The Connector
The Connector

By Gray Chapman

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New Orleans’ French Quarter is arguably one of the most unique neighborhoods in the country. Whether you know it for the art and antiques galleries on Magazine Street, the debauchery on Bourbon, or the jazz artists on every corner, for many people it’s a city of food. The unique blend of Cajun, Creole and European tastes make New Orleans food unlike anything else you can find. For the longest time, the closest thing you could get to Louisiana cooking in Atlanta was Popeye’s Chicken. Then came Parish Foods and Goods. Situated in a renovated, circa 1890 warehouse, Parish is a healthy dose of true Vieux Carré cuisine in the middle of Inman Park.

Unless you’re willing to spend a good chunk of cash on dinner, save the upstairs dine-in restaurant for when your parents are in town. The real deals can be found downstairs in the Market, where a plethora of French Quarter classics are at the ready. Whether you’re on the go or in the mood to stop and smell the oysters, the Market has a little something for everyone — including ready-to-go meals for the extra-busy. The casual outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting for your order, or to slowly savor that classic po-boy. The Market offers sandwiches, salads, breakfast, morning pastries, tarts, cakes, ice cream and sorbet, all for prices that are almost comparable with the Hub.

So if you really want a taste of New Orleans, what do you choose? Well, the most classic French Quarter sandwich is a mouthful, both metaphorically and literally. The muffuletta (pronounced “moof-a-letta,” “muff-a-letta,” or “moof-a-latta,” depending on who you ask) is a sandwich of Sicilian bread packed with salami, ham, provolone, olive salad and pickled giardiniere. It was “invented” in the early 20th century at the classic Italian-American New Orleans market, Central Grocery, and has been gaining national popularity since. While no muffuletta will ever top the Central Grocery version, Parish’s take is a pretty convincing runner-up for $10.

If that doesn’t sound like your thing, try the oyster po-boy. Possibly the most ubiquitous sandwich in the Quarter, the po-boy is a mainstay in the diets of New Orleans natives. Served sub-sandwich style on Louisiana French bread baguettes, it’s usually packed with seafood — and in this case, oysters. The “dressed” po-boy is the only way to do it, with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Of course, if you’re a little queasy about oysters, Parish offers a more tame, but just as delicious, shrimp po-boy (or a combo with half shrimp, half oysters).

Luckily for Atlantans, we no longer have to make the 500 mile trek for the internationally revered cuisine of New Orleans. Of course, if you’re looking for some Bourbon Street shenanigans, you’ll have to make the trip to the actual place — they haven’t brought that aspect of the Quarter to Atlanta just yet. But for authentic food in an authentic atmosphere (the antiquated building and expert décor is pretty convincing), head down North Highland for Parish and, in the true spirit of New Orleans, “let the good times roll!”

Parish is located at 240 North Highland Avenue. For more information, including menus, directions and more, visit their Web site at www.parishatl.com.