A pronunciation guide for international dining

This month’s cover story dives into food across myriad cultures, from the Far East to South America, which can mean some tongue-twisting names. Here’s our latest guide to pronouncing words that may come up in an around-the-world tour of local restaurants.

Arancini
ah-rahn-CHEE-nee
A deep-fried rice ball stuffed with mozzarella and red sauce and traditionally served as street food. Gino’s Restaurant first introduced it to Baton Rouge as an appetizer that’s also stuffed with ground meat.

Omakase
oh-mah-kah-say
A Japanese word meaning “trust the chef,” a method you can use to experiment and try several courses at Umami Japanese Bistro.

Arepa
ah-RAY-pah
Originating from Columbia and Venezuela, these  flat cakes are made from ground maize dough and used similarly to tortillas or bread in other cultures. Find them at Cocha stuffed with meat or cheese.

Jollof
jahl-off
A staple one-pot African rice dish made with tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, peppers and spices, available at BB&PF with fish, chicken, beef or goat.

Manakish
meh-nah-EESH
A spiced Middle Eastern flatbread. Find it at Zoroona Mediterranean Grill topped with the spice blend zaatar and olive oil. Also can be spelled “manaqish,” “manaeesh” or “manakeesh.”

This article was originally published in the April 2018 issue of 225 Magazine.