The Muffuletta Fest is New Orleans’ Newest Food Festival

Though New Orleans’ dance card is already full of food festivals, it’s possible that there’s always a little space for cured meat and olive salad on a piece of bread as big as a plate -- a good thing since Nor-Joe Import Co. just announced that it will add the Muffuletta Festival to the mix of food festivals on September 10.

This festival will feel more like a neighborhood block party than a full-fledged festival, occupying a smaller footprint than a traditional New Orleans festival, reports Ian McNulty. The area in front of the small Italian grocery and deli that nearly closed last year will be filled with food booths, bars, a bocce court set up by the Italian American Bocce Club (yes, that exists), live music by the Yat Pack , and, of course, the Muff-a-lottas dance troupe.

Nor-Joe owner, Mark Subervielle, bought the little Italian import company last year. He had been brought in as a real estate agent, but switched to buyer when he realized that most potential buyers he met planned to close the business and redevelop the property. He’s tried to preserve the essence of the grocery, while making some changes. In addition to the muffuletta the place was known for, Subervielle has added “meatball hoagies, panini and a (relatively) petite sandwich called the Little Joe, made with turkey, provolone and oily artichoke salad on a braided Italian roll.”

The Muffuletta Festival runs from noon-9 p.m. on September 10, 2017. Admission is free.

MORE READING

• Muffuletta Fest in Old Metairie Celebrates a Sandwich, Marks a Second Act for a Classic Italian Grocery [ADVOCATE]
• The Muffuletta Is The Star Of New Orleans’ Newest Festival [OFFBEAT]