What is the craziest thing you have seen during the Covid-19 hysteria?

[Capt MJ]

There's no debate. It's Pork Roll...

And with all due respect to @Capt MJ's husband... Pork Roll is never served on rye! Hard roll or bagel only. Next thing you are going to tell me is that he puts mustard on hot pretzels!

It must be a regional thing - you know those City of Brotherly Love people, so independent. I just did some reading on TPR (we are so acronym-happy here, why not?). It was created in NJ in the 1800’s and is still made there, and consumed mainly in NY, NJ, PA and MD. I think as the TPR diaspora grew outward from Trenton, local bread preferences were applied. Philadelphia and its surrounds were rich with German immigrants who opened bakeries. The same was true in Baltimore, with Schmidt’s (my hot dog/burger potato buns and marble rye) and Otterbein’s (the cookies!) still going strong as regional bakeries.

As for the hot pretzels, it’s Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard as the mandatory condiment. DH is German on his dad’s side, part of that wave of German immigrants. More regional variations.

Herlocher’s story is at link below. Apparently DH’s grandma from the German side used to make all the mustards for the family according to the family recipes. When she passed away, Herlocher’s, made in PA, was deemed acceptable.

Home of Herlocher's Dipping Mustard

Nobody “DIPPs” just once — and so, in record-breaking time, the spirited Dipping Mustard that began by bringing pretzels to life at the Train Station Restaurant

herlocherfoods.com

This is fast turning into a runaway thread!

 

[THParent]

It's like the everything drawer in my kitchen.

Fine with me. Derail away.

 

[Capt MJ]

Sharing food lore and preferences is apparently our self-medication of choice here on SAF.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Pork Roll is never served on rye! Hard roll or bagel only.

Look, I am a bagel afficionado in the finest sense of the word. I was born in the literal home of American Bageldom, Brooklyn NY and literally teethed on them back in the day. I can easily name 10 different bagel bakeries with strong and weak choices from each of them. Bagels are the BASE of the food pyramid in my world.

All that said, Pork Roll/Taylor Ham on a bagel is an ABOMINATION and anyone who thinks otherwise does not belong in a civilized society.
Any true fan of Pork Roll/Taylor Ham in a breakfast sandwich knows that it goes on a hard roll with egg, ketchup and S&P.
No Salsa, No Guac, No (insert other nonsensical additions to the perfect sandwich), just TH/PR, Egg, Kechup, S&P on a Hard Roll. It isn't rocket science, it is nature's perfect meal.

 

[THParent]

Ha Ha. Say what you mean. Don't sugar-coat it.

You lost me at "ketchup". Ketchup belongs on nothing. Bleccchhhhh!

 

[Capt MJ]

We must be in the lull between 2024 winding down a bit and before 2025 really gets going.

Who knew Taylor Pork Roll was such an inflammatory item. No doubt people from outside the Northeast are wondering what the heck it is to inspire this level of committed discussion.

 

[brewmeist]

Pretty much all the food groups in a single bite!

Tonight it will be crab chowder, however. Currently sitting on a bench on Stribling, waiting for my son to pack up his things. The Alley is doing curbside pickup. I even grabbed a soft cooler at the mid store to keep it warm until we get home.

 

[brewmeist]

We must be in the lull between 2024 winding down a bit and before 2025 really gets going.

Who knew Taylor Pork Roll was such an inflammatory item. No doubt people from outside the Northeast are wondering what the heck it is to inspirer this level of committed discussion.

I am sure wars were started over less.

 

[flieger83]

We must be in the lull between 2024 winding down a bit and before 2025 really gets going.

Who knew Taylor Pork Roll was such an inflammatory item. No doubt people from outside the Northeast are wondering what the heck it is to inspire this level of committed discussion.

It's almost as "touchy" as a Hawaiian discussing SPAM...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[Capt MJ]

It's almost as "touchy" as a Hawaiian discussing SPAM...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

I had two tours in Pearl. I was always amazed the local McD’s had SPAM items. Ditto Guam. I think that is the only time I have ever eaten SPAM, and when we had office potlucks, I found the pineapple glazed SPAM loaf quite tasty.

 

[THParent]

I just knew SPAM was going to follow.

Now. Let's talk Braunschweiger or Leberwurst.

 

[OldRetSWO]

Sorry, I can't eat SPAM. I never have and never will
Dad was on Guadalcanal where among other things, the supply chain was sunk or otherwise occupied and pretty much all they had to eat was rice left from when the Japanese held Henderson Field and Spam. SPAM and rice, SPAM and rice, SPAM and rice. . . finally my dad and his shipmates swore to each other that if they got off "The Canal" that they'd never eat SPAM for the rest of their life. I have and will continue to honor his vow even though I have a Hawaiian DIL whose father is a caterer and makes great food. He is retired Army and totally understands my stance regarding SPAM as does my DIL.

 

[trackandfield08]

Look, I am a bagel afficionado in the finest sense of the word. I was born in the literal home of American Bageldom, Brooklyn NY and literally teethed on them back in the day. I can easily name 10 different bagel bakeries with strong and weak choices from each of them. Bagels are the BASE of the food pyramid in my world.

All that said, Pork Roll/Taylor Ham on a bagel is an ABOMINATION and anyone who thinks otherwise does not belong in a civilized society.
Any true fan of Pork Roll/Taylor Ham in a breakfast sandwich knows that it goes on a hard roll with egg, ketchup and S&P.
No Salsa, No Guac, No (insert other nonsensical additions to the perfect sandwich), just TH/PR, Egg, Kechup, S&P on a Hard Roll. It isn't rocket science, it is nature's perfect meal.

THIS^^ ALL OF THIS!

Although I don't ever refer to it as Pork Roll/Taylor Ham - it's always been Pork Roll, and I love it on a kaiser roll with ketchup, S&P, and occasionally cheese. It was one of my first meals every time I went home on leave (along with Wawa's Peach Iced Tea), although I admit I've gone for toast when I've been in a pinch. As you can see, most of my home state agrees with me :

@Capt MJ It's such a staple of Jersey culture that we even have an annual festival to celebrate it in Trenton. The debate about what to call Pork Roll is almost as strong as the debate over whether or not Central Jersey exists (it does ). Strangely enough, I've yet to convert my other half or any of my out of state friends to Pork Roll.

If you're not feeling breakfast, then Pork Roll is an excellent way to craft a Jersey Burger - just pile on all of your favorite toppings plus a slice or two of the good stuff.

 

[kinnem]

Taylor ham/pork roll are not just big in the Northeast. Just down the road from me between WIlmington and Jacksonville NC there is a bagel shop that serves Taylor Ham as an option on it's sandwiches. Yes, <gasp> it's served on a bagel. Those wackie Carolinians. But then you can't buy a decent hard roll anywhere in the state.

The only ways I've enjoyed spam is pan fried at breakfast or as a stir fry with rice and pineapple (prepared by a gal who grew up in the South Pacific and was fathered by a Dad who flew off the Wasp and Henderson field in '42).

My last tidbit on spam. They prepared their first batch of Spam in 1940. They're making their second batch next week.