The Po-Boy

Filed in archive Morsels of Info , Traditions on February 3, 2008

Since I'm here in New Orleans I thought I should talk some more about some of the city's unique food traditions.

I've already written about Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya and recently made Gumbo, which I wrote about on Chez Loulou.

As much a symbol of New Orleans as mardi gras or St. Louis Cathedral, the Po-Boy is the quintessential New Orleans snack. The story of this sandwich goes back to a streetcar driver's strike in 1929. Two brothers and former streetcar drivers themselves, served sandwiches made from spare roast beef bits and gravy to the unemployed workers out of the back of their restaurant. When one of the workers approached the kitchen's back door, the cooks would call out, "Here comes another poor boy," and the name soon became Po-Boy in common vernacular.




Po-Boy's are now offered all over the city in endless variations that include the original roast beef and gravy, fried oyster, fried shrimp, fried catfish, smoked sausage, meat and cheese, and a very unique french fry and gravy version! You'll be asked if you would like your Po-Boy "dressed," which means the addition of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayonnaise.




Another New Orleans tradition that is not to be missed!