banh mi – Vietnamese sandwiches of sliced pork, cucumber, cilantro and other lovelies; locally called a Vietnamese po’boy
beignet – a flat square of dough flash-fried to golden, puffy glory, dusted with powdered sugar and served scorching hot
boudin – a tasty Cajun sausage made with pork, pork liver, cooked rice and spices
bousillage – mud- and straw-filled walls supported by cypress timbers
briquette entre poteaux – a style of architecture common to French-colonial houses, where brick fills the spaces between vertical and diagonal posts
Cajun (cuisine) – the rustic cuisine of the countryside
calliope – an organ-like musical instrument fitted with steam whistles; historically played on showboats and in traveling fairs
Creole (cuisine) – the rich, refined cuisine of the city
étouffée – a Cajun or Creole stew of shellfish or chicken served over rice
Fais do do – a Cajun dance party
faubourgs – literally ‘suburbs,’ although neighborhoods is a more accurate translation in spirit
frottoir – a metal washboard-like instrument that’s worn like armor and played with spoons
go cup – a plastic cup given to patrons in bars so they can take their drink with them when they leave
gris-gris – amulets or spell bags
jambalaya – hearty, rice-based dish with any combination of fowl, shellfish or meat (but usually includes ham)
krewes – a deliberate misspelling of ‘crews’; organizations or groups of people that create floats and stage festivities during Mardi Gras
migas – scrambled eggs mixed with fried tortilla strips
mudbug – a term for crawfish
muffuletta – a round sesame-crusted loaf spread with a salty olive salad and layered with cheeses and deli meats
plaçage – a cultural institution whereby white men ‘kept’ light-skinned black women as their mistresses
po’boy – a large sandwich made on French bread and overstuffed with a variety of fillings
Santeria – a Puerto Rican religion related to voodoo
Sazerac – a potent whiskey drink that uses rye as its primary ingredient, with aromatic bitters (including the locally produced Peychaud’s), a bit of sugar and a swish of absinthe
snowballs – shaved ice in a paper cup doused liberally with flavored syrup
tasso – a cured, smoked piece of ham
Vieux Carré – alternate term for French Quarter; literally ‘Old Square’
zydeco – a style of local music that combines French tunes with Caribbean music and blues