Taylor Ham or Pork Roll Sandwiches – New Jersey

Jayne: Taylor Ham or Pork Roll?  North or South? 

It’s a New Jersey institution. And like New Jersey, its history is pretty colorful. It was invented by NJ state Senator and businessman John Taylor in 1856 and the lore is that Union soldiers carried pork rolls with them in Civil War battles.

There is a Trenton Pork Roll Festival with a Miss Trenton Pork Roll. In 2019, Joey Chestnut won the pork roll eating contest by eating 61.5 pork roll sandwiches in 10 minutes. Not only is there a song named after it, but also a blues band named “Trenton Pork Roll Blues Project.”

My friend Laura, when consulted about iconic New Jersey food, came back with pork roll.  She said that she called her friends who all said pork roll.  She mentioned “boardwalk food”, but that didn’t come close to pork roll. 

One memorable description has it as “round bologna-like tubes of spam-like ‘ham’, but more whitish.”  It has even been described as “scrapple-like”. My dad would have lovvved it. 

So, pork roll it is.  And preparation and accoutrements are key.  Nothing fancy here.

Ingredients:

• Taylor ham or pork roll
• American cheese slice
• Egg(s)
• Hard roll (Kaiser), bagel or English muffin
• Salt, Pepper, Ketchup (SPK)

Directions:

1. Slice a few thin slices of Taylor Ham or Pork Roll, notch the edges and brown until crispy in a skillet.  Notching keeps them from curling.
2. Fry an egg.
3. Melt a piece of American cheese on top of the meat. 
4. Toast roll, bagel or English muffin. 
5. Place meat with melted cheese on the bottom of the roll.  Place fried egg on top of meat.  Add salt, pepper and ketchup, if desired. Top with toasted bun, bagel or English muffin. 

Enjoy your bite of New Jersey!