March 13: New Orleans Muffaletta
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009For one last time I walked down to the waterfront. I heard calliope music coming from the steamboat. I walked down Decatur to find that restaurant with the original muffaleta sandwich. Like Pat’s and Geno’s or The Real Le Anh and the Original Le Anh, there were two places claiming to be the home of the original muffaleta—Frank’s and the Central Grocery Store. I decided to trust the grocery store because it had Italian food and it said “home of” rather than simply “world famous”.
I was right. I walked in and there was a sign indicating where the line began. I didn’t see the need for it, but by the time I ordered and sat down I saw the line was all one side of the little market from the counter to the door. And for good reason. I got a semi circle of bread with the most authentic Italian cold cuts, cheese, and olives that I’d had since Di Bruno Brothers in Philly (also Italian-owned). I washed it down with a bottle of ginger ale from an old-time bottling company based in Jersey. I took one last walk through the shops on Decatur and St. Ann, then began the journey back to chilly Philly.
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