Gastro Monkey // 美食家

In Elk Grove, CA there's a sandwich place that used to sell muffulettas.  I thought it was pretty good. Prior to that, I had never heard of a muffuletta so the first one I had was good. I couldn't wait to try the real thing in New Orleans though! If you have never heard of a muffuleta, it's a sandwich unique to New Orleans and has ham, salami, provolone cheese, and their house made olive salad smushed deliciously between a Sicilian sesame loaf. Don't settle for anything less! The bread makes all the difference! Note: I am spelling it the way they do at Central Grocery, although I have seen it spelled muffaletta. I am trusting the creators of this sandwich to spell it correctly. Another Note: You can order the sandwiches ready to eat from their website (linked below).  Central Grocery 923 Decatur St New Orleans, LA 70116 Saint Louis Cemetery #1 300 N Claiborne Ave New Orleans, LA 70112 I didn't know until I arrived in New Orleans that...

I'm not usually a cocktail person - give me a beer any day and I'll be pleased as punch. But, when it comes to cities like New Orleans it feels like part of the territory. There is just so much history to this fantastic city and it seems sometimes, like so many dishes and drinks were created here. Case in point, the Sazerac. Incidentally, the Sazerac is Louisiana's official state cocktail. Yeah, I didn't know official state cocktails were a thing either.  Plus, Anthony Bourdain was here and that guy knows his booze. There are two drinks that are worthy of note - The Sazerac, of course, and the Ramos Gin Fizz. The Ramos Gin Fizz is worth ordering just to watch the show of the drink being created. Drinking it is just as fun. It tastes like a light dessert. If you are a lightweight, this drink is a better fit for you. If you are a booze hound like Bourdain, and  if you like your bourbons or whiskeys, The Sazerac is for you, my friend. The Sazerac Bar is aptly name...