Pork Roll Wars Part III

And so it begins again. Another site, another person who thinks a cell phone and a kitchen table make a good business plan. The problem is this time our words verbatim, our photos, as well as sites we partner with. I'm still insisting when you go into business without a shred of ethics, you will not do well in the long run.

Jimmy Buff's Goodbye - Hello

Some of the best things in life are worth driving for - Jimmy Buff's in Scotch Plains closed it's doors for the last time. It was hard saying goodbye to Anthony, "da Fork," and Louie (photo above - Junior to those in the know). The two spent more than 40 years stuffing sausage and hot dogs into pizza bread and slathering potatoes, peppers and onions in, under, and over the meat asking "Did you want mustard on that?"

First hired to work at the original store in Newark, then Irvington, for the last few years, both men worked at the Scotch Plains location. Louie plans on retiring for now and Anthony just says "Eh, who knows what'll happen tomorrow?"

Now those of us that live and work west will head down Route 22 East and go to the Jimmy Buff's Kenilworth store where grandson Mike is keeping the family tradition alive.

The Baltimore Snacker: Snacking State-by-State: New Jersey III: Triple Bypass and make it snappy! (or "Now we're on a [pork] roll")

The Baltimore Snacker: Snacking State-by-State: New Jersey III: Triple Bypass and make it snappy! (or "Now we're on a [pork] roll")

The Baltimore Snacker: Snacking State-by-State: New Jersey I - Come On-A My House, My House, I'm Gonna Make A-You Gravy... or Sauce

The Baltimore Snacker: Snacking State-by-State: New Jersey I - Come On-A My House, My House, I'm Gonna Make A-You Gravy... or Sauce

NJ News November 2010

Pork Roll Wars Part 2

A Taste of America

The Travel's Channel's TV, A Taste of America, ran a segment about Taylor Ham the other night. People called in who haven't thought of it in 30 and more years. Comfort food, memories of Grandma, walking along the hot boards of Atlantic City, Asbury Park and so many other places in New Jersey come to mind when they hear the words "Pork Roll."

Younger folks tend to remember trips to a local diner at 3:00 after a night in a club, and a Pork Roll Egg and Cheese as the ultimate cure for a hangover.

It's always been a part of our family life as the big Sunday breakfast with eggs, rye bread, hard rolls, bacon, and Grandma's cinnamon toast.

Road Tripping

Five people crammed into a sub-compact car for 48 hours touring through New England during an August heat-wave is my kinda vacation. We logged 604 miles in 47.5 hours. We slept, we ate, and spent a lot of time in the car. Mom had Taylor Ham business to attend to, and the rest came along for the ride. And ride they did.

Since eating seems to be the tie that binds this family, I checked Roadfood.com before leaving home and found a great place along the road, Rein's in Vernon, CT off of I 84. The members of Roadfood had suggestions for us within minutes of posting a request for recommendations. If you can't stand eating at the chain restaurants along our highways, go to the site and get some good advice before you hit the road.

Only I could head to New England dying for fresh lobster at a road side stand and end up in a New York Style Deli. The sandwiches were great, the bowl of pickles on the table were like the ones they used to, and might still serve in Katz' in NY City.

We enjoyed an hour or two at the Oakwood Farm Christmas Barn on Route 31 in Spencer, MA. We met the owner, Jim, and his wonderful Irish Setter, Clancy. In a barn full of breakables, Clancy glides gracefully from room to room following his friend, Jim, occassionally curling up for a nap on on one of the oval braided carpets and watching the activity. The selection of Christmas items in the barn is amazing with literally thousands of things to choose from. This sounds like a commercial but we really did find this store a truly special place to shop.

Taylor Ham Instructional Slide Show Starring...

Bob Pauwels is a Ham's Ham. He good naturedly poses for Betty whenever needed. Her photos can be seen at My Day, My Interests.

Most of these photos were taken by Betty Pauwels of New Hampshire for JerseyPorkRoll.com. Copyright Betty Pauwels 2006. All rights reserved.

Jimmy Buff's Double Sausage

After talking to customers about Jimmy Buff's, I got a craving almost as strong as the ones I had for pastrami when I had child number three back in '92. I had to have a double sausage with the works.

I hit the one in Scotch Plains this afternoon, and I spoke to the grandaughter of the orignal owner. When I bit into the double pizza bread sandwich, I was transported back to Irvington, 1973. I sat in the parking lot remembering the Public Service bus strike of 1972, when we had to walk all the way home down Springfield Avenue into Maplewood, passing Jimmy Buff's, Kless' Diner, and the greasy spoon whose name I never did know on the city line.

