Taylor Ham

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Taylor Ham is a type of sausage-like pork product made from coarsely ground pork shoulder, developed by John Taylor of Trenton, New Jersey late in the 19th century. It is often called pork roll due to the "roll" or tube-like sack in which it is traditionally packaged.

Taylor is the brand name for pork roll made by Taylor Provisions, Inc., of Trenton. Taylor also manufactures pork roll under the Trenton brand. Trenton by Taylor has been an advertiser on the outfield wall at Mercer County Waterfront Park in Trenton since it opened in 1994. Other companies making pork roll include crosstown rival Case Pork Roll Company, as well as Kohler Provisions and Loeffler Gourmet. Hatfield Quality Meats of Hatfield, Pennsylvania and Alderfer Premium Meats of Harleysville, Pennsylvania also produces their own version.

The product is generally eaten sliced and grilled, like Canadian bacon, but is also known to be fried. A common practice is to slice four cuts from the outer edges inwards about 3/4 inch to an inch towards the center, evenly spaced around the circumference. These cuts prevent the pork roll from curling up in the middle, which causes it to cook unevenly. With these cuts, the cooked slices have become known by many different names such as fireman's badges (due to the similarity to the Maltese cross), pac-man meat, and notch meat.^{[citation needed]}

Pork roll generally comes in one-, three-, and six-pound sizes, as well as six-ounce boxes containing eight single-thickness slices or four double-thickness slices. The product is seldom available for retail or restaurant sale outside of New Jersey and adjoining areas like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, it is available as far South as Key West, Florida through Publix's supermarkets, in Colorado at Albertsonsand KING SOOPERS, in Minnesota at Byerly’s, In Brookfield(Milwaukee), Wisconsin at The Fresh Market, in Virginia at Safeway and Shopper’s Food Warehouse, in Maryland at Giant Food Stores, in Oregon (Portland) at Zupans, in Washington (Seattle) at De Laurenti’s, and in the Phoenix area at A.J.'s Fine Foods, a division of Basha's. It is also available at Wegman’s stores throughout the Northeast. In addition, there are marketers selling pork roll on the internet and shipping it around the United States.

1 Uses in sandwiches
2 Popular culture
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Uses in sandwiches

Known as the 'Jersey Breakfast',^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] the Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich is a staple of many delis, diners, and bakeries in New Jersey.

"Taylor Ham , Egg and Cheese" Is commonly referred to as a "THEC" with "SPK" (Salt Pepper and Ketchup). Also known as a "PEC" (pork roll, egg, cheese). Usually served on a Kaiser Roll. In more liberal areas of New Jersey, it is often referred to, jokingly as a THC.^{[citation needed]} In central New Jersey a "PEC" is usually served on a Hard Roll rather than the softer Kaiser Roll. Also popular in Central Jersey, particularly Morris County, is a THEC on an everything bagel with SPK (an everything bagel consists of all the available toppings for bagels on one, i.e. poppyseeds, sesame seeds, salt, garlic, etc,,,). Coming out of Central Jersey as well is the Bomber(pork roll egg and cheese with hashbrowns on a kaiser roll.^{[citation needed]} In Northern Jersey a "Slider" is a combo of Taylor Ham, Cheese, and a slice of a Jersey Tomato on a Kaiser Roll.^{[citation needed]} In Southern Jersey, a "K-Schneids" is a specialty sandwich consisting of Taylor Ham, American Cheese, 2 slices of bacon, and a generous amount of ketchup, served on a well toasted Everything Bagel. This sandwich originated at the famous Keith's Diner, and was created by the diner's storied owner, Keith Schneider, whose work with deli meats has been well chronicled.^{[citation needed]}

Regionally popular in New Jersey is a sandwich that is simply a Taylor Ham and Cheese, usually served on a bagel or hard roll, with the cheese melted on the bread. Taylor Ham is also sometimes added on a hamburger or cheeseburger for extra flavor. This is often referred to as a "Jersey Burger" a "Taylor Burger" or "Trenton Burger."^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Popular culture

Taylor ham is mentioned by George Carlin's character as a pork roll in Kevin Smith's movie Jersey Girl.
"Taylor Ham and Egg" sandwich is a favorite breakfast sandwich of The Howard Stern Show's co-host Artie Lange.
The band Ween created the product's theme song, "Pork Roll Egg and Cheese."
Sometimes known as "Pac-Man bacon" due to its likeness to the video game character Pac-Man when only one radial cut is made.^{[citation needed]}
When New Jersey native Danny Kass won the Silver Medal for snowboarding in the 2002 Olympics, Gold medallist Ross Powers exclaimed in front of the media that "Danny Kass is the 2nd best thing ever to come out of New Jersey". When a reporter asked what the first was he responded "Taylor Ham dude!".
W.E.B. Griffin mentions Taylor ham in his Badge of Honor series of novels, set in Philadelphia.
A Jersey 'Slider' is mentioned by Wendy Venturini on Nascar Raceday (SPEED-TV) at Dover Del. in June of 2005