Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris
Originally published November 17, 2008
Runaway Success Last Year; Thirty Vendors This Year
Po-Boy Festival This Sunday On Oak Street
The New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival returns this weekend. Yes, it has been a year since the first running, which jammed six blocks of the old Carrollton commercial stretch of Oak Street. To the surprised delight of the organizers, who weren't sure if anyone would show up.
The name, really, has a smirk. There is no danger of extinction anytime soon for the favorite sandwich of New Orleans. In fact, we have more good poor boy shops in New Orleans now than ever before. And not as many bad ones. About the only datum that gives one pause is the disappearance of many bakeries that used to make the unique, light, essential poor boy loaves. Maybe that's why Leidenheimer's--the city' biggest French bread baker, the one that absorbed Reising's, Angelo Gendusa, and some other old names--is a major sponsor of the poor boy festival.
Last years' was a blast. The only glitch was were the configuration of the lines leading to the vendors' booths. The lines were long enough that they gridlocked a couple of blocks. But who knew so many people would show up? The restaurants serving poor boys last year also underestimated the crowds. Many of them had to send back to their restaurants for more food. And for the best of reasons: the food was uniformly great, with an an amazing variety of sandwiches.
This year, there'll be thirty vendors, about half again as many as last year. Of course, there's lots of music, crafts, a kids' area, a competition, and plenty more to keep you there for hours. The entire list, and what they're serving, is on the
© 2008 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com