10 Foods Invented in New Jersey
New Jersey gets a lot of jokes. But while everyone was busy making them, this state was quietly inventing some of the most iconic foods in American history. From the salt water taffy that defined Atlantic City’s boardwalk culture to the pork roll Taylor Ham debate that has divided North and South Jersey for over a century, the food history here runs deep. We’re tracing the origin of disco fries born in the New Jersey diner capital, the Italian hot dog that never left Newark, and the Trenton tomato pie history that predates everything you think you know about American pizza. We’ll dig into blueberry origin New Jersey researchers rarely talk about, the saltine cracker history tied to one of the biggest food companies ever built, and the boardwalk fries Wildwood perfected long before gourmet fry culture was a thing. Throw in zeppole Italian American street food, the underrated American foods nobody gives Jersey credit for, and a close look at the foods from New Jersey that shaped how this country eats and you’ve got an episode worth watching twice. This is American food origins, one underestimated state at a time. New Jersey food history has never looked this good.
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32 Comments
The Italian hot dog in Hoboken was hot dogs on a regular hot dog roll with peppers and oinions.
As Jersey foodie vloggers, we truly enjoyed this video!!! ❤ Nothing beats Jersey food!
It's always been pork roll to me. But I'm from PA, so my opinion doesn't matter. Whatever ya call it, it's good sheeit!
What happened to the Fat Cat sandwich which was created at Rutgers?
It’s Pork roll…..and you can only get the the best breakfast sandwich in jersey
Blueberries 🫐 really
The question remains…"What Exit?" 🙂
Nah… always always called it Taylor Ham. Infact had it yesterday, It was a staple in all NJ homes growing up!
Love salt water taffy… sea side heights.
Fries with Brown Gravy! Always… not with the Cheese… never had that. Never .
White Castle… Murder Burgers & we loved them.
Tomato Pie! The best! Sicilian here …. My Father made the best. NO CHEESE with true Tomato Pie!
I am a true Jersey Girl born & raised. Italian Jersey Girl.
Transplanted to Florida in mid 20’s! Things started to change, rapidly.
Trenton is NOT real Tomato Pie!!
Not Sicilian!! Also Most Sicilians went in to Jersey( not mostly Trenton… most Hudson County NJ by NYC, New York!Philadelphia is the right true blue Tomato Pie!
If you got the zeppole than you have to include the funnel cake yum
I'm so happy and proud to say that I've had all of them except the Italian hotdog 🌭
The state “Fruit “ is Tomato!
Tomato is actually a Fruit & Jersey is the Tomato State!
Ok here we Go….TRUTH! fries with Vinegar were created /Started in Palisades Amusement Park, NJ!
The Diners in Jersey are the very best! The menu was huge!
Oh they are not disco fries! Just Fries with Brown Gravy! Ugh!
Maybe that came after the original Brown Gravy with Fries, disco fries not where I lived and we lived by the major disco’s… oh and most importantly brown Gravy & Fries started before the disco era . So there is that !
The Diners in Hudson & Bergen County were all own by Greeks & yes they make great food!
Geez … you got it so so wrong! I am an OLD! Born raised in Jersey… Hudson County Italian /Sicilian .
Taylor Ham was Pork Roll… but was always referred to as Taylor Ham! Always! We reminisce about it ! We still eat it.
Fries with brown gravy started before Disco… no cheese, not disco fries! They started before disco became a thing. Never heard of disco fries. Never.
Tomato pie is exactly made the way it was described in Phili. It is Sicilian! NO Cheese… Square…. And yes many time served Cold. My Sicilian Father made it for every holiday/celebration/Birthday.
Vinegar/Salt fries were CREATED in Palisades Amusement Park in Bergen County.
Most Italian Immigrants that came that settled in Jersey , settle in Hudson & Bergen County… not trenton. 🥴
Oh BTW…. Palisades Amusement Park who stated/created the salt & Vinegar had created the larger salt water Pool with actual waves.
So there you go!
It was in Bergen County….the Palisades!
BTW…. incorrect shape of Salt Water Taffy from AC…. Wrong. Wrong,
. Wrong. Maybe buy a box from James' then you'll actually know! Asbury Park has that shape… but they're at least an hour north and it is NOT the same stuff even flavor wise.
One more thing Tomato Pie… think!
Tomato! Not cheese ! That Trenton thing is well.. seemly a reversed pizza. Cheese on bottom with Sauce on top! That by the name allow is NOT Tomato Pie! 🥴
Well sorry … one more thing … French Fries and Brown Gravy is a IRISH thing! Many Irish immigrants also settled in Jersey. Hudson County too!
Started way before Disco .. way before!
Diners do still carpet this wonderful state, but I have not found one in the last four years that are open 24 hours. Covid killed that, it seems. That is sad. And the Bendix diner closed! The passing of a titan…
I love my home state! Thank you so much for showcasing our foods and diners!
Pat's Diner in Trenton NJ – good place to fuel up in before a long busy day
Pizza not invented in NJ.
DeLorenzo’s is the best…much better than Papa’s, IMO. And at that it was better when they were still in the ‘burg.
Oh, and we also used to get Italian hot dogs in Trenton too….
Why Don't New Jersey State Post All The New Jersey Foods!! That Became The New Jersey Tradition.
My family visits Whitesbog almost weekly. They have a great blueberry festival in the summer. You can even tour Elizabeth Whites home.
Sadly after COVID many New Jersey diners are not open 24 hours anymore. Some still are but many aren't.
You forgot: M&M's, Campbell's soup and candied apples.
good video but proper pronunciation for Newark is Nork or N'wark if you wanna sound like you're from jersey
Elizabeth!🫠
It's Taylor ham😅