Who invented the po boy bread?

There's no single inventor of po boy bread, but its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century in New Orleans.

The bread itself is believed to have been inspired by French bread, with the key difference being its softer and fluffier texture. This was achieved by using a higher proportion of water in the dough, allowing for a more tender crumb.

The term "po boy" is thought to have originated during a streetcar strike in New Orleans in the 1920s. A group of workers who were on strike, known as "po-boys," were offered sandwiches by two brothers named Bennie and Clovis Martin, who owned a food stand.

However, while the Martins are credited with popularizing the sandwich, the bread itself was likely already in use by various New Orleans bakeries.

So, while there's no specific inventor, the po boy bread we know today evolved from the confluence of influences: French breadmaking traditions, the ingenuity of New Orleans bakers, and the social context of the early 20th century.