French Quarter Festival...

[Jenny Says]

For those Jazzfest fans out there, I highly recommend the French Quarter Festival. This festival is my absolute favorite. Local bands set up on the Woldenberg Park along the river, in Jackson Square, and along Royal and Bourbon Streets, local restaurants set up in Jackson Square and a good time can be had for all. It's a great family atmosphere, fun for adults and kids alike.

It started in the mid 90's, I went to the first one when I lived there, haven't missed one since and it's just grown every year. I prefer it to Jazzfest for many reasons. You don't have to put up with port-a-potties, you can be outdoors, hear great music and there's great bands that play for free. It's always held in April, so it's not too hot, just a wonderful time to be in the quarter.

Anyway, it's going to be April 13-15 this year. If you're into festivals/jazzfest, this is the festival for you.

http://www.frenchquarterfestivals.org/

[Jenny Says]

Bump.

As a former New Orleans resident, I do highly recommend this festival. I prefer it by-far to Jazz Fest, it's less crowded and a wonderful opportunity to mingle with the locals.

For Jazz Fest, I usually go during the week. I don't even bother with the weekends, but that's just me, it's just too crowded during those times. Most of the main acts perform at various clubs/venues at night, anywhere from the UNO Lakefront arena to Muddy Waters, so I usually would catch them wherever they played at night.

Someone was mentioning crawfish bread: Here's a recipe in case you can't wait til JazzFest.

Jazz Fest Crawfish Bread
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened 1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth or clam juice
1/3 cup prepared roux 1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. sweet basil
2 bay leaves
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 lbs. crawfish tails with fat
1/2 cup ripe tomatoes, finely diced
1 can Campbell's Cream of Shrimp Soup
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/2 tsp. Frank Davis Seafood Seasoning, "Joe's Stuff" is good, too.
1 tsp. salt (if needed)
8 ounces shredded Colby
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack
1 cup grated Parmesan
4 loaves French bread "Twin Shorties"

In a large heavy skillet, melt the butter and heat it until it bubbles. Then lower the heat and add the chopped onions, bell pepper, and celery.
Sauté the mixture until the veggies turn limp, but do not let them brown (figure that it should take about three minutes).
Next add the wine to the seasoning base and bring it to a boil.
Then, after about a minute, pour in the clam juice and add to it the prepared roux, thyme, bay leaves, and garlic.
At this point, return the mixture to a boil once again but immediately lower the heat and simmer everything together for about five minutes more or until thickened.
Now add the crawfish tails, diced tomatoes, cream of shrimp soup, parsley, green onions, seafood seasoning, and salt (if needed).
When everything is thoroughly combined, simmer the skillet for about 8 to 10 minutes or until you can pick up the sauce with a fork..
All that's left to do is to slice the loaves of bread lengthwise and sprinkle each half with a thin but complete layer of cheese.
Then place the bread onto a sheet pan and slide it under a hot broiler or toaster oven until the cheese fully melts.
Finally, take the bread halves out of the oven, generously spoon the crawfish sauce down the center of each loaf, then top them liberally with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
Return the Crawfish Bread to the oven one more time, but only until the sauce begins to bubble.
Then slice the "breads" into appropriate individual portions and serve the pieces piping hot.

[justme]

Thanks for this thread. I will actually be in NOLA with my kids that weekend. Is this festival kid friendly?

[Jenny Says]

Yes, it is very kid friendly. Alot of people put blankets on the grass at Woldenberg park, in front of the stages. It's just a very nice atmosphere. You'll have a blast.

There's a restaurant from Metairie called Carmine's that usually has a booth in Jackson square. The crawfish monica pasta is the best, but anything from them will be good.

Hope you have a great time!