Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (Food_Fan)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:03:50 GMT

My mother would occasionally make Spam when I was a kid and I liked it. The last time I bought Spam was around 3 years ago. It was on sale and I thought I’d try it again. I can’t think of any reason to buy it again.

I don’t think there is any comparison between the luncheon meats Spam and the Spam knock off, Treet. No way, no how and not even in an alternate universe or dimension could Spam or Treet be confused with pork roll. The Spam and Treet stuff is poured into a can and sealed – like Spaghetti-O’s, tuna fish or Vienna sausage. It’s sold off a shelf.

All pork roll is poured into a canvas bag that’s tied off and SMOKED. Then the finished smoked product is wrapped in plastic and kept refrigerated.

Has anyone ever picked up a can of Spam or Treet from the refrigerated section?

Taylor brand has the best flavor and contains more fat than the less expensive brands, Trenton, Case, Goode, Foodtown and the horrible Shop Rite.

For more information you can visit a similar Roadfood thread from four years ago:

This links to a video about pork roll in NJ. (Pop-up warning).

A little pork roll fun:

Lakewood BlueClaws - Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese Race

Pork Roll Egg and Cheese audio track from the Ween CD “The Pod”.

Ween playing Pork Roll and Cheese at the Alabama Theater in Birmingham, AL.

You’ve been there, seen it, and done it - now you can buy the T-shirt.

How about a pork roll & cheese on a hard roll for the tree?

Don’t try to eat this pork roll & cheese

Is there a magnetic attraction to the pork roll & cheese sandwich?

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (MiamiDon)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:44:01 GMT

marzsit

MiamiDon

BTW, I think that the stuff that you can see bleeding down into the rice was teriyaki sauce.

traditional spam musubi in hawaii doesn't use teriyaki sauce... blech!

the spam is fried, then seasoned with shoyu (a type of japanese soy sauce) and the shoyu is allowed to cook into the spam, giving it a nice glaze. the rice is seasoned with mirin (rice vinegar) and furikake (japanese dry rice spice). then, the musubi is molded up in 2 different ways, one like the above photo with the spam on top of a large chunk of rice, but more often it's made with the spam molded in the middle of 2 chunks of rice, like a sandwich. the whole mess is wrapped in nori (dried seaweed sheets) and then is wrapped in plastic wrap until lunchtime :) fwiw there are many different kinds of musubi in hawaii, not just spam....

the flavor is hard to describe.. but is very good :)

You could be right - it's been seven months. I just vaguely remembered it being something soy-sauce-like.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (marzsit)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:54:27 GMT

MiamiDon

BTW, I think that the stuff that you can see bleeding down into the rice was teriyaki sauce.

traditional spam musubi in hawaii doesn't use teriyaki sauce... blech!

the spam is fried, then seasoned with shoyu (a type of japanese soy sauce) and the shoyu is allowed to cook into the spam, giving it a nice glaze. the rice is seasoned with mirin (rice vinegar) and furikake (japanese dry rice spice). then, the musubi is molded up in 2 different ways, one like the above photo with the spam on top of a large chunk of rice, but more often it's made with the spam molded in the middle of 2 chunks of rice, like a sandwich. the whole mess is wrapped in nori (dried seaweed sheets) and then is wrapped in plastic wrap until lunchtime :) fwiw there are many different kinds of musubi in hawaii, not just spam....

the flavor is hard to describe.. but is very good :)

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (Food_Fan)

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:32:07 GMT

MiamiDon,
I’d like to try that Spam Musubi with some mixed Wasabi and soy sauce! I think pork roll, with the deeper smoky flavor, would be great too.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (MiamiDon)

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:33:03 GMT

BTW, I think that the stuff that you can see bleeding down into the rice was teriyaki sauce.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (doggydaddy)

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:55:39 GMT

Don,

That is a fun menu. I'ld eat that, or better yet, make it myself. That place would not make it here in Connecticut......
I found and posted a link for a recipe in my 'Bacon waffles' post. Someone mentioned Spam waffles and I had the same idea as you.
I need to buy some Spam and sush rice and I will be off and running.

mark

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (MiamiDon)

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:19:30 GMT

Doggy Daddy, just for you, Spam Musubi from Maui Hawaiian BBQ in Huntington Beach, California:

I don't see why it couldn't be made with pork roll instead of SPAM.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (NYPIzzaNut)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:01:13 GMT

...with blueberry pancakes especially...

