As I’m running off the field at the end of the field hockey game, I see my dad waiting for me on the sidelines with a friendly smile on his face. I quickly gather my equipment and rush over to the car, my stomach rumbling with hunger. My dad unlocked the doors, and I threw my bag in the backseat and hopped in the front with excitement. We start heading over to one of my dad’s favorite local spots, Dominick’s Pizza. This place was a small, family-owned pizzeria in my New Jersey hometown who served up the most delicious pizza I have ever tasted. From the basic pepperoni cheese pizzas to crazy macaroni and cheese pizzas, Dominick’s had it all. The combinations were so creative, and the chef was always experimenting with new ideas. We finally pull up to the restaurant, and my anticipation could not wait much longer.

After a long, exhausting game of field hockey, the only thing on my mind was sharing a pie of Dominick’s tortellini alfredo pizza with my dad. We both shared a love for this deliciously creamy combination. As we walk inside the chef greets us at the counter, and we place our order for one large tortellini alfredo pie and two large sodas. I pick a table to sit at while my dad gets our drinks, and wait patiently for our food. Within 10 minutes, the chef brings the pie over to our table, cheese freshly melted and crust perfectly golden brown. As I take my first bite, I indulge in the flavors of the soft tortellini, creamy alfredo sauce, melty mozzarella, and the freshness of the garnish of parsley on top. It was a satisfaction like no other after a heavy workout. Sharing this experience with my dad was truly special, because we would stop at Dominick’s after every field hockey game. Whether I won or lost, my dad always proved to be proud of me no matter what, and that is a memory that I can thank this small, New Jersey pizzeria for.

The time was around midnight, and loud music was blasting as my friends and I drove down the highway piled in my small Toyota Camry. The windows were down, and we all shout out the lyrics to our favorite songs through the windows on our way to our local diner. Friday nights were our favorite time of the week. After cheering on our high school football team at the game, we loved to relax at the diner and fill up our stomachs on the greasiest foods we can get. Pulling into the parking lot of this diner, you could already feel a change of atmosphere and a positive vibe through each of us because of the amount comfort and familiarity we hold in this special place. I walked up to the hostess and said, “Party of 5 for Annamarie”, as she gave me a friendly smile and wrote down my name. My friends and I requested the large booth seat, like always, and get settled in at our table ready to place our orders. Once we don’t even need to read the menu anymore, we know we’ve been coming here too often!

The waitress places our order of disco fries in the center of the table, and everybody’s face lights up. Disco fries were our go-to meal. The smell of french fries fresh from the fryer consumes the air as the waitress says, “Be careful girls! Its hot..”. Regardless, everyone grabs a fork, and starts to dig into the big plate of deliciously crispy french fries smothered in a thick, savory gravy and delightful, creamy mozzarella cheese. The greasiness of the french fries, and the heaviness of the gravy and cheese calls for the perfect cure to your late-night snack craving. Eating, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company while at our diner, munching away on plates of disco fries, is one of my fondest memories from growing up with my friends. Out of the most popular diner foods around New Jersey, disco fries are by far the most unique to me. They contain not only my three favorite things (fries, cheese, and gravy), but a sense of comfort, joy, and love. Especially while being away at college, disco fries represent a part of home for me. It reminds me of those Friday nights out with my best friends, when nothing else in the world seemed as important as sitting in that booth at midnight, devouring food and having fun.

 

The classic New Jersey debate of ‘taylor ham vs. pork roll’ has been a popular topic over recent years, as some residents prefer to call this breakfast dish pork roll, while others believe it should be called taylor ham. My little hometown named Pequannock is a part of Northern Jersey, and it is quite impossible to hear the words “pork roll” up there. Taylor ham was a famous New Jersey trademark to us. I grew up where taylor ham was served at every breakfast, whether I was at home, at a friend’s house, or at a diner. When I say “every breakfast”, I mean literally every breakfast too. We used to fry it up in a hot pan and serve it as a side, make taylor ham omelettes, or order taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches from the best deli in town.

One summer morning, I was awoken by loud voices walking throughout the house. My first thought was an assumption that my mom had company over, but as I listened I noticed that the voices sounded familiar. I got myself out of bed and strolled out into the kitchen in my pink pajamas, where I saw my two older brothers and sister sitting around the table. The smell of my favorite breakfast filled my nose, taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches from our hometown deli. I immediately felt a warm sense of comfort and love in the room. There was hot coffee brewing, sunshine shining through the windows, and laughter in the air. My family got my sandwich with hash browns on it, which they know is my favorite way to enjoy it. The salty, smokey taylor ham created a perfect balance between the fried egg and gooey American cheese, and the potato hash brown adds a little extra savoriness and bite. My family and I all had a mutual love for taylor ham that we were able to bond over, so once all my older siblings moved out, it became a special occasion to have breakfast all together again. I was about 16 when I officially became the last kid in the house, and it was difficult to get used to living without my older brothers and sister, whom I had lived with my whole life. Reuniting and enjoying breakfast together once again is truly a special tradition in my life, and it wouldn’t be the same with our favorite New Jersey taylor ham.