Chunky bits of beef melting in your mouth: Drippy, sloppy, saucy Po' Boy -- reigning king of New Orleans sandwiches -- is a garlicky slow-cooked delight swimming in its own rich, roux-thickened gravy

Of all the delicious meals I have had the pleasure of eating in New Orleans, by far my favorite is a drippy, sloppy, saucy roast beef po' boy. Perhaps lesser known than its fried seafood sibling, this garlicky slow-cooked sandwich swimming in its own rich, roux-thickened gravy is really my favorite.

The po' boy (or poor boy, if you will), created and named during the streetcar strike of 1929, is the reigning king of New Orleans sandwiches. It can be filled with anything as it is tucked inside a loaf of soft, squishy (preferably freshly baked) French bread.

There is something about the roast beef po' boy in particular that won me over at first bite. I mean, how could I resist chunky bits of beef melting in my mouth, its juices running down my chin and dripping on my lap. You know something is good when you couldn't care in the least!

One thing's for sure, everyone that's had one (NOLA natives in particular) has a favorite type. There are a few different methods for preparing the roast beef -- from thinly sliced and layered, to pot-roast style, where the slow cooked meat is shredded or chopped, and most famously (and perhaps most hard to come by) those using "debris," which is essentially a hearty gravy made up of bits of meat and char that have fallen from the roast.

I've been experimenting with my version of roast beef po' boys using the pot roast style, essentially, for quite some time. Originally, I overcomplicated things by adding all sorts of nontraditional ingredients to the mix and thinking that more add-ins meant more flavor. I've come back around though, with the realization that less if often best.

The chuck roast is then slow-cooked in a flavorful sauce made up of garlic, onions, red wine and stock. The sauce is thickened up with a flour and margarine-based roux, to which the shredded meat is added back to create the ultimate gravy.

You can eat your po' boy plain or "dressed" with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and maybe a few dill pickles. If you want to truly go New Orleans style, serve with an ice cold root beer to wash it all down. And don't forget a pile of napkins!

ROAST BEEF PO' BOYS

Makes about 6 sandwiches

For the beef fillings:

• 2 to 3 pounds of chuck roast .

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1/2 pound thick cut pastrami, diced, about 6 slices

• 1 sweet onion, chopped

• 1/2 cup dry red wine

• 3 cups low sodium beef, veal, or chicken stock, or a mix

• 5 large cloves garlic, smashed

• 2 teaspoons steak sauce

• 3 tablespoons margarine

• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour

To assemble:

• French baguettes or hoagie rolls

• Shredded lettuce

• Sliced tomatoes

• Mayonnaise

• Vegan cheese (optional)

Pat the beef dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.

Set a large Dutch oven or heavy skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the pastrami and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and pastrami is starting to turn golden brown. Remove the pastrami pieces with a slotted spoon and transfer to the bowl of a slow cooker.

Add the beef to the skillet with the pastrami grease and sear until golden brown, about 10 minutes per side; transfer to the bowl of the slow cooker. Pour off all but 1 to 2 tablespoons of the pastrami fat. Reduce heat to medium. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Return the heat to high. Pour in the wine and reduce by half, stirring to loosen any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Transfer the wine mixture to the bowl of the slow cooker.

Add the stock, garlic, and steak sauce to the slow cooker and close the lid. Cook on low heat for 7 hours (or high heat for 4 hours).

When done, remove the meat from the cooker and shred with two forks. Chop to desired texture and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the margarine in a large Dutch oven of heavy skillet on medium heat until foaming. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until it turns a shade of amber and gives off a nutty smell.

Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into the skillet with the roux. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook the gravy until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir the chopped meat into the gravy, taste, and adjust any seasonings if necessary.

To assemble the po' boys, slather the bread with a generous amount of mayonnaise. Top with shredded meat and gravy. Serve with shredded lettuce and tomatoes, if desired.

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Nealey Dozier is a writer for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to kitchn@apartmenttherapy.com