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (Food_Fan)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:41:08 GMT

doggydaddy!

It tastes GREAT with maple syrup doesn't it?

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (Robearjr)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:15:49 GMT

Perhaps the pork roll could be a new McGriddle option for McDonalds.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (doggydaddy)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Serving Suggestion:

The result:

This is a meal of contrasting flavors: sweet & salty. It isn't overly salty, but it does go with my philosophy that food tastes best when two flavors mix to equal one.

mark

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (marzsit)

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:10:21 GMT

i really would like to try this form of preserved pork, but so far the only local dealer appears to be de laurenti in the pike place market in seattle, and they only carry 1-pound chubs of taylor pork roll... and it's 8 times the price of any canned spam per ounce........:(

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (leethebard)

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:13:08 GMT

Yes,Spam is basically "spiced Ham",and pork roll does NOT taste like spam one little bit!!! By the way frying up the cold cut,spiced ham, is also good on a sandwich...and occassionaly we have that in the house...just can't seem to bring Spam into the house. My dad who was in the Navy during WWII would never allow it in the house(forced to eat the "crap" too much during the war!)
On the other hand, Porkroll is HEAVEN!!!

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (fattybomatty)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:54:18 GMT

Oh yeah pork, I have seen people say that before. Like you I don't think it tastes like that. I honestly have tried explaining the taste and always end up just saying, "Just try it. I can't explain it!"

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (porkbeaks)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:31:17 GMT

fattybomatty

Porkbreaks,

I have never had treet, but I have had spam and pork roll doesn't taste like spam. That much I can tell you. It really is hard to describe the flavor. You just have to try it

Being from New Jersey, I've had pork roll many times and like it a lot. I know that at least one individual here on Roadfood thinks it tastes like Spam. I definitely disagree. pb

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (fattybomatty)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:49:40 GMT

DoggyDaddy,

That looks like a good sandwich. I"m glad to see pork roll is making its way to other states.

Porkbreaks,

I have never had treet, but I have had spam and pork roll doesn't taste like spam. That much I can tell you. It really is hard to describe the flavor. You just have to try it

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (doggydaddy)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:45:51 GMT

I do not have answer for that. In the name of further culinary research, in the future I will create and post photos of Spam Masubi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_musubi

You know what? This looks really good!!!!

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/04/tutorial-how-to-make-hawaiian-spam-musubi-sushi.html

I saw it all over the islands and I know that Kona Ernie will be able to set me straight. If I don't like how the Spam tastes, maybe I will try to create a fried rice that could mask it over and taste better.

I have two dogs that will help me if I decide that I don't like the stuff. But hey, I recently had some canned hash and I survived that after I doctored it up.

mark

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (porkbeaks)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:29:24 GMT

doggydaddy

This is why I come here. I would never have heard or even tried pork roll if it wasn't for this place. I have posted a pork roll sandwich before, using the Shop Rite house brand. A six ounce package had six slices, but I found the Taylor brand and it was on sale for the same price. It had four thick slices with the same weight, more pork per bite.
I wish to thank all that have mentioned this item and it was delicious. I have learned something and I hope that others try this too.

mark

Do you think it tastes like Spam or Treet? pb

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (doggydaddy)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:31:44 GMT

This is why I come here. I would never have heard or even tried pork roll if it wasn't for this place. I have posted a pork roll sandwich before, using the Shop Rite house brand. A six ounce package had six slices, but I found the Taylor brand and it was on sale for the same price. It had four thick slices with the same weight, more pork per bite.

I like to crack the yolk:

Its almost ready:

I wish to thank all that have mentioned this item and it was delicious. I have learned something and I hope that others try this too.

mark

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (Cavalier858)

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:17:16 GMT

My favorite PR sandwich recipe I buy the roll not presliced.

