -- its rundown building is marked only by a hand-painted wooden sign nailed askew to the siding -- and also for an unforgettable smoked sausage po'boy with chili gravy, most of which will end up on your lap.