This one was a husband pick. The kids were away. The day had been long. Our hunger was achingly present. Waiting on the preparation, the cooking of a meal for two that satisfied wasn’t an option. So we headed west of Long Beach while out on an errand run to Carson, where an outpost of LA-established Orleans & York had just opened. Word had gotten around, apparently, the doors of the place swinging open every few minutes with parties of five and six and eight coming in to get their sandwich on.
More accurately, to get their po-boy on, the specialty at Orleans & York, bringing together the sizzling and spiced up flavors of New Orleans with the hero sandwich culture of New York city. Not that the po-boy needed any help. But here, there are many a sandwich choice – po-boys, heros, muffulettas – along with fish and chicken platters, burgers, and bowls.
I fought the urge to do things fried, choosing the grilled shrimp po-boy to keep things healthier; not that it mattered, with all of the mayo slathered on that hearty hunk of bread on which either kind of shrimp would be served. But it made me feel better knowing that I’d tempered the calories and fat if only slightly. It proved to be a good way to go, the shrimp cooked perfectly, the hearty seasoning tightly hugging each piece.
I must also applaud the bread – crisp where it should have been, chewy in between. It held up to the contents inside. My only issue (although this is with all po-boys) is that it was hard to get every ingredient in one bite. I had my bread-lettuce-tomato bites, and I had my bread-shrimp bites. The way po-boys are built makes it difficult to get everything at once…unless you develop a maneuver like mine where you open the sandwich up and mix things around with your index finger. My husband had no problem taking down his sandwich, the Andouille chicken sausage.
My big regret is that, returning home in my post po-boy haze, I forgot to put my leftover half (big eyes, medium stomach) in the fridge. I almost cried the next morning when I found the bag on the counter, its contents – the mayo! – room temperature. Some may have braved it but as a standing member on the epidemiology committee at my job, where we routinely discuss the fallout of local foodborne outbreaks, I tossed the bag in the trash.
But not to worry. Orleans & York is a mere fifteen minute drive from home. If you’re ever down to take a ride over to Carson to split a sandwich, just let me know. And I’d be happy to sacrifice my health by opting for the fried shrimp if you insist.
Orleans & York
673 University Drive in Carson
and other locations