The muffuletta is an open sandwich that was created by Italian blue-collar workers in the United States in the late 1800s. These Italians, working in the New Orleans markets, placed a mixture of broken green and black olives, found at the bottom of olive barrels, on half a loaf of round Italian bread, commonly called a “muff.” Over this mixture, they layered slices of ham, salami, and Provolone cheese.