Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

We have an official state bird, animal, fish, bug, even an official state dance, for heaven's sake — why isn't there an official state sandwich? Taylor ham/pork roll would be the unanimous choice. New Jersey's most beloved sandwich, the one that is truly ours, it was the runaway victor in our epic N.J. Food Bracket.

North Jersey calls it Taylor ham, South Jersey calls it pork roll, and Central is split on the issue, though most of the Central Jersey places visited on my road trip called it pork roll. (All Taylor ham is pork roll; not all pork roll is Taylor ham.)

Quick history: Taylor Provisions was founded in 1939, with John Taylor's Original Taylor Pork Roll dating to 1856. Case's Pork Roll, which bills itself as "the original Jersey ham,'' can be traced to George Washington Case, who started selling hickory-smoked pork roll at his Belle Mead farm in 1870. In our pork roll taste test, the best of six brands sampled was a relative unknown.

You might say all Taylor ham/pork roll sandwiches are the same. You couldn't be more wrong. There were marked differences in meat, cheese, egg and especially rolls in the ones I sampled. Some of the eggs looked as if they had been run over repeatedly by a dump truck on the nearest highway. Some of the rolls were astoundingly awful. (We won't name names.)

In the past week, I visited nearly 50 places and drove 1,383 miles in my search for the state's best THEC/PREC sandwiches. This list is drawn from that road trip and my previous Taylor ham/pork roll experience. The places here are not ranked.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Slater's Deli, Leonardo

Slater's is one of the state's best known THEC/PREC sandwiches, and for good reason. First off, it's huge — six thick slices of meat, gobs of cheese, the egg in there somewhere. The roll could be better, but it's a minor quibble for this meaty masterpiece.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

True Salvage Cafe, Maplewood

Undoubtedly the coolest spot visited on this mission, True Salvage Cafe at first glance looks like a second hand or collectibles store, with cookbooks, classic rock LPs and an old-time bicycle among the furnishings. There's a kitchen back there somewhere, and the Taylor ham, egg and cheese that issued forth was a thing of beauty — a roll from Balthazar, a fat fluffy egg and four layers of meat. It was one of the two or three best THEC sandwiches sampled on this entire mission.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Johnny's Pork Roll, Red Bank

"Why isn't it called Johnny's Taylor ham?'' North Jerseyans will fuss and moan. Because owner Johnny Yarusi (photo) calls it pork roll, although he does use Taylor ham. There are several kinds of pork roll sandwiches at Johnny's Pork Roll — the Western, with provolone and sauteed peppers and onions; the Pulled Pork Roll, with sweet BBQ and Asian lime slaw; and the PBLT, with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Go with The Sandwich — a classic pork roll, egg and cheese.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

H&H Deli, Pennsauken

The pork roll sandwich at H&H (photo) is truly formidable, oozing beaucoup white cheese, with two thick slices of meat and three layers of egg. Keep plenty of napkins handy.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Town Hall Deli, South Orange

Town Hall Deli claims the original Sloppy Joe sandwich. How's their Taylor ham sandwich? First-rate. It's fat, cheesy, pleasantly greasy and careful when you bite into it, it may end up all over you. Eat in your car at your own risk.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Checkers Food & Spirits, Trenton

Checkers is a funky little dive bar/restaurant in downtown Trenton. "We serve lunch to the downtown state and business workers,'' informs the web site. "We are not a fast food restaurant.'' They serve a well-made pork roll sandwich, with a fat swaddle of egg, four layers of meat and just enough cheese.

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Summit Diner, Summit

If I had to take an out-of-stater to one Jersey diner, it would probably be the Summit Diner, a barrel-roofed beauty. The original Summit Diner was built in 1929; the current one opened in 1939. Their THEC is a production; as the meat and egg cook on the grill, the cheese is placed on a roll, which is then placed in a broiler. The result: a THEC with crunchy roll, perfectly-melted cheese, and, like the diner, a classic.

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Gronsky's Milk House, High Bridge

There may be no more picturesque breakfast/lunch spot than Gronsky's Milk House, perched along the south branch of the Raritan River. It opened as a convenience store and ice cream shop in 1978; the restaurant was added in 1988. The pork roll sandwich featured a near-perfect roll (so important!), plus three layers of meat and a nice yolky egg. Just looking at it, you know it's going to be good.

