What is lagniappe you say?
Mark Twain writes about the word in a chapter on New Orleans in Life on the Mississippi (1883). He called it “a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get”:
We picked up one excellent word—a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word—”lagniappe.” They pronounce it lanny-yap. [many say lan-yap] It is Spanish—so they said. We discovered it at the head of a column of odds and ends in the Picayune, the first day; heard twenty people use it the second; inquired what it meant the third; adopted it and got facility in swinging it the fourth. It has a restricted meaning, but I think the people spread it out a little when they choose. It is the equivalent of the thirteenth roll in a “baker’s dozen.” It is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure. The custom originated in the Spanish quarter of the city. When a child or a servant buys something in a shop—or even the mayor or the governor, for aught I know—he finishes the operation by saying—”Give me something for lagniappe.”
The shopman always responds; gives the child a bit of licorice-root, gives the servant a cheap cigar or a spool of thread, gives the governor—I don’t know what he gives the governor; support, likely.
When you are invited to drink, and this does occur now and then in New Orleans—and you say, “What, again?—no, I’ve had enough;” the other party says, “But just this one time more—this is for lagniappe.” When the beau perceives that he is stacking his compliments a trifle too high, and sees by the young lady’s countenance that the edifice would have been better with the top compliment left off, he puts his “I beg pardon—no harm intended,” into the briefer form of “Oh, that’s for lagniappe.”
In my travels to Louisiana and Florida, I’ve seen the word associated with New Orleans or Cajun style cooking. What does someone in Nashville know about that?
Well, let me tell you sha’.
Just north of my fair city is Lagniappe Bayou Kitchen. Bob saw a flyer about it, but Covid hit and they closed their doors. About 2 weeks ago, he was working in that area and saw that it had open, so we googled it. You know, I’m from Louisiana and from a long line of stupendous cooks. The menu looked promising but this might just might be another ‘wanna be’ Creole/Cajun/N’awlins kinda place. We had to check it out but didn’t tell anyone about it….yet.
These folks are the real deal and you can read about their history and see their menu on their website.
On our first visit, we tried the sautéed crab claws as an appetizer. It’s always a favorite of mine when I go to Florida, but I have to say these are the best ones I’ve ever tasted!
For our shared main course, what do you get when you take Leidenheimer french bread, deep fry it and fill it with creamy crawfish? ~~ Crawfish Pistolettes that melt in your mouth!
We bought 2 pralines for dessert but we at them so fast, I forgot to take a picture. I will say they tasted just like my grandmother’s!!
And just so you know, it’s pronounced ‘prah-lean’ in New Orleans. The rest of the world can call it ‘pray-lean’, but they are wrong. <smile> Any way you pronounce it, it’s sugary sweet, nutty and delicious!
We left that night thrilled that there is a good place to eat close to home and affordably priced.
But we had to come back the following week and this time brought Bob’s family….the 5 of us plus 1 child (yes there is a kids menu)
We really over did it (at least that is what my stomach said). We had to taste all the plates that came to the table!
Shrimp Po Boy on authentic New Orleans Leidenheimer French rolls • Red Fish on the shell with a lemon crab sauce • Gumbo with rice • Blackened catfish with smoked gouda cheese grits. I gha-rawn-tee it’s good!
They make their desserts in house and no meal is complete without something sweet. (Actually, Bob and I rarely eat desserts out. I love to bake but we also know too much of a good thing is not the best for us)
Tonight we splurged and passed around the spoons!
Banana Pudding – the real deal • Bread Pudding • ….and again, I didn’t take a picture of my praline before I scarfed it down! You can see them in the case, along with creme brûlée, key lime pie, English butter toffee and other delicacies!
Who doesn’t go to New Orleans and enjoy a Cafe’ du mode beignet? Yes, they are perfectly puffed pillows with powdered sugar.
I was stuffed!!
I posted about it on fb and gave them a 5 star review. I’m passing the word. I plan to be back and bring friends.
