Lagniappe . . . Give a Little Something Extra!
by Mary K. Morgan

            Recently, I stopped at my favorite candy store for some of its special vanilla fudge. Little did I know that I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me in my shopping bag. When I reached in for my fudge, there was a beautiful little gold-mesh bag of colorful candies placed there as a “lagniappe” by the shop owner. What a nice surprise!
            “Lagniappe,” a commonly used word in the South, was discovered by Mark Twain on a visit to New Orleans in the mid-nineteenth Century. A wordsmith, he quickly placed it in his personal vocabulary and gave it a mention in his Life on the Mississippi (1883), referring to it as “a word worth travelling (sic) to New Orleans to get.”
            He was right. It’s an excellent, expressive word with a circuitous history. A lagniappe — a little gift thrown in for free with a purchase — has its roots in the Incan Empire among the native Quechuan people where “yapay” meant to increase or add. The Spanish conquistadors put their own spin on the word, changed the verb to a noun, and came up with “la n~apa” to refer to a little something that is added and usually unexpected.
            The Creole French in Louisiana, who were quite accustomed to adding new words and phrases to their repertoire, blended the Spanish with their French and came up with the current spelling. Usually pronounced “lan-nap,” this quaint custom is still alive and well in twenty-first century commerce.
            A lagniappe may range from the simple addition of a thirteenth cookie in a dozen, to a well-thought-out giveaway for an executive — as a little bonus for doing business or for simply lending an ear. An entire industry is built around producing such unexpected little gifts that serve as reminders of a business, a candidate or a brand.
            An old concept with a thoroughly modern commercial twist, the giving of a lagniappe has come full circle. In yesteryear, it was a simple little extra that a merchant threw in the bag with a purchase. Today, often branded, inscribed tokens of appreciation have taken the place of the simple gifts of yesteryear.
            Some restaurants have gone the lagniappe route and give you more than you order. Slay’s on Hampton used to bring out an elaborate appetizer tray with fresh hummus, relishes, cheese, olives and bread. Never ordered, it was just a nice gesture from the owners given to customers to nibble on while they waited for their meal. And what a treat it was to the hungry diner!
            Ethnic restaurants seem to be more into the lagniappe spirit. Often, a little specialty dessert will be offered after a meal, or a taste of some foreign delicacy to entice customers into ordering it on their next visit. Or, it could be much more. Mr. Demas, a Greek shopkeeper in our neighborhood, always put a little copper coffee pot on the stove when a favorite customer came in to shop. The thick, rich, exotic beverage was a token of goodwill that he offered freely. And it worked. New flavors and textures, offered in good spirit as a special gift, are met with delight by grateful customers and diners.
            Most of us have a drawer at home filled with lagniappes of yesterday. Key chains, luggage tags, tape measures, emery boards, address stickers, pens, pencils, playing cards, bottle openers and all manner of little freebies take up residence in our dwellings.
            On the other hand, some are priceless. I would fight to retain my rubber jar opener with my realtor’s name on it. If fact, I have even called and asked him for a new one from time to time. No, I didn’t want to sell my house, I just wanted my pickles opened.
            Another jewel in my collection of lagniappes is my yardstick, which advertises a hardware store in bold, black letters. Fitting very nicely in the corner of my closet, it is indeed an essential tool, and it was given freely by the neighborhood store. Calendars are another nice, small advertising gift — and a smart one — since we look at them almost every day, all year long.
            What a shame that thirteenth roll or cookie has gone the way of the corner bakery. In today’s pre-packaged world, little thought is given to adding a small bonus item to an order. Many restaurants are parts of large chains and franchises where little is done without parent company approval. But, if you frequent “mom and pop” establishments, you just might get a little extra something from time to time.
            Perhaps you will start your our little lagniappe tradition.