Have a taste of ‘gumbo diplomacy’ by making this Biden nominee’s classic recipe Ann Maloney Anyone who has served a big pot of gumbo to family and friends knows exactly what Linda Thomas-Greenfield means when she refers to “gumbo diplomacy.” Thomas-Greenfield, a 35-year veteran of the Foreign Service, explained how she would invite her counterparts in countries such as Nigeria into her home to cook and eat together: “I put a Cajun spin on it. . It was my way of breaking down barriers, connecting with people and starting to see each other on a human level. A bit of lagniappe is what we say in Louisiana.” The Daily 202: Gunboat diplomacy is out. ‘Gumbo diplomacy’ is in, says Biden’s nominee for U.N. ambassador.