Slightly fry up four 1/4" thick slices. Nicked to prevent curl.

Slice up some extra sharp chedder.

Pechters Russian Rye right from the outlet in Harrison.

Butter one side.

Put one buttered side down in fry pan.

Add the PR, top with chedder, spread on some Gray Poupon mustard, top with the other slice of bread. (butter side up)

Put a lid on it. Wait Flip Wait ENJOY

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (leethebard)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:11:12 GMT

http://www.porkrollxpress.com/newstore/

Here's a web site for ordering great Jersey pork roll and shipping it to your home...no longer do you have to miss out....It's one of several I found on line...this looks like the best!

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (pom7756)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:23:36 GMT

You east-coasters are making me crazy hungry! Do you guys have any idea how lucky you are to have such diversity when it comes to food? I'm from the midwest and I'm beggin anyone that has any connections to let us here in the heartland know how or where we can try this? Has anyone heard of anyplace near Chicago that serves this delightful wonder of a sandwich? If not, I guess I'm getting out the old CC and puttin in my order and having some shipped here!

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (fattybomatty)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:42:48 GMT

I like them both. usually for breakfast or late night I prefer the thinner/crispier pork roll and cheese sandwiches, but for lunch I prefer the thicker ones

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (GNeedles59)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:17:42 GMT

I prefer the thinner/crispier slices, however once in awhile I hear the thick slices calling out my name. I have deli's in my town (New Prov., Summit) that do both...

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (fattybomatty)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:19:22 GMT

I find the differences in sandwiches that I have eaten at have been thickness and whether it's cooked on the griddle or a real grill. The places that I go to with the thicker pork roll are Cahoots and dunellen Hotel. Cahoots seems to use a grill and I forget what dunellen hotel uses. Other places with the thin and usually more crispy pork roll that I enjoy are Red Tower 2 in north plainfield, NJ and various local diners

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (leethebard)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:38:09 GMT

..or the type and quality of the roll....perhaps there are places that experiment with types of cheese...or omlets instead of fried eggs etc...I don't know of any!

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (GNeedles59)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:16:22 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by leethebard

quote:
Originally posted by CCinNJ

quote:
Originally posted by dannybotz

We should have a pork roll tour??? any takers???

Bring it on!!

However, there really are no Pork Roll "Meccas" like several "must do it at least once in your life" hot dog destinations. So, it would really be about all of our favorite local joints. Sure, everyone thinks their "place" is the best, but it would really have to stand out, for a tour.

It would have to be more than "I eat it all the time, and it is so good". We all have one of those places, in NJ.

That's a good point,,,so many good places out there....does any place do something really "special" with the beloved pork roll...I can't think of one!!!

Other than places that I simply prefer over others, I really can't think of one. The biggest thing most places do different is the thickness of the slices...

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (leethebard)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:45:37 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by CCinNJ

quote:
Originally posted by dannybotz

We should have a pork roll tour??? any takers???

Bring it on!!

However, there really are no Pork Roll "Meccas" like several "must do it at least once in your life" hot dog destinations. So, it would really be about all of our favorite local joints. Sure, everyone thinks their "place" is the best, but it would really have to stand out, for a tour.

It would have to be more than "I eat it all the time, and it is so good". We all have one of those places, in NJ.

That's a good point,,,so many good places out there....does any place do something really "special" with the beloved pork roll...I can't think of one!!!

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (mncorn)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:52:55 GMT

Poor Richards by San Antonio, Tx. It is really in Universal City just out side of Randolph AFB.

RE: Best Pork Roll (taylor ham) sandwich (CCinNJ)

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:31:45 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by dannybotz

We should have a pork roll tour??? any takers???

Bring it on!!

However, there really are no Pork Roll "Meccas" like several "must do it at least once in your life" hot dog destinations. So, it would really be about all of our favorite local joints. Sure, everyone thinks their "place" is the best, but it would really have to stand out, for a tour.

It would have to be more than "I eat it all the time, and it is so good". We all have one of those places, in NJ.