by: Steve Tichenor
Loved the Pork Roll versus Taylor Ham debate at the RAC Saturday. Though I could have predicted the resounding Pork Roll victory. After all, very few ask for a Taylor ham, egg and cheese. It’s pork roll, egg and cheese.
Which reminds me of a story.
I was visiting my cousin with my brother and a friend in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a football game at the big house about fifteen years ago. My cousin and brother are both Michigan alumni. We stopped for breakfast at a diner with a large group. I ordered pork roll on the side with my eggs. Our Michigan friends at the table and the server all looked at me like I was nuts and said in unison “What the hell is Pork Roll?” My brother informed me that you can’t get Pork Roll in Michigan. It was that day that I learned that Pork Roll is unique to New Jersey. It is made exclusively in our capital, Trenton which I did not know. I figured the salty, delicious pork based process meat had to be a national phenomenon made all over the country. It is actually only distributed in New Jersey, New York, Delaware and parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania. I turned to the server and said, “Sorry, I guess I’ll have bacon.”
The next time my cousin visited New Jersey he made sure to try this mysterious meat, he loved it! Now when he visits, he makes sure to treat himself to pork roll and Jersey pizza. Apparently good pizza is lacking in the midwest as well. Sorry Dominoes.
Oh, as far as the game against Minnesota. Make your foul shots guys.