Cafe Beignet, New Orleans, LA USA

Ordered at the Cafe Beignet on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.

When I learned we had dinner reservations confirmed for 10pm, I knew I needed food before the gang arrived. They were still at Jazz Fest and I had at least 4 hours before eating anything. No club sandwich on the in room dining menu, I would have to find my dish of choice elsewhere.

Walking up and down Bourbon Street I only grew hungrier. No I do not want pizza by the slice. No I do not want a hot dog. I need my club. The rest of the weekend was going to be full of rich, heavy, incredibly delicious and filling food – the club was the foundation I craved before I began my New Orleans eating binge.

I was about to give up when I walked by an outdoor cafe and saw their giant menu – low and behold, it was a French café, with a French speaking manager, serving up a Decatur Club. THIS I had to try.

I sat down in front of the live music and waited for my club to arrive, enjoying the change in environment this city presented a Bostonian. Fun people watching scene, that’s for sure.

As he placed the sandwich before me, the waiter emphatically pronounced in front of me and everyone that it was the best club around. That the only one better was down the street and played music till late. The crowd roared with laughter.

Ice cold turkey. So dry. No bacon flavor. So dry and overly crispy. Thin bread that added nothing. Cheese literally tasteless. If I owned this place I’d be ashamed of this sandwich. I felt gipped! In a city full of incredible food, I happened to find the most boring, lame sandwich around. I was literally thinking at the time McDonalds would have been better… the Decatur Club, for lack of better words, sucked.

I decided to throw this out and find food elsewhere. I will look for a club sandwich tomorrow instead, and hopefully find something WORTH writing about.

Location