So, this was at a non-chain restaurant in the late 80’s (that is no longer in business). I don’t know if it was the chef’s own creation, but it was called a “Sicilian”. Going off memory of the flavor, it definitely had genoa salami in it, I think some other meats, a vinegary taste I think, some sort of cheese (probably provalone) and various vegetable topic. It was a hot sandwich.
I’ve looked around online googling “Sicilian sandwich recipe” and haven’t found a really close match. I’ve tried to recreate it at home, gotten pretty close. Also messed around at subway based off italian, not really.
Anybody ever heard of a Sicilian sandwich that sounds like this, or named something else?
Does it need a name? If so, I’d argue that it has to be more unique than what you’ve described. I’ve had countless sandwiches with Genoa salami and all the rest you mention, and they are generally called whatever name the store owner slaps on them. This is not like, say, a Monte Cristo, which has a pretty standard set of ingredients, at least as far as my experience is concerned.
It also sounds like what this place calls a Mona Lisa. Which illustrates what I was going for in my first post. Now, the Muffuletta certainly could be the sandwich Ashtura remembers, but only if his mystery sandwich had olive salad on it, since that is the key ingredient that makes it unique.
For what it’s worth, even Subway offers the Spicy Italian — which, per the menu, is Genoa salami and pepperoni and the cheese of your choice (including provolone) and the sauce of your choice (including vinaigrette), served hot or cold as you please.
Pretty much as easy a go-to as “tuna sub” or “meatball sub”, y’know?
Though I am a bold lover of adventure and exotic horizons, I’ve never gotten a muffuletta anywhere but the Central Grocery. Too many good things to eat in N’Awlins to double down on muffulettas.
Glad to help. I would say that I don’t think this is an especially unique sandwich that requires its own name. I have no idea why they called it that. Where do you live, btw? I’m from Radford, VA and was down there for the weekend. I had no idea that Macado’s had that many locations. I always thought it was a local place.
An interesting story about Macado’s involving my high school algebra teacher. I still remember when this place opened in around 1975, because she was talking about it the next day. It may seem unremarkable now, but back then, at least in my small town, there were no restaurants like Macado’s, which served this huge variety of sandwiches and little else. Sandwiches were something we made at home, and they typically consisted of some ham or turkey, sliced bread, and of course mayo or mustard, some cheese and lettuce and tomato. We had the usual fast food and “adult” places like Bonanza or Golden Corral, but a place just for sandwiches? Weird!
Not for everyone, but on a hot muggy day when you want to eat a little bit lighter, Cafe Maspero (also on Rue Decatur, like Central Grocery) makes a killer “Veggie Muffaletta”, a nice option to have in a city not known for lighter, non-meat or seafood fare.
