This publish initially appeared within the June 10, 2023, version of Eater Journey, a biweekly dispatch from Eater’s workers about navigating locations the place meals is the primary attraction. Subscribe now.
I had a humiliation of scrumptious meals on a current go to to New Orleans. Assume crispy salt and pepper shrimp from Tan Dinh, savory curried goat from Compere Lapin, salty yak-a-mein from Ms. Linda’s well-known roaming stand, fried pork from Haitian standout Fritai, and a schnitzel-esque rabbit from La Petite Grocery. And that’s not even entering into the completely executed cocktails from locations like Jewel of the South, Manolito, Bar Brine, and plenty of others.
However the factor about any go to to New Orleans is you at all times really feel like you might have had simply another nice lunch or dinner, in case you solely had extra time. So I at all times ensure that I do — by getting a muffuletta for the airplane trip residence from Central Grocery.
Past being an iconic dish, a muffuletta is a type of sandwiches that really will get higher if it sits for a short while. And given the primary parts are cured meats and preserved olives, I don’t get too nervous about it being out for a number of hours at room temperature in my carry-on baggage. I’ve by no means had a problem getting it by safety, and Central Grocery (the gold commonplace for the sandwich, in most individuals’s view) is clearly used to people taking the sandwiches on the go — the muffuletta comes tightly packed in deli paper, moreover wrapped in plastic, and with reheating directions if that’s your factor (I choose mine room temperature, which is how Central serves it).
If I’m not instantly en path to the airport, I at all times be sure my resort room has a fridge. If I’ve an early morning flight the following day, I’ll simply seize the sandwich early and stash it there. Both means, I have a tendency to point out up on the market within the 9 to 10 a.m. vary within the hopes that strains received’t be too lengthy. Now, in a means, it’s even simpler. Central Grocery was badly broken throughout Hurricane Ida, and for probably the most half, the deli is closed for repairs. However right here’s the factor — you may nonetheless get their muffuletta from neighboring Sidney’s Wine Cellar, both a half or a full sandwich (the latter tops out near $30 however is definitely worth the value, given it may comfortably serve 4). Fewer folks appear clued into this method (although there’s ample signage promoting the place to go), and I walked proper as much as the counter with no line throughout my go to, treasured sandwich in hand. It made for a terrific lunch the day of my return — after I crashed for a number of hours following the 4:20 a.m. wake-up time for my flight.
When visiting a metropolis of extra, it by no means hurts to gild the lily just a bit extra, and the airplane muffuletta does simply that.
