Taylor Ham vs. Pork Roll: Who's Correct? - Tahg Herbison

                                                   Taylor Ham vs. Pork Roll: Who's Correct?

The great debate of the Garden State, North Jersey versus South Jersey, the age-old question. Who's correct? Since everyone reading this lives in New Jersey, I hope, you would all know about the Taylor Ham-Pork Roll debate here. This is probably the most famous debate in New Jersey because of how silly it is. Like, really? We're fighting over what to call a breakfast sandwich. I have a little bias, though, I call it Taylor Ham because I live in North Jersey and I live by that, I will debate anyone that disagrees with me about this topic. Anyways, back to the blog.

    So who is correct? Well, back in 1856 in the state capital, Trenton, a man named John Taylor created the state sandwich and sold it under the name of Taylor Ham. That's the end of the debate, right? The guy who invented it named it Taylor Ham, North Jersey wins! However, he wasn't the only one making Taylor Hams in New Jersey. In 1870, a farmer and butcher named George Washington Case created his own recipe and wrapped it in corn husks. So, John Taylor didn't really own Taylor Ham, but, it was the most notable and most known. But, there's more to the story! In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act passed, and this meant that John Taylor's ham recipe didn't meet the legal requirements to be able to call it "ham". Ridiculous. So, John Taylor was forced to rename the product to Pork Roll, and this obviously didn't get to North Jersey, and the name "Taylor Ham" stook. So, technically, North Jersey is correct, but, South Jersey is also correct, so they're both in the right here. Both sides are correct.

    Though New Jerseyans can't agree on what to call it, they can all agree that this is the dish that represents New Jersey as a whole. And in 2015, the state legislature declared that this was the state's official sandwich. 

    All in all, I will always call it Taylor Ham, no one's gonna change my mind. Even though everyone's correct, I will still stand by calling it, Taylor Ham.