After an employee described his experience eating a muffuletta in New Orleans, his bosses at Brett’s Barbecue Shop started thinking about creating their own spin on the iconic Big Easy sandwich. Pitmaster/owner Brett Jackson got busy smoking brisket pastrami, turkey, ham and bologna. General manager Jacqueline Herrera began concocting a version of the zippy olive salad that makes the sandwich famous.

After weeks of research and development, Brett’s Barbecue’s Texas Smoked Muffuletta is ready to make its mark as a distinctly Houston and wholly barbecue-inspired version of the New Orleans-born culinary gem. “There’s definitely people out there excited about the muffuletta,” Herrera said. “I had no idea there are that many people who love the muffuletta.”