MUFFALETTA

One of New Orleans' best-loved sandwich traditions, the muffaletta is well represented around town in both classic versions and more contemporary interpretations. A half or whole muffaletta made with Genoa salami, ham, Mortadella, provolone and housemade olive salad arrives at Mark Twain's Pizza Landing. Hugh's Wine Cellar in Mandeville heaps the Boar's Head ham, salami and provolone high on its hot muffaletta loaf along with a portion of Boscoli olive salad. The Royale muffaletta at Metairie's Café Royale piles the traditional ingredients on pillowy focaccia for an update on the classic. Danny & Clyde's lightens up its traditional version by swapping those Italian cold cuts for lean turkey. Magazine Po-Boy Shop loses the bread altogether with its muffaletta salad made with salami, Swiss and Parmesan cheese, Italian dressing and olive salad all over romaine lettuce. In the French Quarter, Café Maspero keeps the seeded Italian bread but trades the meat for an extra serving of olive salad and melted Swiss on its veggie version. Meanwhile, the Camellia Café on the Northshore makes a seafood muffaletta with either fried catfish or fried shrimp. Oscar's in Metairie retains the traditional meats, adds Monterey jack cheese and declares its muffaletta the Oscarletta. Over at Mike Serio's Po-Boys and Deli — the sandwich shop and LSU sports shrine — muffalettas follow the playbook with a traditional version served to the downtown lunch crowd. Vegetarians are welcome in the Central Grocery, as evidenced by the veggie muffalettas. Robert Fresh Market can create a sandwich tray of mini-muffalettas. Hugh's Wine Cellar declares their muffaletta the best in Mandeville. The Napoleon House's Girod Bistro deems its Italian muffaletta as the house specialty. Zara's Market does a traditional muffaletta.