I have been in and around New Orleans for the better part of 4 months now for my job. One of the things that pretty much anyone who has been there can tell you, outside of the insanity that is Bourbon St., is that the food is excellent. New Orleans truly has their very own niche when it comes to regional foods. Known for their fresh seafood and endless variations on Cajun themed dishes, New Orleans has you covered for almost any type of food you could desire.

The signature sandwich of New Orleans is know as the Po’Boy. A Po’Boy is basically a sub sandwich or grinder. What makes it stand out from the norm is the use of Louisiana French Bread. If asked what is the most popular sandwich in New Orleans people will often respond The Po’Boy without hesitation.

Not to be overlooked however is the Muffuletta created at Central Grocery Co (923 Decatur St.). While less popular, the Muffuletta is just as much a part of New Orleans as is the Po’Boy. One afternoon during Mardi Gras, while my friend and I were walking on Decatur Street, we noticed a large line of people outside Central Grocery. We didn’t know what all the fuss was about at the time so we kept walking. I kept this in mind and after doing a little research I discovered that this was truly the best sandwich in New Orleans.

Tucked between a delicious round loaf of Italian bread the Muffuletta is a better sandwich than any Po’Boy I have tasted. Although it does not offer the variety of the Po’Boy, the Muffuletta brings consistency and great flavors which are truly unmatched. The sandwich is stacked with layers of Italian meats and cheeses followed with a topping of olive salad and olive oil. Below represents only a half order which easily filled me up and then some (about 10″ long and 6″ wide).

After devouring the sandwich it was easy to see why it is so popular. The Italian bread perfectly complimented the meats and cheeses while the topping of olive salad provided a tangy crunch to bring the whole sandwich together. Sometimes a bread that thick can overwhelm a sandwich however, because of the freshness, the bread was one of the best parts.

Washing it down with a cold Peroni was the perfect partner to the Muffuletta. Crisp and light, the Peroni cuts the zest from the olive salad clearing the palate for the next bite of the sandwich. Central Grocery is at heart an Italian grocer so you can find a great selection of imported beer, meats, cheeses, and other Italian favorites if you feel like taking home more than just a Muffuletta.

Next time you are in New Orleans stop by Central Grocery for a Muffuletta. While the Po’Boy gets all the press, this small piece of Italy in the heart of the French Quarter is well worth your time.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am and is filed under beer, food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.