Welcome to JayPo’s Penalty Boxed Lunch, where we explore food from around the country! This week’s 21st official entry comes to us from my home state, the Garden State and perhaps the greatest breakfast meat you will ever put in your mouth.
Food History!
The mystery meat itself, Pork Roll, has been around since 1856 with John Taylor creating the recipe. It is essentially smoked pork with salt and various spices packed into a long meat tube which is then sliced to your desired thickness. To eat it, the sliced pork roll is often pan-fried to crisp it up and is usually eaten as part of an egg sandwich, or as a side during breakfast. It isn’t quite Canadian bacon or standard American bacon, but a fun combination of taste of both. Think SPAM, but a much more pleasant texture.
Now you can’t talk about Pork Roll without the contentious name-divide between what North Jersey and South Jersey call it. The correct way (South Jersey) is simply calling it as it is identified on all packaging. Taylor’s, Case’s and generic brands all label it as pork roll. It used to be called prepared ham, but didn’t meat the legal definition of ham and had to change its name. North Jersey folks still call ALL Pork Roll, despite the manufacturer that makes it, “Taylor Ham”. It is both silly and stubborn. So if you find yourself in New Jersey and want to order this delectable meat, make sure to order it correctly (and piss some North Jersey folks if you find yourself there).
@jaypoozle For my #southjersey brethren to put an end to this nonsense debate. #northjersey #taylor #porkroll #debate #philly #food
How I Made It!
Now I prefer my pork roll in a sandwich, but there is no wrong way to enjoy it. This time made it two ways, both on a kaiser roll with cheese but one with a fried egg and the other an omelet. Don’t like a kaiser roll? Try a bagel, croissant, biscuit or toast! There is no wrong answer. Swap out the cheese or add some other toppings! Just be sure to crisp up that pork roll!
What Does A Local Think? (thanks to the BSH Director of Fun and Games, Bill Matz)
Do you think the pork roll, egg and cheese represents your state accurately?
I think pork roll is a tremendous representation of New Jersey.
How do you make your sandwich?
I do it on a bagel with hot sauce. I think a Kaiser can be a little dry, and definitely needs to be a fried egg (over easy), but I skip the egg a lot.
How did I do?
Yours looks like a perfectly acceptable sandwich.
Where do you order your favorite pork roll egg and cheese?
I do end up getting pork roll & cheese from Wawa quite a bit, but Harrison House Diner (Mullica Hill) and Angelo’s Diner (Glassboro) and Broad Street Diner (Philly) are my other regular spots.
