Since the time of year has come around once again when we have to grimace at the pop winners for the Gambit’s Best of New Orleans survey, here are some alternatives. I’ll add to the list over time. Feel free to jump in with comments.

Best Gelato/Ice Cream: La Divina Gelateria for flavor, Angelo Brocato’s for neighborhood atmosphere.

Best Radio Station: For unpredictable variety and attitude, the best all around radio station continues to be WTUL, 91.5 FM.

Best Breakfast: The best new spot in town for breakfast is Stop Nine, at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Melpomene, in the location of the former La Coyoacan. A great menu featuring authentic Mexican breakfast items, fresh biscuits, interesting combinations of omelettes, and the most mellow cup of coffee you’ll find anywhere in town. Chef Ingrid Peters knows Mexican cuisine, and cares about using the freshest local produce available. I’ve worked in the business, and I’ve seldom found any chef who cares so much about the details. On any other day I’m not going to Stop Nine: Riccobono’s for genuinely friendly service, and fantastic Huevos Rancheros.

Best Free Festival: This year’s experience at the Creole Tomato Festival surpassed all others in reasonable crowd size, quality of food, and positive spirit.

Best Coffee Shop: I’m afraid to give this one up, or it’ll turn into another poseur pick-up spot. Chances are you already know the spot if you like small, out of the way, nice but quirky service, and occasional bubble teas. Hint: Maitri lives a stone’s throw away.

Best New Indian Food: What’s the name of that new place on the corner of Carrollton and Oak (The Curry Corner). The only thing they need to do is increase the portion sizes and heat up the food a little more.

Best Grocery Store: Rouse’s features pleasant, even giddy service, cleanliness, a good organic and gluten-free selection, and a serious commitment to selling local goods. I only go to Whole Paycheck now out of convenience, or when I can’t find what I need at Rouse’s. The ribs made by Kedra Friday afternoons at the Tchoupitoulas store are the most tender, finger-licking good I’ve ever had.

Best Investigative TV Reporter: WWL TV’s Eyewitness News reporter Lee Zurik. Calm, cool, collected, funny, and unshaken determination to keep asking simple, straight questions, without ambushing, in a positive, un-incriminating tone, despite Ray Nagin’s hostile attitude.

Best Local TV Interview Progam: Sunday Morning with Dennis Woltering, 10:30 a.m. on WWL TV — tied with Greater New Orleans, nightly at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on WLAE, channel 32. The latter’s host, Tom Bagwell, is extremely well-informed and always prepared with a list of questions to guide interesting, well-paced conversations, but he keeps it real with a pleasant demeanor and quick wit.

Best Commercial Radio Talk Show Host: It’s a trick question — there are none. They all suck! The only one worth mentioning is WIST 690 AM’s Eric Asher, only because he’s smarter than the rest, but I wouldn’t give him a prize for what he does.

Best Honduran Food: Yes, it’s true. Not all food from Latin America is Mexican. Surprise, surprise. The unlikely and tourist-sounding Jazz Tacos, is in the out-of-the-way Exchange Alley in the French Quarter (across the street from the Michaelopoulos Gallery). You can sit outside under umbrellas, or sit inside for the authentic Honduran experience of listening to a television blaring telenovelas while you eat. The treat you’ll find here and nowhere else are authentic Honduran tacos, which feature stewed, shredded chicken rolled inside of corn tortillas and fried, topped with white queso fresco, cabbage, and a delicious, mildly piquant red sauce. Order an agua fresca to drink if they have something prepared.

Best Classical Music: Gratuitous bias here, but the best classical music to be heard in New Orleans ain’t WWNO in the doctor’s office, or the Beethoven & Blue Jeans series by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. For mixes of the dreamy Toru Takemitsu alongside electrifying hurdy gurdies, Glenn Gould’s eccentric humming over his performances of Bach, Andrew Manze’s gut-wrenching violin performances of medieval music alongside the unexpected piano treatments of John Cage — you never know what you’re going to hear on WTUL’s Morning Classics, 6 a.m to 8 a.m., Monday through Friday (Thursday morning is my personal favorite).

Best Record Store: Sure, you could go to the Louisiana Music Factory if you were looking for the best music store. But if you want records — vinyl — the best selection is found at the Domino Record Shack. Funky local artists, world rhythms, R&B, weird collectibles, and jazz — it merits repeated visits.

Best Creme Brulee: Dine like royalty. That’s the feeling you get with the warm family-style service Moncef and Jamila provide at Jamila’s Cafe. Top off your North African couscous or lamb with dessert. A touch of orange flower water flamed right into the burnt sugar on top is the secret ingredient.