Last year, I spent four fatty fabulous days in the lovely city of New Orleans, sort of a second home to me in my childhood, as we’d visit my uncle just about every summer there up through my middle school years. Back then, my diet was limited to double cheeseburgers and french fries so I had no appreciation for New Orleans cuisine.
So with my trip last November, I landed mouth wide open, ready to indulge with my now mature and insatiable taste buds. Something I most looked forward to was a po’ boy sandwich (they always look so good on television on shows featuring New Orleans). And I had one… which was just so-so. As have been many of the po’ boys I’ve tasted in recent years. Which made me wonder what all the fuss was about.
Then I had one at downtown LA’s Little Jewel of New Orleans. And I TOTALLY get it.
Three components made this sandwich dreamy.
The Bread: Crusty and crispy in all the right places – the outside places, but fluffy soft inside. A sturdy bread, fresh baked. It would have been delicious on its own. But then you get…
The Shrimp: The breading on these little morsels held on tightly and didn’t let go. The seasoning on them exploded and dazzled when mingled with…
The Mayo: Perhaps it’s just a slathering of Best Foods, or maybe they make their own. Whatever the case, their spread brought the sandwich together.
‘Twas a great sandwich indeed, and you get plenty of it. The half I couldn’t finish and took home for my husband never made it to him. At least we only have to get to downtown LA rather than all the way to Louisiana for a superb version of the po’boy – finally!
My work pals, who joined me on this visit, thought it a good idea to order a portion of bread pudding to finish things off. I’ve never been a bread pudding fan, more because of the name – pudding? But it certainly looked good. Then, by golly, it was good. And by the time I’d realized that just one luscious, sugary bite wouldn’t be enough (there were six of us at the table), the hour arrived for us to return to our conference across the street, so I did not have time to get back in line to purchase a piece of my own. Po’ Dianderthal.
So when you venture to the Little Jewel, learn from my mistake. Order your bread pudding along with your po’ boy and you’ll be just fine.
Little Jewel of New Orleans
207 Ord Street in Los Angeles