What is pork roll? New Bradenton restaurant reignites New Jersey food debate
A recent addition to the Manatee County restaurant scene has reignited a century-old debate.
Should a famous American sandwich meat be called pork roll, or Taylor ham?
A New Jersey staple, the food is a signature dish at Pork Roll Pete’s at 4657 Cortez Road W. in the Bradenton Commons shopping plaza.
Depending on where in the state you’re from, it goes by two different names. Pete Ferraro and co-owner AJ Altes are originally from Middletown, New Jersey, which is why they call it pork roll.
What is pork roll?
So what is pork roll? It is a type of processed pork meat. John Taylor invented it in New Jersey, according to The Original Taylor Pork Roll. Most of the state calls it pork roll, while the northern part calls it Taylor ham.
Even former President Barack Obama joked about the longstanding debate during a 2016 Rutgers University commencement speech.
“I come here for a simple reason, to finally settle this pork roll versus Taylor ham question,” Obama said at the time. “I’m just kidding. There’s not much I’m afraid to take on in my final year in office, but I know better to get in the middle of that debate.”
What are people saying?
Since Pork Roll Pete’s opened in July, the pork roll versus Taylor ham debate has waged online.
One social media user said, “I’m from North Jersey, it’s Taylor ham. Looking forward to a Taylor, egg and cheese on an everything bagel.”
Another referenced area codes in determining the dish’s name.
“Pork roll in 609 … Taylor ham in 908,” they said. “I did both.”
The 609 area code is in South Jersey, while the 908 area code is part of North Jersey.
“There’s no such thing as Taylor ham,” another social media user wrote.
Pork roll vs. Taylor ham history
John Taylor created the Taylor Provisions Company in 1856, and the pork product that later would yield contentious debates was born soon after.
But in 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act “prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce,” according to the U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center.
It paved the way for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the act forced the Taylor product to rebrand as the pork roll, according to Neptune City’s Pete and Elda’s.
Manatee County pork roll spots
The Pork Roll Pete’s Special is a signature dish at the new restaurant. It’s two fried eggs, thin-sliced pork roll and American cheese. It’s usually served on a bagel or hard roll, but Pork Roll Pete’s also offers small semolina bread or wraps for the breakfast sandwich.
Jersey Girl Bagels, located at 5275 University Parkway, Unit 103, serves the sandwich with Taylor ham.
Owner Kim Fishman is from Wayne, which is in North New Jersey. There are expansion plans for a second store in Parrish’s Creekside Commons shopping plaza off U.S. 301.
This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
