Grumpy Blogs about life, dreams and Work

The great debate started last night while Black Bear, Chef and I were having a midnight snack after a night of bar hoping.  We invited EmCee , but a hard week of darts and managing the store made him wimp out.

The debate started when Black Bear told Chef that Taylor Ham was the same as Pork Roll.  In my drunk Red Bull state,  I became indignant. Imagine that. 

“What are you talking about. It’s not the same.  There is a difference.”

We argued about this for ten minutes and some guy sitting at the counter jumped into the conversation.

“They are the same. I know.  I’m a Jersey boy.”

“No. They are different.  Pork roll is saltier.”

“No. It’s the same.”

“No. It is different.”

The man finally gave up, paid his bill and walked out.  It’s futile to argue with a rum and Red Bull ogre. I defended my position to Black Bear, who was hoping I would just shut up.  He refused to agree. I called EmCee as he too is a Jersey boy and would surely know the difference.  It was 12:45 am. EmCee’s phone rang four or five times.  Surprisingly, he answered.

“Oh, hey man.  I didn’t expect you to answer.  I thought I’d just leave an annoying message about our stupid debate.”

“Of course I’m up.  I’m not you who can barely makes it past nine pm.”

I’m known for falling asleep at parties.

“Oh yeah. That’s right.  Of course you are up.” EmCee arranged his life so he could stay up late and sleep in everyday if he wants. Bastard. I continued. “Well, since you answered.  Here’s the question.”  I explained the debate.  Shockingly, he was unsure.  He used to think it was the same, but recently another Jersey boy said it was different.  There was a shadow of doubt and the ex-lawyer could not definitively say one way or the other.  Black Bear took the phone and confirmed EmCee’s doubt and held his ground.

We bickered more about who was right or wrong. Finally, Black Bear said, “Let’s check Wikipedia tomorrow and it will be settled.”

“Yes, let’s do that.” I agreed confidently eating my omlette and hash browns. We finished our snack and went our separate ways. It was a good guys night.

On the throne this morning, I thought to classifiy the moment above as a  wiki-moment. Anyone else had a wiki-moment? I love wikiopedia.
After pondering the wiki-moment,  I got lost in mammon as usual.  While hacking away, emails started flying between the gang about Taylor Ham VS Pork Roll.

To: All
From: Black Bear
Subject: Have some of that!!!

On the (drunk) debate of Pork Roll being different from Taylor ham, I
said they are the same and here is a bit of proof......

http://www.jerseyporkroll.com/cooking.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_roll

…would like to see some proof otherwise to keep the discussion going.

OG:
F*ck!

EMCEE:
Black Bear,
Both Princess and I agreed with you that Taylor Ham was the same as pork roll. However, both Mike C and Ali, huge Taylor Ham fans, attest
that Taylor Ham is different than pork roll. That's probably what the drunk and caffeinated OG was carrying on about last night. I think
that the difference may simply be a matter of preference, i.e., Heinz Ketchup is better than Hunt's Catsup, but they're both ketchup. There's only one way to find out though, and that's a pork roll throw down!

OG:
I agree! Porkroll vs Taylor Ham Showdown.  Should likely occur at the Mountain House when we are all together for breakfast.  I simply can't envision any other time or place when we would all be up at the same time for breakfast.

EVA:
How can we be planning to have PORK for breakfast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I suggest that this question is left as a mystery (I can sleep at Night with out knowing this secret), and have some fruit for the first meal in the morning

EMCEE:
No pork for breakfast?!?  No pork for breakfast?!?  Breakfast is incomplete without pork!  What about bacon, sausage or ham?  Or Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon and hollandaise?  I personally know of no better breakfast before golf than a pork roll, egg and cheese on a roll.  I often make a proper Egg McMuffin at home with pork roll, egg and cheese on an English muffin.  In fact, pork roll was invented and is a food unique to New Jersey -- one that should be celebrated by all NJ residents.  Eva, I'm very disappointed in your anti-pork mode.  You will have to be a guest judge in the pork roll throw down.

EVA:
I smoke, I drink......but I do not have pork for breakfast. You are all pigs!!!

OG:
Bacon eater.

EVA:
You got me.......but with orange juice

OG:
You most likely won't like the pork roll, not because it's pork, but because it's served as an egg, cheese, pork roll sandwich.

(We recently learned Eva doesn’t like sandwiches’.)

BEE:
Speaking as a Jersey Girl, which I am, Pork roll, egg and cheese is awesome!  It was perhaps my most favorite breakfast during high school years!  I fondly remember some mornings, my sister's and I would sneak off at a diner before going off to Mt. St.Mary Nightmare Academy.  Yes, those were the years I was also known for tornado hair and blue eye-shadow!!!

I don't think I've had a pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich in over a decade, or more (yikes). Ah, the memories... It's Time!!!!  Bring on the taste test!

By the way, my vote is that Pork Roll is entirely different than Taylor Ham.  Think of Taylor ham as the high-end of Pork Roll.

BLACK BEAR:
I see about 10 emails after this on this subject but I’ll answer this one..... They are both the f*cking same, I don’t care about opinions... just facts, so I don’t buy the Heinz and Hunt's analogy as these are clearly two  different manufacturers and tastes. … That said.... lets get some caffeine and booze after 10PM tonight

PS.  I’ll gladly do a taste test just for the pleasure of it. BTW, the best Taylor ham pork roll I’ve had is at Berkshire valley golf course.

EMCEE and PRINCESS: (To Eva)
What if we told you pork roll was really made of oysters and sea urchin?

EVA:
That would be appropriate for breakfast. You know that one of seafood characteristics is the aphrodisiac effect, which to my knowledge has never been associated with PORK


--

That was the last communiqué regarding the great Taylor Ham VS Pork Roll debate. If you would like to chime in on this important issue, then please register to leave a comment.