muffuletta

The muffuletta originated in Sicily as a flat, soft round loaf covered in sesame seeds, although it has enjoyed greater fame in New Orleans.

The story goes that Sicilian immigrant farmers would bring their produce into market, and go for lunch at the historic Central Grocery, and order a muffuletta, cheese, meat and olive salad, but had such a hard time eating them separately, Sicilian fashion, that the owner suggested slicing the bread and stuffing it—giving birth to the local sandwich, filled with three meats (mortadella, salame and ham), two cheeses (mozzarella and provolone) and the local special olive salad.