A few other places from Chuck's page that I also recommend. Mid-City Lanes Rock 'n Bowl, 4133 S. Carrollton at Tulane. Perhaps the only bowling alley that regularly books bands, plus serves great food like alligator po-boys. A not-to-be-missed experience. Local acts, blues, roots music and zydeco predominate. Zydeco night on Thursdays. If you bowl, you have more room to dance than on the dance floor. FUN FUN FUN place and great music. Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon at Tchoupitoulas, 895-8477. A great club, and a veritable shrine to Professor Longhair, after whose signature tune it was named. Many local acts, plus national touring acts who tend to plkay much larger venues in other cities. Fais-do-do with the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band most Sundays, 5-9pm, with free red beans and rice. Food available, plus Abita Beer on tap. Tip's has fallen on harder times of late, with lots of their usual acts now playing the House of Blues. At the Jazzfest 1995 Cowboy Mouth show, Tip's crammed so many people into the club that for the first time I found the concertgoing experience there truly unpleasant. I imagine it's not as bad during the rest of the year, but if you go to Tip's when a bigger act is there, go early. Bookings 523-1614. Concert line 897-3943. Tip's Records 891-7994. FAX 891-7996. It has become more commercial because it has become so well known so it is not like it once was but still a fun spot. The original Muffa shop! I must have my Muffa! Central Grocery, 923 Decatur St., French Quarter. Owned by the Tusa family, this is the home of the famous muffuletta sandwich: ham, genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, seasoned olive oil drizzled on the inside of the specially baked seeded round Italian loaf, and the crowning touch - a marinated olive and vegetable salad in a thick layer on the sandwich. The pinnacle of the sandwich-maker's art. There are plenty of places that serve muffs, but Central was the first and is still the best. Don't try to eat one of these by yourself, or it could be incapacitating. Or what the hell, be a pig and do it at least once. This is also a terrific little Italian grocery store, with lots of imported products. I already mentioned Mothers but here is more about it Mother's, 401 Poydras St. at Tchoupitoulas, CBD. Many call it the best po-boy joint in town, home of the "Ferdi Special": piled high with their baked ham (the best anywhere), roast beef, gravy, and roast beef "debris" (the little tiny bits that fall off the roast beef and float in the gravy as it cooks). Fantastic breakfasts (try the ham biscuits), jambalayas and gumbos, and the best turtle soup in town (better than Galatoire's). Worth the wait in line, anytime. and the one not to miss Mulate's, 201 Julia St., Warehouse District. 522-1492. A huge dance floor and nightly live Cajun music by the likes of Steve Riley are the major draw to "The World's Most Famous Cajun Restaurant", which originated in Breaux Bridge, La. And hey, the food ain't nothin' to sneeze at either. Large quantities of tasty food, and any place that gives you a choice of frog's legs done two different ways is OK in my book. And you can dance off some of those calories while you're at it, too. Some of my dear friends were taking a trip down South and asked me this same question and I said top of the list Mulate's and go at night when a band is playing. They came back and told me that was the hilight of their trip! They were so amazed to see from little children to very old folks up and dancing to the great music. You leave with a smile and dancing feet. For a more real experience get off the commercial path and down into some of the smaller towns that is where the best food is. I also personally love the flea market at the end of the line.

I have also heard that nursing mothers should limit garlic,onions, and anything spicy. Not for her sake,but for the baby. Maybe you could ask them if there is anything in particular they would like,since they are somewhat conservative eaters. If you don't want to do that, I concur with the roast chicken idea. Chicken,mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and green beans. Mmmmmmmmm. When one of my sister's had her first baby, she flew me in for the express purpose of filling her freezer with meals. I cooked lots of stuff, but the favorite was pot roast cooked in the slow cooker with carrots and potatoes.(I admit, i put some onions in there too, but they cooked all day, and sis said no tummy troubles for baby afterward) Maybe soup? It may be a little warm out for soup, but I have never had anyone kick me out of the house for bringing my potato soup over. It's also freezes well,which is important. Whatever you make,make lots so they can freeze for later dates when people stop cooking for them. ;) Sorry I suck at recipes, since I never measure,but here goes: Cut up bacon and cook until crispy.(maybe half a pound?) Remove from pot to drain. Pour out all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. In.bacon fat, cook some peeled and cut up russet potatoes(2 to 3 pounds) with some onion (just a little) for about 10 minutes. Add chicken stock to cover potatoes, bring to a boil and cook until taters are done. At this point, I take a whisk and kind of break up the potatoes a little, but I don't mash them. I guess if you wanted it smoother,you could use a stick blender. Add some milk or cream,about 3 cups or so. Then oodles of cheddar. (Yes "oodles" is an official measurement in my kitchen.) To thicken it, I make a small amount of Mac and cheese sauce. (2 TBS. BUTTER,2 TBS FLOUR, 1 1/4 CUP MILK OR CREAM, HANDFUL OF CHEESE) and whisk it in slowly. Then I add the bacon back in. Salt and Pepper to taste. It's a basic recipe,but much loved. A pot of this with some really good rolls might work. If you wanted to avoid the onion, chives might work instead,added at the end.

I love New Orleans, we have been there several times. It's an absolute cliché but I grew up reading and loving Anne Rice, and waiting to visit NOLA. I find if you avoid Bourbon Street (especially after dark) you can stay away from the worst of the worst. Not my scene at all. I much prefer Cafe Beignet over Cafe du Monde for beignets, but we always visit CduM too, to people watch & enjoy the atmosphere, and probably because it's in such a convenient location. If you have time the D-Day Museum is so worth visiting. We easily spent an entire afternoon there. We've also done a few walking tours in NOLA, something I don't normally do. There is so much history all around, things I would have missed if I hadn't had a guide. A tour that combines a cemetery and the French Quarter might be worthwhile. We've also rented a car and driven to some of the plantations outside the city - Oak Alley, Laura Plantation, Evergreen, etc. We really enjoyed that. I can't help much with restaurants because I love all the cajun and creole food.... shellfish and spicy andouille sausage included. There is a great pizza place at the very edge of the FQ near Frenchmen Street - called Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. Probably my favorite restaurant is The Original Pierre Maspero's on Chartres Street, mostly because of how it feels for me - somehow it embodies exactly what I always thought New Orleans would be like in my imagination, and the building has an incredible history dating back to 1788 (I'm absolutely a history buff). I had their chicken & waffles for brunch once and it was really good - - that might be something you could try. Plus they make a GREAT spicy Bloody Mary.

Oh, never heard of "hunky" as being referred to as something ethnic, pro or con. Don't know where that notion came from. So and so was called a "hunk" back at college, and that meant the guy was hot, desirable. I'm sure language changes. But there is a certain extent to which I'm not going to worry about it.