To continue with the Mardi Gras theme, I am going to talk about some of the traditional foods of the season. One of my favorite foods is a muffuletta, pronounced “moo-foo-LET- ta” by the creators or “moo-fuh-LOT-uh” by others. Any way you say it, the sandwich is exquisite. The muffuletta originated in New Orleans at Central Grocery on Decatur Street. Opened in 1906 the store is in the French Quarter very near to the French Market. The Sicilian proprietor, Salvatore Lupo created this beautiful sandwich to serve to the Sicilian and Italian truck drivers delivering produce to the French Market.
My Daddy tells of his father, who had business in the city as a produce man, bringing muffulettas home from Central Grocery when he was young. The tradition stuck and seldom did we go to the French Quarter without getting some sandwiches to bring home. I have memories from my childhood of going to the store. The aromas from the cured pork and aged cheeses, etcetera could knock you to the floor. The store hasn’t changed much over the years and going in is a step back in time. If you’re ever in NOLA, you owe it to yourself to stop by. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and sandwich.
A whole muffuletta could feed a family of 4-5 people. The 10″-11″ round bread loaf is loaded with their in-house Olive Salad and piled high with Genoa Salami, Mortadella, Ham, Mozzarella, and Provolone. Central Grocery has its own special bread, and their Olive Salad can be purchased by the jar. Any attempt by me to create a muffuletta at home would just come up short. So, instead of trying, I’ll just wait for my next visit to the city! Or, if you get the envie, you can have them shipped right to your door.
Just get online and go to:
centralgrocery.com