Rumor has it that the owner of Central Grocery in the French Quarter invented it in 1906. Salvatore Lupo would watch fellow Silicians eat their lunches of Italian pickled vegetables, meats, cheese, olive salad, and bread. He decided it would be easier and quicker to eat lunch if all those ingredients were layered into a hearty sandwich. He also compressed it by weighing it down to improve the flavors and to make it easier to eat. This had instant success with the local Silicians and now with the tourists.