Muffuletta Sandwich From Central Grocery


Central Grocery, French Quarter, New Orleans


Central Grocery, French Quarter, New Orleans


Central Grocery, French Quarter, New Orleans


Central Grocery, French Quarter, New Orleans

Unlike my last muffuletta in New Orleans, this time we decided to go straight to the source: Central Grocery. It’s a small, old-fashioned Italian deli that created the muffuletta sandwich in 1906.


Muffuletta, New Orleans

The muffuletta consists of one Italian muffuletta bread loaf split horizontally in half and covered with marinated olive salad and layers of capiocola, salami, mortadella, emmental cheese and provolone cheese. And it’s huge. Central sells the sandwich by the half or the whole and the whole is for sure enough for two people. The olive salad is the key to the sandwich and is made of olives, celery, cauliflower and carrot. Combine all that, mix in seasonings and olive oil and let it sit for a day or more.


Muffuletta, New Orleans


Muffuletta, New Orleans

Central Grocery’s muffuletta was so very tasty, but both of us did not finish it. New Orleans is one place that we surely do not go hungry!

25 thoughts on “Muffuletta Sandwich From Central Grocery

  1. God that looks good. Any more info you can provide on the olive salad (ie what the seasonings are etc.) as I would love to make that.

    • Just call them and have them ship you some – then you can see for yourself and try to duplicate. but if you look at the pic above – it is never duplicated. you can actually have them ship you a sandwich too. the bread is the secret not the olive tapinad

  2. Hey, Paddy – I’m not sure what the seasonings are. I was just going off what I read online. I do know you can by the olive salad itself from Central Grocery. I don’t see it online, though.

  3. I know that this is a hard sandwich to duplicate…but, last summer, I bought some “muffaletta spread” (read: bottled olive salad) at the Farmer’s Market at the Dirksen, and let me tell you, that was one tasty sandwich. I bought the same deli meats as the one’s Rachelle lists above….had to use ciabatta, as I could not find muffaletta bread. Tasty!

  4. I first went there when I was 15, in 1988. Sandwich was good, but so was something else: Cajun Cola. Cola with blackening spices. Awesome. I’ve searched for it everywhere, and Central Grocery doesn’t have it anywhere else. Dang.

  5. Go to cobblestone Bar and grill for the best Muffuletta you will ever have. Get the Italian. They are only open for lunch. 514 West Pershing Road, Chicago, IL 60609
    Tel: 773-624-3630
    Honestly, the best sandwich around.

  6. Mark Lane, a former resident of NO and my friend since 1966, told me about this. He knew all the finest restaurants of NO. He had lived there for a few years in the 60s. Though he didn’t warn me of the incredible experience of savoring a Muffuletta from the Central Grocery, he told me that I was in for something very special. I had no idea how special it would be. I credit Mark Lane, who knows NO cuisine, with being the expert. I am grateful for the work that you do there. I love the Muffuletta.

    SSJ
    Los Angeles, CA

    PS: Why we don’t have a branch here, I’ll never know.

  7. My wife Valerie and I make the 5 hour trip from the Florida Panhandle just to have this wonderful sandwich from Central Grocery. Part of the adventure is eating in, in the rear of the store and meeting people from all over the world that have come to pay tribute to this mighty sandwich.
    Jeff Blue Mountain Beach FL

    • Call Central Grocery at 866-620-0174 and they’ll ship you a box of four 32 oz. jars. Last time I checked (a couple of years ago) it was $75 including shipping.

  8. I recently was in NOLA for my high school reunion and wanted to bring home (to California) some of the famous muff-olive spread, but Central store was closed on Sunday. My question is: how do I order the olive spread? jar sizes? costs/jar size? shipping costs? how long to arrive in Ca from La?

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  11. Traveled to New Orleans Feb 2011 and this sandwich was recommended as the best from The Central Store…. OMG now we are back home in S.F. and I can’t stop thinking about it… Highly recommended, well worth it a MUST DO.

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  15. Yes; the muffaletta at Central Grocery IS as good as it looks in the photos! I always have to get one when I’m in New Orleans. Central Grocery is more than just a place to get a muffaletta; it’s a store full of goodness: meats, cheeses, spices, coffees, teas, etc. It’s definitely worth a visit.

  16. Oh how I miss eating the famous muffaletta from Central Grocery. This sandwhich sure makes my flight home to CA bareable. I miss the Big Easy and eating foods like the muffaletta. Highly recommend to all who enjoy a really good sandwhich on their flight to wherever.

  17. As a life long resident of Southeast Louisana (until a year ago when I landed in Central Florida…boo!!), I can attest to the wonder of a Central Grocery muffaletta. One of my fondest memories was when I was pregnant, and a student at UNO, I would crave them so badly that I would make the trip from the Lakefront to the Quarter just to grab one at least one a week there for awhile. I also miss being able to buy muffaletta bread (don’t have here) and Central groceries olive mix. Of course I miss everything about home right now…stumbling upon this while looking up the Snickerdoodle recipe made me smile!!

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