French culture has had a major and lasting influence on the city’s history since its foundation in 1718: the city plan and lots, the central square dominated by the church, faubourgs (an ancient French term for suburbs), Creole cottages, the old Convent, and the Charity Hospital. The French quarter (Le Vieux carré in french), the oldest neighborhood, is a National Historic Landmark, with its many individual historic buildings. Preserving a strong affinity with France when the French were perfecting high food standards and the concept of the modern restaurant, Louisiana’s cuisine is Old World cooking, modified by local ingredients.