New Orleans Sandwiches!!!

So I spent 8 days in New Orleans this July. New Orleans is just a culinary kind of town. Its impossible to say the name of the city without starting your mouth a-watering imagining crawfish and shrimp, etouffee and jambalaya, pecan pralines and crab gumbo. But one thing stood out. And that was the sandwiches. Two famous sandwiches call New Orleans home: The Po' boy and the Muffaletta/Muffuletta. Both are delicious. Both are indigenous to this unique city. And both got devoured by yours truly on my vacation to the big easy.

According to my friend Vincenzo, who has lived in New Orleans for a number of years now, the best muffaletta is to be found at an Italian diner type place called Franks, located in the heart of the French Quarter.

Here I am in front of the famous Frank's, which operates a bustling to-go service as well as serving sit-down diners.

Some of the delicious pickled olive salad that goes into an authentic muffaletta, on display in Frank's window.

Doesn't it just look delicious? Layers of cheese, Italian cold cuts and the most important of all: the olive salad. And dont forget, it should be warm upon serving!

This is a huge sandwich by the way. Frank's sells them whole or by the half. If there is only one of you, order a whole one and save the other half for dinner: believe me, this is a taste thats so good, you will want to enjoy it twice.

The other world famous sandwich from New Orleans is even better known: the Po'boy. Vincenzo took us to Mother's, a famous local spot that tourists rarely make it to, located near the business district downtown. They get a lot of lunch traffic from the nearby highrise office buildings as people hurry in to get the famous baked ham po'boys. The better known oyster, fish and shrimp po'boys are on offer as well, but its the meat the makes Mother's famous.

My friend Ted in front of Mother's.

Like any good down home joint, the menu is written on a chalkboard and the entrees are served up from a heat table. Almost everything is good, but we are here for the po'boys!

They only take cash.

The interior doesn't have to impress, the pictures on the wall tell the story of a place with staying power.

My sandwich. With the famous baked ham, as well as pulled pork bbq and roast beef. And coleslaw on the bottom. It was amazing. And mind you, this is only the half po'boy. Order the full size if you want enough calories to last you two days.

Vincenzo digging into his po'boy. If you ever go to New Orleans, don't forget to try these unique and delicious sandwiches out at these great locations. While there is always going to be plenty of argument about where the best muffaletta or the best po'boy can be found, I guarantee that Mothers and Franks both have excellent sandwiches. You wont regret a visit!