Pork roll or Taylor Ham? Hillsborough festival lets New Jersey vote on its oldest food fight
"It's the biggest battle in New Jersey since the Battle of Trenton," Rosenblatt said. "Only in New Jersey can you have a fight over a piece of meat. So that's what we decided to do and just celebrate it."
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New Jersey's oldest argument got a festival of its own on Saturday, with people coming out to IronPeak Sports and Events to eat, vote and maybe argue over one question: Is it pork roll or is it Taylor Ham?
The Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham Food and Music Festival featured live music, professional wrestling, vendors and, at the center of it all, food. Food trucks lined the field, each serving its own take on the New Jersey staple, some in sandwiches, others reimagining it entirely.
Organizer Howard Rosenblatt, of Megabite Events, said the split is exactly what makes it worth celebrating,
"It's the biggest battle in New Jersey since the Battle of Trenton," Rosenblatt said. "Only in New Jersey can you have a fight over a piece of meat. So that's what we decided to do and just celebrate it."
Vendors leaned into the theme with dishes built entirely around the meat. Nicholas Chevalier, of Rhythm and Ribz Smokehouse, served a turkey leg piled with mac and cheese, pulled pork and crispy Taylor Ham. At Clyde's Ice and Ice Cream Company, owner Tim Devens put his own spin on the debate, in ice cream form.
"I go in the back, I use the maple ice cream that I would make for maple walnut, and I cooked a whole bunch of Taylor Ham, chopped it all up and put it in there," Devens said. "It has a sweet, savory taste. People love it."
With the crowd split down the middle, News 12 put the question to festivalgoers and vendors directly.
"Well, I'm from North Jersey, so it's Taylor Ham by us," said Ray Cruzado, of Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos.
Ali and Joe, of the food truck, "Hitting ur Belly," were split.
"For me, it's Taylor Ham. I'm from North Jersey, so we always call the Taylor and Taylor ham and cheese," said Ali.
"I'm born and raised in Trenton. It's always been pork roll” said Joe.
Organizers set up a QR code on-site for attendees to cast an official vote for their preferred name, with Megabite set to announce the results Monday. Whichever name wins, it will become the official title of next year's festival.
