There are certain foods that clearly define the Garden State. I grew up on Long Island in New York, and at our deli counters there was this meat in the deli case covered in burlap called Taylor Ham. I just assumed it was like most hams offered at the deli counter but I never bothered ordering it because I always preferred Virginia ham or boiled ham for my sandwiches.
Then in 1996, I moved to Monmouth County New Jersey for a new job, and all I heard around the office while people were ordering breakfast was this mysterious thing called “Pork Roll.” My breakfast sandwiches back home were either sausage, egg, and cheese, or bacon, egg, and cheese on a Kaiser roll. Never in my life could I imagine eating any other type of breakfast sandwich. Maybe once in a while, I’d switch up the Kaiser roll for an onion roll.
Then my co-worker Maryann, immediately schooled me on how to order a breakfast sandwich in this part of New Jersey. She said, “Next time you get a breakfast sandwich, you ask for pork roll, egg, and cheese on a hard roll with salt, pepper, ketchup.” Or the abbreviated version: PEC SPK. I caught on rather quickly.
Off to the local deli/bagel place we went. When I saw the “pork roll” encased in the burlap bag in the deli case, I said, “Oh, that’s Taylor Ham.” She hushed me up fast and said, “NO, it’s pork roll, not Taylor Ham.” Ok then, pork roll it is.
After living here for 26 years, I am no longer a Benny, but a Jersey girl who enjoys some of the foods that define New Jersey. On a side note, I hear that North Jersey refers to pork roll as Taylor Ham, so I wasn’t completely wrong back in 96.
Now let’s take a look at other food stuffs that are definitely Jersey eats.
Tomato Pies
Around these parts, we go to Maruca’s in Seaside Heights for their legendary tomato pies. If you’re wondering where the oldest tomato pie restaurant in the United States is, It’s Papa’s Tomato Pie,
founded by Giuseppe “Joe” Papa in 1912 on South Clinton Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey. Papa’s is the oldest family owned and longest continuously operating pizzeria in the United States. Disco Fries
The Tick Tock Diner in Clifton and the Broad Street Diner in Keyport have some of the best disco fries in Jersey. My friend Lawrence ordered some mighty yummy disco fries with bacon from Jack’s Goal Line Stand in Long Branch. They look like they are worth the calories.
Pork Roll - Taylor Ham
It’s that controversial meat product that really defines New Jersey. Tom Fornicola from the Wednesday Warrior’s page knows where to go.
Jersey Corn
I never knew that Jersey corn was different from any other corn I’ve eaten during my lifetime. My first bite into a Jersey corn on the cob at a friend’s barbeque in the Summer of 1997 changed my life. No butter or salt needed for the best corn I ever ate.
Jersey Tomatoes
Find a better tomato in the U.S.A. and I’ll eat my hat.