Time Remembered from the Star Ledger

The photo to the right is from one of the last batches of bagels from Sonny Amster's in Millburn on July 7th.

At least one person, usually more, calls in an order every day and before they hang up, they want to share some memories of days gone by. Two yesterday come to mind, and both were born in Newark, as I was, as most of the people I talk to were. I send them to look at Old Newark talk, a place where distant memories come alive. Although I grew up in Maplewood, it does seem that most of the customers that call in, no matter what town they grew up in, almost all started life within the confines of the City of Newark. (I want to hear from some other cities; who was born in New Brunswick, Cape May County, or Paterson?)

My grandparents started life in the German, Polish, and Italian neigborhoods of what became known as downtown Newark just after the turn of the century. Richard Wiesner of California called last week and we talked about the places he remembered as a teenager in Weequahic. Tom Moseby left Jersey in 1968 and asked me if I've ever heard of Rut's Hut or Jimmy Buffs. Yes, I'm a diehard fan of the latter.

You can't call a Jersey food company without recollecting our favorite foods from childhood; pastrami, White Castle Burgers, Russian or Jewish Rye bread, and of course, Taylor Ham. This morning's Star Ledger has this article about the sad passing of an era with the closing of Sonny Amster's and Tabatchnick's in Millburn Mall. One of my daughter's ran down the day before they closed and signed me up for the mailing list, and she also bought me what I hope is not my last batch of Sonny's bagels and schmear.

The good news is, we'll still be able to find Sonny's bagels, decscendents of the Original Watson's Bagels of Newark, and if Seymour Tabatchnick has his way, being 85 years old won't stop him from opening a new shop elsewhere.

Time remembered
Millburn Mall takes a pass on age-old Jewish establishments
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
BY JOSH LEVINE
For the Star-Ledger
Once upon a time not too long ago, the streets of Newark were awash in pickled herring, Nova lox, pastrami, half-sour pickles. They brimmed with over-sized loaves of peasant rye bread, bagels and fresh pastries.

Well, practically. In the 1930s and for 30 years after, Newark's Weequahic section served as a cultural hub for more than 70,000 Jews who migrated from Eastern Europe and brought their tastes with them, prompting a collection delis and bakeries to meet their food demands. (End Star Ledger Quote)

Sonny Amster's and Tabatchnicks - Millburn

I just found out today from a regular customer, Walt in MI, that Sonny Amster's, and Tabatchnick's are closing in Millburn Mall. They are being replaced by a Staples. As part of the Watson's bagels legacy, I can't imagine Jersey without them.

I've lost touch with Karen, Nancy, and Geri, but in the late 70's, we drove all over Maplewood and Irvington eating Watson's bagels with a stick of butter being passed around between us.

Even now, my family drives to Sonny's for rye bread from as much as 20 miles away because you just can't get better rye.

A sad day for all.

Pigs that Fly in a Pig Free Zone

I hereby declare JerseyPorkRoll.com, NJPorkRoll.com, and NewJerseyPorkRoll.com pig free zones.

No pigs will adorn those pages as long as I live.

And now back to the business at hand. Jersey tomatoes are in full ripened bloom! Taken off the vine, washed off with a garden hose, and popped one right into my mouth. No time for Miracle Whip or salt and pepper today.Finest kind!(An expression from M*A*S*H)

Yeah, Sweet Corn is around the corner.

Negativity in New Jersey

From the Star Ledger this morning:

"TRENTON, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine has signed an executive order shutting down the state's government, for the first time in its history. Horse racing at the state's tracks was called off, road construction projects were halted and roughly 45,000 of the state's 80,000 employees were put on furlough

And even in New Jersey, where politics can be a contact sport, the body blows that accompanied the budget debate have been noteworthy."
---
You read right, horse racing was mentioned first.

Jersey shore towns are alive and well, but at the height of the tourism season, the state has shut down all but essential services.

It is hard to maintain an atmosphere of Polyanna positivity in the State of Political Nightmares.

First Jersey Tomato of 2006

The first Jersey tomato of the year for me! It's red, it's ripe, and it is only June 20th! I took that grainy photo at 6:00 yesterday. Thanks to John and Joan's fruit market in Piscataway, where the plants are the healthiest, hardiest I've ever seen. I got that plant for Mother's Day, and one month later I have the first ripe Jersey tomato in the neighborhood.

People write from all over asking me to send them tomatoes. I wish I could.