When people think of New Orleans, a few things come to mind right away: jazz music, Mardi Gras, and incredible cuisine. At Elysian Events Catering, we bring authentic New Orleans flavors to your special events. One of our most popular offerings? The iconic Po’ Boy sandwich—a dish rich with history, culture, and a bit of Louisiana legend.
But where did this beloved sandwich come from? There are a few stories behind the sandwich and a little debate on its precise origins too. Here’s the story behind the New Orleans classic Po’ Boy.
The Mainstream Story of the Po’ Boy
This is the story you may be familiar with. The Po’ Boy’s origins date back to the 1920s during a time of economic hardship in New Orleans. Benjamin and Clovis Martin, former streetcar conductors who opened an eatery in 1920, wanted to support their community during a transit strike in 1929. The strike lasted for four months, causing a large portion of the city to be functionally unemployed.
The brothers provided free sandwiches to the striking workers. They lovingly called these workers “poor boys,” and their creation quickly became known as the “Po’ Boy.” The sandwich was created to be filling and affordable, made from locally baked French bread often with fried potatoes and gravy. Later when it became more popular, it was then stuffed with simple, hearty ingredients like fried shrimp, spare roast beef with gravy, or fried oysters.
From these humble beginnings, the Po’ Boy became a local hit, moving into the mainstream as a full menu item. When they started to take off, even moving outside of New Orleans, the Martin brothers doubled down on its success leading to the lasting impact of the sandwich we all know and love.
Is That the True Po’ Boy Origin?
There are a few major problems with this local Po’ Boy history story that local writer James Karst uncovered. First, this story was never covered in the media until 1969, 40 years after its supposed origins. Before this time, the Martin brothers themselves had talked about making the sandwiches for all kinds of “poor boys,” not just the strikers. While the brothers did publish a statement in the local newspaper in 1929 pledging to feed the strikers, they never mentioned the sandwich in any way either.
Second, the basic form of this sandwich was not new. As Karst mentions, there are many accounts of the “oyster loaf” dating all the way back to the eighteenth century with specific mentions of the “Poor Boy” sandwich as early as the 1910s. These accounts are still being debated as to how reputable they are. At the very least, the Martin brothers were influential in the early popularity of the Po’ Boy history.
The Po’ Boy Bread
The Martin brothers went to their bread supplier, John Gendusa, to create a long and affordable loaf of bread. They would slice and fill these extra long french-bread loaves, giving them the more familiar form we see today.
True New Orleans-style Po’ Boys are still made from this specific type of French bread with a crispy crust and an airy interior. The bread’s light, fluffy texture complements the sandwich’s heartier fillings. Staying true to the roots, we work with local bakers to ensure our Po’ Boys maintain that authentic touch. Our bread is light and airy, with that traditional crust everyone expects from a Po’ Boy.
Classic Fillings And New Creations
While classic Po’ Boys feature fried seafood or roast beef with gravy, modern versions celebrate creativity. New Orleans chefs have experimented with fillings like blackened chicken, vegan-friendly options, and even fusion-style ingredients that blend international flavors with local charm.
At Elysian Events Catering, we honor tradition while giving it our own New Orleans twist. We create our Po’ Boys with the classic ingredients with many different options for parties wanting something more unique. These are the many fillings you can order with our Po’ Boy Station:
- Pimento cheese, pickled green tomatoes, crispy shallots (V)
- Creole spiced grilled eggplant, citrus aioli, crispy garlic (V)
- Gulf shrimp remoulade, fresh tomato, crispy shallots
- Cochon de lait: braised pulled pork, roasted garlic aioli, pickled turnips
- New Orleans style roast beef, creamy horseradish
- Alligator sausage, Crystal aioli, pickled mirliton slaw
- Crawfish sausage, creole mustard aioli, green tomato chow-chow
- Blackened Louisiana catfish, roasted garlic mayo, pickled turnips
Elysian Events Catering Will Provide a True New Orleans Experience
Our Mini Po’ boy Station brings the soul of New Orleans street food to your event in perfectly sized portions. From classic roast beef to fresh Gulf seafood to creative vegetarian options, these beloved sandwiches let your guests experience authentic French Quarter flavors, with Elysian’s signature catering touch. It’s just one more way they bring true New Orleans cuisine to your special occasion.
Ready to bring authentic New Orleans Po’ Boys to your next event? Contact Elysian Events Catering today. We’ll help create a Po’ Boy station your guests will love.
At Elysian Events Catering, we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and excellent service. Contact us to get started! We can’t wait to build a Po’ Boy station that will make your guests’ mouths water.
