cochon butcher (new orleans, la)

 

(above - cubano)

$8 for a generic sandwich at the conference center? Psh, keep your sandwich and shove it back into your breadhole because a couple of blocks away is Cochon Butcher serving up some kick-ass sandwiches worth every penny.

Cochon Butcher was my favorite place to grab lunch in New Orleans throughout my stay. The hot sandwiches filled with Cochon's killer, house cured meats with a side of crispy chips may be one of the best foods for your buck around the city. Did I mention they play some awesome music too? Nirvana, Van Halen, Rage Against the Machine, etc. -- they had my attention even before I ate.

(above - pork belly)

One of my favorite sandwiches was the pork belly with mint and cucumber. Tender, succulent, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly with crisp cucumber and refreshing mint -- it's awesome. The Cubano (first picture of post) was delicious as well; paninied to a thin, crispy perfection with juicy roast pork, ham, and swiss cheese on the inside. 

(above - muffaletta)

(above - prime rib, gruyere, poblanos, horseradish)

The other 2 sandwiches I had were the Cochon Muffaletta and the prime rib with gruyere, poblanos and horseradish, a special of the day. This Muffaletta is great for those who are turned off by the strong olive taste in Muffalettas because the olive salad's flavor doesn't dominate the sandwich. It works in harmony with the fresh, combination of house cured meats to provide a nice compliment to the sandwich -- and man is that sandwich huge. I liked the prime rib sandwich too. A nice smokiness from the poblanos and a slight kick from the horseradish.

Lastly, I need to spot light this Cochon pretzel. Ask the pretzel to be heated and prepare to go on a carbalicious adventure. With its soft, tender crumb and a chewy crust this pretzel was real tasty. If you're not a mustard fan, try eating the pretzel with the hot sweet potato sauce on the table.

One of my regrets leaving New Orleans was the fact that I didn't get to try out more of Cochon Butcher's menu -- especially the hot dog. I will say though that it does take a little bit of time for your sandwich to come out and especially during the lunch rush but it's worth the wait folks. This place is definitely a must visit if you're in the city and a place I hope you'll come to love just like I did during my visit.