With the popularity of television shows like “Jersey Shore” (I hear a new season premiered recently…), it would seem that New Jersey’s greatest claim to fame is… Seaside Heights?? As a proud Garden State native, I just can’t let that one slide, I’m sorry: New Jersey has beautiful landscapes, a rich colonial history, and Long Beach Island is a lovely shore to visit! But one of New Jersey’s greatest institutions can be found scattered in amongst the winding highways and sprawling farms, and that’s New Jersey’s diners.
True, diners are obviously a popular road-side attraction all over the country, there’s even a Food Network show entirely devoted to them – but they are quite literally everywhere in New Jersey. Although it hardly seems possible, every once in a while I meet someone who’s never heard of a diner before (shocking all by itself!) – and maybe it’s because of New York’s proximity to New Jersey, but I’m even more amazed to hear people frequently respond, “Oh yeah, it’s a Jersey thing.” I’m not sure how accurate that statement is, but you know what? I’ll take that shout-out and run with it, thank you very much!
This week’s “Poll of the Week” is in honor of the great American diner – what’s your favorite traditional diner food?
Also, if there’s a diner food you love that isn’t listed above, write in to Little Scarlet with a Comment and tell us about your favorite!
Monday, August 2, 2010
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BLT's, and chocolate chip pancakes anytime of day or night.
ReplyDeleteDisco Fries (french fries, cheese, and gravy)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to leave a comment on behalf my pops, a Jersey native himself and lover of diners, he is more invested than I. If they had the internet in heaven, he would certainly give a shout out to french fries covered in brown gravy.
ReplyDeleteI second the BLTs!
ReplyDeletePoached eggs - and SCRAPPLE!
ReplyDeleteChipped beef on toast, day or night, with a lot of fried potatoes - reminds me of why we say, in Philly -- "Everybody who knows, goes to Melrose."
ReplyDelete@Bill: get out of town! MY favorite diner breakfast is chipped beef on toast! and obviously, everything is better with fried potatoes :)
ReplyDeleteI have to second the scrapple vote! Along with eggs, any style, this is the food that says 'diner' to me. In my family, diners are judged by their scrapple.
ReplyDeleteYou really cannot do a poll on NJ diners without including breakfast foods!!! French toast, even at night, is the way to go. Also disco fries (covered in cheese, gravy) have to be on there!!! Omelets too with the usual side of fried potatoes.
ReplyDeleteGreat poll this week though :o) And thank you for pointing out that a show like "Jersey Shore" does not qualify as a snapshot of NJ life.
It must be said that my heart is filled with joy (and probably miscellaneous pig products) to see so many references to scrapple in this comment section. And here I thought New Jersians were firmly committed to their Taylor pork roll, but we all know that nothing beats a crisp (slightly soft-in-the-middle) slice o' scrap. Personally, I'm proud to be from America's Scrapple Basket: Pennsylvania, wherein I can get a fantastic scrapple, egg, and cheese sandwich and a magical cup of diner coffee (Let's not forget that!) and dine away.
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