Po-Boys: The Food of the South

A po-boy consists of a piece of French bread.tender and dripping with brown gravy. When it
Typically the French bread is cut in half. On thecomes to the roast beef, the sloppier the sandwich
bottom half is usually placed the main ingredient ofthe better. The shrimp should be fried to a golden
the sandwich, usually items such as fried seafood,brown and the amount should be enough to fall off
roast beef, or hot sausage just to name a few. Onthe sandwich as you are eating it. The dressing
the top half is where the items which make up theshould be according to your tastes. If using
term "dressed" are usually placed, i.e. tomatoes,mayonnaise, I suggest enough on the bread to coat
pickles, mayonnaise and lettuce. The two halves arethe bread and then a little extra. I also recommend
put together to make what is known as afresh crisp shredded lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and
po-boy.Now, you ask, "What makes a good po-boycrispy fresh pickles. Other items typically placed on
stand out above the rest? The first key ingredient isthe bread are butter, hot sauce, and even tartar
the bread.French bread comes in all shapes and sizes.sauce to replace mayonnaise. I also recommend
Typically it is presented in a straight loaf. The loaf istrying dipping the sandwich in ketchup and
then cut into smaller sections to make the piece ofaccompanying this sandwich with a side of French
bread the sandwich is to be made on. The hardnessfries.So next time you're in the south take a look
of the bread is an important factor when determiningaround and find a po-boy shop that claims it has the
the best po-boy. The bread should be crispy whenbest po-boys in the south. Give it a try, keeping in
bitten into, but not so crunchy as to remind you ofmind what I stated above, and rate the shop
chewing rocks, however the bread should not be soyourself. Ask yourself, "Is the roast beef sloppy? Is
soft that you have to tear a piece of it off in orderthe fried shrimp fried to a golden brown? Was the
to get it separated from the sandwich.Another keysandwich dressed the way I wanted it?" Then when
ingredient is the meat of the sandwich. The twopeople ask who has the best po-boy in the south
most popular po-boys found in the city are roastyou can assuredly say you have the right answer.
beef and fried shrimp. The roast beef should be