New Orleans – French Quarter

For over a century, the French Quarter of New Orleans was a vibrant Italian-American neighborhood, home to Sicilian immigrants and their descendants. From bustling markets and restaurants to bakeries and butchers, the Italian Colony flourished in the area, creating food and culture that still define the city to this day. The muffuletta, a sandwich of capicola, provolone and olive salad served on a distinctive Sicilian bread, is a beloved New Orleans classic that originated in the French Quarter. Though the Italian-American presence has diminished in recent years, reminders of their history remain. Matassa’s Grocery, Irene’s Restaurant, and the Ruffino Bakery carriageway still stand in the area, while the French Market continues to operate and still contains traces of the city’s Italian past.