I recommend checking out the Federal Writers' Project New Orleans Guide. The Federal Writers' Project was a depression-era program intended to give work to unemployed writers, and one of their main projects resulted in the creation of the American Guide Series. The series is incredibly comprehensive. Generally there was one guide written per state as well as occasional city guides. The guide for New Orleans is called: "New Orleans City Guide: Written and Compiled By the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the City." It was first published in 1938, but quite likely has been updated since. It will certainly be outdated in terms of food/lodging needs, but will provide a compelling historical perspective you're unlikely to find in current guides.