Near the end of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana is New Orleans, a city so steeped in history, so soaked in culture, and so dripping with charm that there’s nowhere like it on Earth.

Yes, New Orleans will bounce back. Taxis and buses and limousines will leave hotels and casinos, cutting in and out of traffic to deliver passengers to Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Pretty much everyone in this city has strong opinions about gumbo. Writer and New Orleans native Megan Braden-Perry shares her picks for the eight best versions you can find. At the new ...