Muffaletta Sandwich & Bobby Flay

Tonight, Food Network stalwart Bobby Flay will do battle over a Louisana delicacy, the Muffaletta Sandwich. The show is called "Throwdown with Bobby Flay," he travels from state to state challenging the locals to a cookoff. You haven't heard of a Muffaletta Sandwich, right?

The Muffaletta was invented in 1906 in the French Quarter, at an Italian store called Central Market Grocery by Signor Lupo Salvadore. Central Market is still in operation. Basically, it's an Italian deli sandwich of salami, ham, and cheese, dressed with an "olive" salad, instead of mustard/mayo. It's served in a round Italian bread loaf.

I went to high school in the Cajun state, so this cheap$kate knows a Muffaletta -- although I'm more of a Po' Boy sandwich kind of guy (it's hard to beat fried oysters on a French roll.) When driving through Louisiana, stop at a small-town grocery store and chances are you will find a sandwich counter in the back. Order a Mufalleta and tell them The 99 Cent Chef sent you.

Ingredients
10-inch round loaf of bread, halved (will serve about two) - Italian bread is preferred.
3 oz of sliced salami and smoked ham (or, any favorite deli meat).
4 slices of cheese (normally provolone, but whatever you've got is fine).
"Olive" salad - see below.

Olive Salad
1 cup of pickled mixed vegetables (sans liquid).
1 cup total of salad green olives with pimiento and black olives.
1/4 cup of olive oil.
1 clove of garlic.
A sprinkle of dried oregano.
Black pepper to taste.

Directions
To make an olive salad, combine ingredients in a blender and chop roughly at the lowest speed; or hand chop to a chunky consistency.

Slice loaf and layer olive salad, salami, ham, and cheese. Add as much as you like.

I'll be watching Bobby Flay on The Food Network tonight.

Hey Bobby, next time you're in L.A., The 99 Cent Chef would love to challenge you to a 99c only Store "Throwdown!"