I feel slightly pathetic. I have seen this movie four times: opening day, my birthday, and TWICE in one day last week. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. Then I can obsess at home without being judged.

So, even though I'm not an EXPERT on all things New Orleans, I've decided to include some trivia on the lingo of the city with each thing I put up on this site. For instance:

1. It's NEVER pronounced New Or-LEENS unless you're singing about it. It's easier to rhyme that way.

2. Nawlin's is a no-no. Very few natives actually say it this way.

3. New Or-lins, New Aw-lins, New Aw-lee-ins, are acceptable way to pronounce it and are usually the ones I've heard.

4. NEVER CALL IT THE "BIG EASY." According to a friend from New York, this would be the equivalent of calling New York City the "Big Apple." You might as well be saying "I'm not from around here, but I'm sure as hell gonna try to look like I fit in."

Enjoy.


"Tiana! Please, calm down! It is only my parents!" Naveen was trying-unsuccessfully-to get his prutta to not be so nervous about meeting his parents. Tiana was flying around the kitchen grabbing pots, pans, spoons, forks, knives, bowls, plates, platters, cutting boards, vegetables, spices...actually it just looked like she was just grabbing whatever she could get her hands on for the sake of keeping her hands busy.

"Naveen, you say parents," Tiana explained, nonchalantly pointing a knife at him, "but I see the king and queen of a country! And I have to cook for them and I don't know if they'll even like my food or if they'll like me so forgive me if I'm a little nervous."

Naveen hardly heard a word she said. "Tiana," he said slowly, "please, put the knife down nice and slow." Only now did she notice what she was doing. Eyes wide, she put the knife down on the table and stepped away, hands behind her back. Relieved and smiling, Naveen circled around to her and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her neck and she relaxed in his arms.

"My parents are anxious to meet you," he insisted. "It took quite a bit of work to convince them that I had not made you up." Tiana snorted.

"They thought I wasn't real?" she asked. Naveen nodded and Tiana laughed some more. "Why am I not surprised?" She twisted herself out of Naveen's grip but still held on to his hands. "Well, what do you think your parents will like?"

Naveen leaned his head on hers, their foreheads touching. "You are a gifted chef, they will like anything you make." He kissed her softly on the lips before pulling away. Tiana, filled with a newfound confidence grabbed a notepad and a pencil.

"I say we do several courses. We'll start preparing them but I'll trust the La Bouff's usual chef to bring them out. Does that sound relaxed enough to you?"


Big Daddy La Bouff picked up Dax and Sarita at the time he promised when he had dropped them off earlier that day. This time, he was driving and he had a passenger in the back with him. Of course, Eudora would have to meet Naveen's parents, too. She had fussed over her hair and outfit for quite some time before she declared herself perfect. Now she just had to be calm and act natural.

"Nice to see y'all, again," Big Daddy boomed. "This here is Eudora, Tiana's Mama. I thought the two women could sit in the back and get to know each other." And get to know each other they did. They were practically best friends by the time they pulled up to the La Bouff mansion.

"Where is Tiana?" Dax asked as they group entered the house. "From what I have heard she is quite a character. I want to meet her." A butler came by to let Mr. La Bouff know dinner would be ready in just a few minutes.

"If anything, she's probably still in the kitchen," Eudora said, rolling her eyes. If anything, babycakes would be in there fussing over the dinner. But when they turned the corner, to head for the dining room, they saw Naveen, standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up them.

"Miss Charlotte, would you please release Tiana? You have kept her hostage long enough," he pleaded, getting annoyed.

"I'm helping her get ready!" Charlotte retorted, her voice reverberating throughout the house.

"You are messing with perfection!" Naveen huffed and turned around. "Oh, hello everyone. It is good to see you again, Miss Eudora." He walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the hand. Eudora laughed.

"It's good to see you too, Naveen." She turned to Sarita. "Your son is quite the charmer."

"Would you believe there was a time that he swore he would never kiss a girl?" Sarita joked.

"Mother," Naveen grumbled, getting embarrassed. Dax laughed heartily and patted Naveen's shoulder.

"So, where is the girl?" he asked. Naveen rolled his eyes.

"Mr. La Bouff's daughter, Charlotte, has taken Tiana hostage!" he shouted this last bit up the stairs. "She bought Tiana a few dresses today and is insisting that she wears one for dinner tonight."

"Do you normally eat here?" Sarita asked. Eudora answered for him.

"Oh, no, Naveen usually comes to eat with me and Tiana. He helps cook, set the table, clean, everything."

"Did you just say my son helps to cook?" Dax asked, wanting confirmation. Eudora nodded, then Dax turned to his son. "Did you help cook tonight?"

"Yes, I did."

Dax shuddered. "Then I think we should go eat somewhere else." He laughed, Sarita scolded him, Naveen narrowed his eyes, insulted.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Charlotte announced, taking the stairs two at a time. She froze at the bottom of them, realizing Naveen's parents were there. She curtsied quickly. "Your majesties," she muttered.

