A Bite Of Jersey: Taylor Ham

As the revamped NJ1015.com continues to add more content online, I did some brainstorming on what topics I wanted to write about regularly.

Generally I try to write one or two blogs or reactions to the top news stories of the day, while writing a lighter-hearted piece about a wide array of topic.  In my brainstorming, I tried to across a subject that all New Jerseyans could relate to and appreciate.

At the time of this brainstorming, I just happened to be watching the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," where host Guy Fieri travels across the country trying to find hidden food gems and showing off their specialty dishes. 

The show is definitely one I enjoy, while always resulting in making me salivate at my television.  In my various travels recently, I've managed to stop at some of the places in different states, as well as New Jersey.  There is even an iPhone app that locates all of the places mentioned across the country with directions and reviews.

In checking out the app to see which Jersey places were mentioned, I noticed a severe lack of venues in the Garden State.  People may have their jokes and stereotypes about our state, but food is one thing we definitely do very well.

Combining all of this information, I decided to launch a regular series called  "A Bite Of Jersey," which will focus on some the great restaurants, hidden gems, as well as delicacies in the Garden State.

The opening part to this series was an extremely easy decision:  taylor ham (or pork roll).  I am from West Paterson originally, and it was always referred to taylor ham up there, but I do realize that there is a huge segment of the state that calls it pork roll.  Same item, and for the sake of this blog, I will refer to it as taylor ham.

This product that is made of some concoction of ingredients that I do not even really want to know fully is somewhere between bacon, regular ham, salami, and possibly even spam.  One of the main manufacturers is Taylor Provisions, based in Trenton....hence the Taylor Ham name.

The beauty of taylor ham is that it's not only the best breakfast food ever created, but it's not produced or really known outside of the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area.  There are some manufacturers near Philly, but really that's it. 

It's always amazing traveling other places and explaining this food to people as they look with a puzzled look, but I'm just fine with that.  Taylor ham is like Jersey's little secret that not many others get to enjoy.

While everybody has their style of what they eat it with, my go-to is an onion bagel with taylor ham and cheese.  The food is a staple at NJ diners, bagel shops, etc.

Nothing quite kicks off a Giants game tailgate like a nice taylor ham sandwich.

This is merely the first edition of "A Bite Of Jersey," but taylor ham needed to be first so that it received the respect that it deserves.

I hope we can make this new series interactive with your feedback, comments, and suggestions for new Jersey foods or restaurants to try.

And if you are from New Jersey, and have not had taylor ham (or pork roll), I suggest you close this browser and head to your supermarket.

Just make sure you cut  little slits (as pictured above) in it, so it cooks better.  Until next time...