PORK ROLL EGG AND CHEESE

While ordering breakfast at the North Beach Grill the other morning I ordered Taylor ham with eggs and in my minds eye I saw Canadian bacon. What came along with the eggs was pork roll, something I had not eaten in years. I had forgotten that Taylor ham is a brand name for pork roll… the mystery meat that ranks along with spam and scrapple. Throwing my health consciousness to the wind I ate the Taylor ham ….the taste opened a door to my past.

Breakfast has always been one of my favorite meals from the age of eight on. My mother had the Friendly Luncheonette on West Front Street. Serving breakfast and lunch, Mom opened at 7 am every morning. My day started with whatever I felt like eating before heading off to Oakland street School. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage, omelets and oatmeal were always being served. I came back for lunch having the special of the day, roast beef on Wednesdays, spaghetti and meatballs every Thursday and so on. I have to admit I was a little pudgy in the fourth grade.

With the luncheonette being sold years earlier I was left to my own devices for breakfast as I entered Red Bank High School. As a single parent Mom worked late hours running the kitchen at the Brothers on West Front Street and slept in most mornings. I started working at 12 so I always had my own money. I haunted the Palace Diner, Edie’s in Little Silver and of course Itri’s on West Front Street. One item…Pork Roll Egg and Cheese on a hard roll…was on everyone’s menu.

It was common knowledge that Itri’s served absolutely the Pork Roll Egg and Cheese. Their secret was two quarter inch pieces with three knife slices out of the center of each one. This allowed them to fry flat on the grill, followed by one egg over light and cheese melted over it and plunked on a hard roll. God were they good…greasy…but good.

Over the years there have been many new places to eat in the morning…some good and some bad. The quality of omelets, muffins, pancakes and cereals got better with time but the basic ingredients remained the same. And in all the diners and on the menu of those old luncheonettes you can still find the comfort food special…Pork Roll Egg and Cheese.