Mother's is a New Orleans institution, famous for long lines, great grits, and heavenly baked ham. The first time I went there, I ordered a ham po-boy--the ham is what's touted on their sign, after all. But maybe I shouldn't have gone for the ham the first time. It's the most perfect ham sandwich in the world. The problem is that I can't order anything else on the menu. I'll try the jambalaya or red beans or grits that other people at my table order--and bless them for doing that--but I'm committed to the ham po-boy above all else.
This is it. I know it doesn't look like much, but trust me, it is the holy grail of ham sandwiches. The truth lies in the simplicity and honesty of the ingredients: shaved baked ham, shredded cabbage, mayonnaise, Creole mustard, pickles, and fresh French bread. The ham is slightly sweet, the cabbage has a PhD in crispness, and the mayo and mustard create a background chorus that Ray Charles would hire on the spot. I know I'm hyperbolic, but do you know that I would never get hyperbolic unless I felt it was my duty? Because I wouldn't, I promise you.
