How to be a road foodie

Louisiana’s meandering byways and scenic sights scream for picnicking, especially now, before the blanket of summer heat fully descends. Think local when planning your menu; Baton Rouge’s food shops and eateries are chock-full of inspiring raw materials for great on-the-go grub.

Thanks to its signature bread, few sandwiches travel as well as the muffuletta. The hefty, sesame-topped round Italian loaf is adept at absorbing flavor without becoming soggy, an important attribute in a sandwich slathered with olive salad. By the time you open the picnic basket, the flavors of your muffuletta have married perfectly while the bread is still toothy and springy. A few examples stand out in the Capital City, including Anthony’s Italian Deli’s sumptuous pressed version and the plump and savory one from Pocorello’s Casa D’Italia. The eggplant-centric veggie muffuletta at Yvette Marie’s Café is a tasty winner for vegetarians. Click here to read more. —Maggie Heyn Richardson