Taylor Ham Or Pork Roll: What Do You Call New Jersey's Own Breakfast Meat?

December 8, 2008 at 2:00 PM | by juliana | Comments (8)

Food fights don't just happen in the cafeteria at sleep-away camps. They can also be part of larger geographical strife. Today Juliana Shallcross looks at one ongoing war between North and South Jersey. Know of any other food fights? Send 'em to us.

New Jersey. Yes, it's been called the armpit of America. (Or as Chunky Pam argues, "It's the Brad Pitt of America.") When you deplane in Newark, your nose will be accosted by a indescribable pungent smell. Rude people are never hard to find and the numerous highways (shout out to the Garden State Parkway!), routes and toll booths are extremely difficult to navigate.

But this is my home state. And like any good Jerseyan, I'm never at a loss to highlight our state's proudest accomplishments: The Sopranos, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Thomas Edison and no sales tax on clothing. There are many things that I love (and now miss) about New Jerz but, right now, at the top of my list is Taylor ham.

Taylor ham is essentially a pork roll which was created in the late 1880s by a Trentonian named John Taylor. It's used for breakfast either on its own or nestled between egg and cheese on a roll or bagel. And it's, like, near impossible to get outside the state of New Jersey. (I had a friend once ship it to himself in LA in dry ice.)

The best place to get Taylor ham when you're in New Jersey? A neighborhood deli or bagel shop. Or you can buy it in grocery stores and cook it up for yourself. Just make sure to make Xs in the center so it doesn't curl up in the pan.

However, something disturbing came to my attention recently. Depending on which part of New Jersey you're in, the breakfast meat I love so much is also called Pork Roll. Judging from some brief 21st century research--consulting relatives, Facebook friends and Twitterati--it seems to be a geographical war. If you're from North Jersey (Represent!) you call it Taylor ham. If you're from South Jersey, you call it Pork Roll. Naturally, I'm a Taylor ham girl all the way.

Whaddya call it? Taylor ham or Pork Roll? Let us know in comments below.

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Comments (8)

Return to » Taylor Ham Or Pork Roll: What Do You Call New Jersey's Own Breakfast Meat?

I'm going to have to go with Dunkin Donuts on this one: it's a "Ham, Egg and Cheese on a Bagel." I've never heard of those other fiddle-dee-dee names for it.

I've grown up calling it pork roll, and every deli menu around where I live (South/Central Jersey) says pork roll. In fact, my favorite place has a "Jersey Burger" which is a hamburger with "Pork Roll". Mmmm. I'm making myself hungry.

Dunkin Donuts doesnt even have Pork Roll - its just a plain old boring slice of ham, which is sooo not jersey.

fantasizing about the hamburger with TAYLOR HAM. i may now venture down to South Jersey to experience this one time.

+1 Taylor Ham.. yessssss Hackensack here!

I'm from North Jersey (Irvington) and it's Taylor Ham all the way, baby! It's really hard to get out here in Seattle. Only one store has it and they piss me off (they refuse to slice it...WTF?). I had to resort to ordering online. I hungrily eye my mailbox daily! The thing that sucks is that we have no good bagels or rolls out here to put it on. I am coming back in the spring and plan to gain at least ten pounds while I'm in Jersey!

what up north jersey! and what up Taylor Ham! everytime i go back to NJ i usually hit up the bagel store every morning for taylor ham egg and cheese on a sesame bagel. mmmmmmmmmmmmm. also, where do you order it online? website please.

This is super late, Julianna, but the address you're looking for is www.jerseyporkroll.com. Enjoy!

Jaunted

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