"Mother, Father, this is Miss Charlotte La Bouff, Mr. La Bouff's daughter," Naveen introduced.

Charlotte laughed nervously. She turned to the stairs and shouted up them, "Sorry, Tia! No practice round! His parents are here!" Naveen could only imagine the panicky thoughts going through Tiana's mind and he wished he had had more time to reassure her.

Charlotte straightened up and cleared her throat. "Ladies and gentlemen! Presenting the lovely and talented future Princess of Maldonia, Tiana of New Orleans!"

There was a moment when Naveen feared Tiana wouldn't come down the stairs but she emerged finally at the top of them and made her way down quickly to him. Her floor length lavender gown made her look just like the princess she was meant to be. He put an arm around her and steered her over to his parents.

"Mother, Father," Naveen began. He took a deep breath. "This, is Tiana," he introduced.


Dax and Sarita decided two things during dinner. One: they had never been so stuffed with so much delicious food before in their lives. Two: their son was head over heels in love with this girl. He acted so differently around this girl than any other. With girls in the past, he had been sweet and charming, but he was always looking for the next prospect. With Tiana, everything thing he did or said was sincere.

"I think you just made me go up a pant size," Naveen commented as they all moved into the living room for coffee. Tiana laughed.

"Well you'll go back down at work tomorrow," she promised. Her prince nodded.

"Ah, yes, this is true. I am running around that place all day and serving delicious food, but I do not get to have a single bite. It is very good exercise." He put an arm around her. "Would you object to dancing with me now?"

"Yes. I'm sorry but Lottie was dragging me all over town today and my feet are still sore."

"Our outing was productive, Tia!" Lottie pointed out. "Remember that gown and the crown that went with it." A mischievous smile lit up on her face. "Green is your color."

"I'll spare you a dance later," she promised as they both settled on to the couch.

Sarita smiled. "Well, you two are sweet together, yes?" she commented. Naveen nodded.

"Thank you, Mother."

Sarita shook her head. "Oh, no, I was speaking of the friendship between Tiana and Charlotte. You two are lovely together, too."

Tiana and Dax laughed. Naveen rolled his eyes.

"Tiana and my Charlotte have been inseparable since the day they met," Big Daddy said after swallowing a sip of coffee. "They're practically sisters. There were times where I thought Tiana spent more time here than at her own house. I actually have quite a few photo albums of them if any of y'all would care to peruse through them." Tiana shook her head quickly.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. La Bouff," she insisted. Naveen grinned.

"Of course it is! I have seen no pictures of you from when you were young. I only have the ones Miss Charlotte has taken of us since the engagement and those do not count because she was trying to pressure us into setting a date and making the announcement!"

"Well you can keep those photos. Oh, no, Mr. La Bouff please! Nobody wants to see those photos!"

"Tiana!" Sarita interrupted. Tiana was scared for a moment but the kindly look on Sarita's face relaxed her. "I brought many photos of Naveen from when he was young. You may look at them however much you want." Naveen's eyes widened.

"Even-even the ones of my third birthday?" he asked in horror. Sarita nodded.

"I think I want to see those photos first," Tiana decided. Big Daddy handed her a photo album.

"When is the wedding?" Dax asked. Naveen smiled a little uneasily.

"I told you before, we want the restaurant to be more finished before we get married." He pulled Tiana a little closer to him and kissed her temple. "I can wait." They both looked down at the photo album in her lap.

"Well, your mother and I cannot wait!" Dax declared, a little angrily.

"Dax," Sarita warned.

"No, Sarita! I know you are thinking it, too! However, it appears that I am the only one who will say it!" He pointed a finger at the young coupe. Naveen put an arm protectively around Tiana, ready to defend not only her, but them: their relationship. "You two need to hurry up and get married! I want grandchildren!" Everyone was laughing except for Tiana and Naveen. Suddenly it was very uncomfortable in that room.

Dax put down his coffee. His forehead creased with concentration.

"Your mother and I will pay for all the repairs on the restaurant down to the silverware. We will also pay for the wedding, so long as you have it as soon as possible."

Tiana's eyes lit up. "You'd do that for us?" she gasped.

"Of course we would." Tiana, in her excitement ran over to Dax and Sarita and hugged them, forgetting that they were royalty, much like she had forgotten Naveen was royal.

They settled on a date and picked a photo out for their announcement. Dax and Sarita wired the information back to Maldonia so that everything would be there in time, including the guests.

What a surprise the people of Maldonia received when they read their morning newspapers: the world's most eligible bachelor was finally getting married. And he and his bride couldn't be happier.


I got the idea of Tiana pointing the knife at Naveen from the movie during the finale. She waves a hammer at Naveen with this manic smile on her face. That just makes me laugh.

In the ten seconds we saw Naveen's parents, I figured two things from them: his mother is a sweetheart and his father likes to crack jokes. I actually laughed when I saw his Dad do that little fist pump at the second wedding. I don't know why but I just thought "He's a funny man!"