Photo by Renee Comet, Styling by Me Of Course
It’s all about the beer actually, but the sandwich ain’t too shabby. Makes me hanker for a trip to the Central Grocery and a sunny spot on the curb. Spread a paper napkin across your knee and chew slowly while the parade passes.
The last time I had a true Central Grocery muffeletta was in 1983. I could swear that was just last week. Time warps will mess you up! Heading out of New Orleans, pointing north towards January in Wisconsin, we invested heavily in muffulettas. They keep like crazy, least ours did, improving in fact, over two solid days of driving. Going north was good, that Colt had overheating issues. Cruising around Miami with the heat on full blast was painful.
Provisions:
Four muffalettas = 514 olives, 217 capers, 1786 celery seeds, 1200 bites
One cassette = Trio = 238579485 da da das
Da da da, ich lieb dich nicht du liebst mich nicht aha aha aha (or simply “Da Da Da”), or its English version, Da Da Da I Don’t Love You You Don’t Love Me Aha Aha Aha.
I love, luuurve, loave, luff a muuurfeletta, moavelleta, muffeletta.
For the olive salad:
1 gallon large pimento stuffed green olives, slightly crushed and well drained
1 quart jar pickled cauliflower, drained and sliced
2 small jars capers, drained
1 whole stalk celery, sliced diagonally
4 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced diagonally
1 small jar celery seeds
1 small jar oregano
1 large head fresh garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 jar pepperoncini, drained (small salad peppers) left whole
1 pound large Greek black olives
1 jar cocktail onions, drained
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl or pot and mix well. Place in a large jar and cover with 1/2 olive oil and 1/2 Crisco oil. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. Allow to marinate for at least 24 hours before using.
For the sandwich:
1 round loaf italian bread
1/4 pound mortadella, thinly sliced
1/4 pound ham, thinly sliced
1/4 pound hard Genoa salami, thinly sliced
1/4 pound Mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/4 pound Provolone cheese,sliced
1 cup olive salad with oil
And there you go. Love in bread. Travels well.
The Lunch Encounter 