A traditional New Orleans po’boy fully dressed includes at the minimum mayo, lettuce, pickles, and tomato. The cost in most respectable restaurants ranges from $12-$18.
But the full-fledged shrimp po’boy we picked up at Larry’s Super Foods in Kaplan last weekend had no dressing at all: a plain bun overflowing with crispy, well-seasoned fried shrimp, priced at a skimpy $7.99. We scooped one as a bargain and shared it for lunch, embellishing the sandwich with the missing condiments. We felt like we got a pretty good deal, even a steal!
As I reflect on our bargain, I remember that local color deli delights are a feature of small-town Cajun supermarkets, like Larry’s. Champagne’s, Best Stop, Early’s, Rod’s IGA, Superette and so many more—-these representative small town groceries/meat markets are truly unique to Cajun Louisiana. In a land where boudin bought from local stores is king, these shops are such a unique part of the rich food heritage of our culture.