What is a muffaletta?
 

And where can I get a really good one in or near the French Quarter (NO)?

So many people on this site talk of these but I don't know what it is.
Also, coffee drinks are a must. Any recommendations for these would be greatly appreciated, as well.

An absolutely fabulous sandwich. Progress Grocery and Central Grocery are the two places that come to mind - Think italian meats on crusty round loaf (huge) with olive spread and cheese. Nothing healthy :). But you're in NO. Don't have the address, but it is on the same street as Cafe du Monde, as I recall. Cafe du Monde serves beneits(sp) and coffee au lait w/ chicory, a local taste. Also on the same street, the oyster po' boy at Cafe Masparo's is recommended ... eat well!

Thanks so much for the info!! I am soooooo hungry right now. :)

The shops are about two blocks on down the street (away from Canal St) and on opposite side of street, actually across from the farmers market. They DO NOT have the same hours as most places in the Quarter, so go by and check. Those sandwiches are very big - great to share...

Central Grocery is on Decatur St. Also, Napoleon House makes a warm muffaletta that gets good reviews.

It's like what we call a grinder,

The Napoleon House restaurant/bar on St. Louis/Chartres has great hot muffalettas. Yum.

Mmmm. Napoleon House has yummy hot muffaletta, make sure you wash it down w/ an ice cold Pimms Cup.
Progress Grocery muffaletta is great w/ a Barks rootbeer.

Central Grocery for a muffaletta! Yum!! Just thinking about one of those delicious monster-sized sandwiches makes my mouth water. (Do I hear jazz music?) Enjoy New Orleans!

There is a show on the Food Network called $40 a Day and Rachel was just in NO and went to Central Grocery and got half of a muffaletta - even a half was big and it looked awesome!

My husband and I had both warm and cold muffalettas. I loved the warm ones and really liked the cold ones. We got a whole one at Central Grocery and packed it in a cooler which we brought on a road trip to the plantations. We had half left and brought it on the plane the next day. The delicious smell must have made the other poor pretzel eating passengers insane.