Central Grocery, New Orleans, home of the original muffuletta. A must stop on any visit to this fun and lively Southern city. Yes, you will have to stand in line, which often snakes out the door and past several other stores, to get one of the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten. And yes, it is well, well, well worth the wait – trust me, a true line-hater if there ever was one.
What makes this sandwich world famous (even if you can’t enjoy it overlooking the Mississippi River with an ice-cold beer) is the incredible olive salad, which Central Grocery also sells as a side and is available to order online. However, my version is so easy to make and it’s cheaper, too. You will have leftovers, which is fine because this olive salad can be used a variety of ways in addition to a muffuletta ingredient, and it stores well in the fridge.
Another key ingredient to this muffuletta recipe is the round load of Italian bread with sesame seeds. Since I couldn’t find a round loaf after going to three different stores, I settled on an oblong loaf and just trimmed the edges some. As long as you have the sesame seeds, you’re good. I overstuffed my muffuletta with meat and cheese, but feel free to use less if desired.
Kel's Cafe of All Things Food 