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Olde Towne Deli, Boonton

A small, spartan deli, Olde Towne Deli was founded 50 years ago as the Quick Stop. It's pork roll paradise; each week they go through about 125 pounds of pork roll (Thuman's Jersey Made). Add some bacon to the expertly-cooked meat and good/gooey cheese, and you'll go away happy.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Hot Bagels & More, Somers Point

If you're going to offer pork roll, egg and cheese on bagels, you'd better have good bagels. Hot Bagels & More more than qualifies; it took all my willpower to resist the super sugar cinnamon raisin bagel, which is pretty much my idea of the bagel pearly gates. The pork roll, egg and cheese features an uber-thick slice of meat, the cheese above it, the egg below. The "more'' in the name? They also do regular sandwiches, wings, chicken salad, cheesesteaks, even chicken cordon bleu.

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Gem's House of Bagels, Port Monmouth

Rolls are not the only vehicle for Taylor ham/pork roll; many New Jerseyans prefer bagels. Gem's House of Bagels (six locations in all) offers a standout pork roll sandwich. Mine was on an everything bagel (photo), with two layers of thick meat and a bright yellow egg that looked and tasted just-hatched.

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Fredon Deli, Fredon

Fredon Deli, Fredon

Fredon is in farming country, so it's no surprise that the egg in the Taylor ham, egg and cheese at Fredon Deli is among the freshest you'll find in a THEC. The deli menu is expansive: subs, wraps, burgers, steaks, roasts, seafood and more,.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Amato Bros., Oaklyn

There was considerable outrage on Twitter when I posted the photo of the pork roll, egg and cheese at Amato Bros. "Is that a SCRAMBLED egg?'' went a typical response. What, there's a rule that all THEC sandwiches must contain a flattened fried egg? There's a thick slice of meat in there, just enough cheese, and the brioche-type bun is a nice touch.

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Boulevard Bagels, Palisades Park

Parking can be a challenge and it can get mobbed in the morning, but the Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches at Boulevard Bagels are worth it. Fat, chewy, tasty bagels make for THEC perfection. A follower on Twitter put the bagel shop on his list of essential Jersey eats, along with the roast beef and mozzarella sandwich at Fiore's in Hoboken and chili dogs at Hiram's in Fort Lee.

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Allenwood General Store

Allenwood General Store, Wall

Allenwood General Store, minutes from the beach, somehow manages to be a bustling breakfast spot/deli, community hangout and a yard sale run amok. You may find beehives, oxen yokes, barbershop poles, deer heads, airplane propellers, cans of Gloss-It Miracle Liquid and containers of Kex Spackling Compound, rotary phones, dinner plates etched with angry-looking grizzly bears, karate practice dummies, and that asparagus buncher you've been looking for. And what they proclaim as "the Jersey Shore's best pork roll sandwich.'' I'm not about to disagree.

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Fishin' Pier Grille, Avalon

Fishin' Pier Grille is an oceanfront hangout hidden from the street (stay to the left of the beach patrol hut on 32nd Street and you'll walk right into it). Unlike the standard three layers of meat found on many Jersey THEC/PREC sandwiches, it's just one fat hunky layer here. I loved the runny egg, and thank goodness it didn't run all over my car seats.

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The Committed Pig, Manasquan/Morristown/Summit

The Kitchen Sinker (photo) at The Committed Pig looks like a big sloppy mess, and that's exactly its charm. Extra meat, extra American cheese plus bacon and egg add up to guilty pork roll pleasure. The sweet potato waffle fries, in the photo, are a must-try. The Committed Pig was also one of ten finalists in our N.J.'s best burger showdown.

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Jersey Roll, Seaside Heights

Jersey Roll, which opened on the boardwalk last summer, is a seashore shrine to Jersey's unofficial state sandwich. There are seven kinds of pork roll sandwiches on the menu, including the Jersey Fatty, with tater tots, mozzarella sticks and choice of sauce. Stick to the classic - The Pig & A Yolk (shown in photo), nearly big enough for two.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bing's Deli, Avon-by-the-Sea

I've driven past Bing's countless times over the years without stopping, and after sampling the pork roll, egg and cheese here, I'll be back. Top-notch roll, pleasantly charred meat and a good-looking egg add up to a standout Shore pork roll, egg and cheese. They even sell t-shirts with PREC written on it.

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Plaza Bagels & Deli, Clifton

I love this place. Well-worn screen door, divey/cluttered inside and some serious tats among the staff. "Hot handmade bagels baked continuously'' is the slogan at Plaza Bagels. The egg looked like it wanted to escape my marbled rye bagel (photo), the meat was sliced thick and the bagel itself was bangin'.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

DiVello's Deli, Cherry Hill

You want an eggy pork roll egg and cheese? Visit DiVello's, in business for about 40 years. I counted four layers of egg (I may have missed one), three layers of meat and mondo cheese. It's a happy handful.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Mystic Meat & Seafood Market, Little Egg Harbor

I wish all THEC and PHEC rolls looked like the one at Mystic Meat & Seafood Market (photo). Alas, they don't. It's a sturdy, chewy beauty, able to hold copious amounts of meat, and they sure pile on the pork roll here. How many slices? I don't know; I can't count that high. It all adds up to a monstrous, meaty sandwich.

