Gumbo, New Orleans, LA

In the 19th century African-American slaves concocted a stew similar to that of traditional West African cuisine. Gumbo is a dark stew that's thickened with a roux. The Cajun and Creole staple always includes rice but then the variations begin. Traditionally, gumbo includes a medley of spicy meats, seafood and vegetables such as okra and can expand to include whatever ingredients you can find in your own backyard.

Why it's dumb: It's spicy A.D.D. in a bowl with fuzzy pickles and anything from owl, muskrat or squirrel depending how deep into the Bayou you travel. There are about a thousand versions of gumbo so you don't always know what you're going to get when you eat this piping hot bowl of leftovers.