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Dee's Luncheonette, Hawthorne

A time-warp wonder, Dee's Luncheonette is the kind of place where you just want to curl and cozy up to on a rainy afternoon. The Taylor ham, egg and cheese starts with an excellent roll; the folded-over egg rests comfortably atop four layers of meat. It's well-built, and a winner.

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Jenni's Cafe, Branchburg

Jenni's Cafe is a homey little luncheonette on Route 202 whose menu runs from "healthy to indulgent.'' Whey protein pancakes are among the former, the Belly Bomber (bacon, sausage, pork roll, two eggs, potato and cheese on a roll among the latter). It was too early in the day to get belly-bombed, so I settled for a regular pork roll, egg and cheese. It was simply, solidly constructed.

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Sugar Hill Sub Shop, Mays Landing

Sugar Hill Sub Shop was one of ten finalists in our N.J.'s best sub/hoagie shop showdown. Their pork roll, egg and cheese is, like the subs, loaded. It's one fat sandwich. Well-built, too: cheese on top, then pork roll, egg, pork roll, egg.

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Boxcar Bagel & Deli, Bogota

If there are bigger, fatter bagels out there than the ones at Boxcar Bagel & Deli, I haven't run across them. "Bigger than a baby,'' read one review on yelp. "Bigger than my head,'' read another. They make more-than-sturdy vehicles for a Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwich.

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Beckman's Deli, Belmar

Old-school to the core, Beckman's is one of those small-town luncheonettes you hope lasts forever. Their logo features a pig, a roll, an egg and cheese, so you know what they're good at. The meat, pleasantly charred, is the star of the pork roll, egg and cheese. Get out of the way, it's telling the egg and cheese. This is my show.

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White Rose Diner, Linden

Rich Belfer, owner of the White Rose Diner (formerly known as White Rose System), had a surprise lunchtime visitor recently — Gov. Phil Murphy. We're not sure if the guv tried the Taylor ham, egg and cheese at the classic diner, but he should have. It contains all the essential ingredients: perfectly-cooked meat (sliced into V shapes for uniform cooking), good egg, gooey cheese.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Green Village Deli, Green Village

"Home of the Famous Chinese Chicken Salad'' proclaims the menu at Green Village Deli. I didn't try said famous salad (gotta stay focused!). The THEC is a solid sandwich citizen, with three thick slices of meat and a quality egg on bottom. Don't get me started on some of the icky-looking eggs on this journey . . .

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Bennie's Bread, Ocean City

Popular Shore bakery makes a darned good pork roll, egg and cheese, with a thin, almost invisible layer of cheese. The egg and meat dominate, and that's a good thing. Bennie's Bread, open since 1957, is known for its pastries, stuffed breads and tomato pie.

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We will be here today, and closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. Have a great weekend everyone! Posted by The Greeks on Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Greeks, Kearny

The Greeks offers roast leg of lamb, lamb gyro, tomato soup with orzo, a Greek meatball hero - and Taylor ham sandwiches that are the talk of the town. They're massive for one, with a half dozen layers of pork roll and a solid roll. The Sweet Home New Jersey (photo), with pork roll sandwiched between French toast, is a sweet spin on the classic.

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Hoagitos, Belmar

Hoagitos offers creative spins on subs and sandwiches, with quality ingredients and first-rate bread. First-timers should try one of their fried chicken sandwiches, or the sopressata hoagito, also with brie, arugula, chili jam, and citrus vinaigrette. The Kablau (foreground in photo) is a tasty combo of pork roll, American cheese, pickled chiles and breakfast sauce (sriracha sauce and mayo), while the Classic (pork roll, egg, cheese) does the Jersey icon proud.

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Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Township Bagel Cafe, Sewell

Township Bagel Cafe is a bright, cheery bagel store that makes some of South Jersey's best bagels. An everything bagel is a dependable vehicle for a Taylor ham/pork roll sandwich, and it held true here. A fat fluffy egg and two thick slices of pork roll made for a breakfast treat.

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What's your favorite Taylor ham/pork roll sandwich?

Many worthy candidates were left off this list. What's your favorite place for a Taylor ham/pork roll sandwich? Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.

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