PEC Challenge: Bagel Station

Folks, we're on our 2nd consecutive amazing Thursday in a row.  Today is the very best day to be a fan of the New York Metropolitans.  A day where hope springs eternal for all Met fans looking forward to another season marred by injury (RIP David Wright) and regret.  I placed a $20 bet on them to win the World Series as per tradition.  (17/1). #LGM.  Bagel Station is probably the closest bagelry to my apartment and it's also right across the street from, you guessed it, Red Bank's train station, which makes it one of the most convenient PEC's to attain ever.  The bagels here are pretty good and I'd say they have a perfectly acceptable PEC.  It could have used one more slice of pork roll but that would really be my only complaint.  Average, just like the Mets season will be, 84 wins, will miss playoffs.  LETS GO METS 

Bread Rating: 7.1/10 (Bagels here are pretty good)

Pork Roll Rating: 6.7/10 (Could have done an extra slice here) 

Egg Rating: 6.8/10 (Average Fried Egg)

Cheese Rating: 6.8/10 (Correct amount of cheese here)

Sandwich Composition: 7.1/10 (Sandwich was constructed well and stayed together, not easy to do on a bagel)

Overall: 6.9/10 (Shoutout Tom Seaver and the '69 Mets)

Price: $4.50, cards accepted with $4.50 minimum

Follow me on Instagram @eljefeeats

Bagel Station is located at 168 Monmouth St. Red Bank, NJ 07701

Sandwich Challenge: The Dean Martin

"Frank had the voice, Sammy had the talent, but Dean brought the cool."  I'm not sure who said that quote but I saw it in big bold letters while staying at the Hard Rock and knew I had to have a Rat Pack tribute month on the blog. Born Dino Crocetti, Dean Martin (name changed to sound more "American") was known as the King of Cool, as his relaxed voice earned him dozens of hit singles.  In 1958, he took over hosting the Golden Globes along with Sinatra and Davis Jr after the members of the foreign press (who hosted every year) bored the entire audience. Members of the foreign press never hosted again.  He's won a Golden Globe (Best Actor-TV Series Musical or Comedy) for his variety series The Dean Martin Show, which aired 264 episodes between 1965-1974.  This eventually evolved into the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, which aired for ten seasons until 1984.  He's headlined countless variety and comedy acts from Atlantic City to Las Vegas and has starred in 52 movies from 1946-1984.  We will likely never see a group with as many multi-faceted and talented individuals than The Rat Pack.  A group who entertained millions with overwhelming popularity and unflinchingly pushed social barriers while doing it.  Entertainers have a unique responsibility in their work to bring people together rather than set people apart, and it's important to remember those who came before and did just that.  Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk, now please allow me to judge this sandwich.   

Dean Martin: Roast Beef, American, Red Onion, Horseradish Pub Sauce

As you can probably tell from the picture, this panini was pretty greasy but what did you expect to happen when you hot press roast beef?  As seen before in the Peter Luger the roast beef at Taliercio's is phenomenal and when you add a horseradish-based sauce to the mix you are cooking with fire.   What set the Peter Lugar apart was the fresh mozzarella, and while this panini had yellow American, it was still very good.  I wouldn't recommend it as your everyday lunch but if you're looking for some grease in your life or are waking up in the afternoon after a long night of drinking (shoutout Dean Martin), this could be your play.  

Overall: 7.9/10

And now here's a Dino Crocetti classic you probably heard at least 1,000,000 times at your local pizzeria.

Bonus shoutout to my Mom who is undoubtedly disgusted at me for eating such an unhealthy lunch on her birthday.  Love you! 

PEC Challenge: Brennan's Delicatessen of Rumson

I woke up with a hangover this morning.  No, I didn't drink last night, I was just infected by the #madness. (I drank almost 0 water yesterday because I'm dumb.)  Almost all of my picks came through yesterday in what was shaping up as one of the greatest bracket turnarounds in tournament history.  I was looking at an undefeated day right up until the virgins from Liberty decided to upset Mississippi State.  From there, I ended up going 2-2 in the late night games, remaining decidedly towards the bottom of the middle of the pack.  Sure, you can say maybe you shouldn't have had to rely on an undefeated day to get back in contention but shut up.  My bracket wasn't the only thing looking for redemption yesterday.  Brennan's deserved redemption, so this morning I went to the OG location in Rumson, and friends, it did not disappoint.  

I actually got pork roll on this sandwich, which was already a major improvement from bacon. (Sorry New Yorkers/rest of the country but you are all wrong.) The sandwich itself was the perfect size for a breakfast sandwich and every ingredient was fresh, even the ketchup tasted homemade.  I hope and believe the Middletown location could get to this point and once it does could contend with the best PEC in town.  Before then, you can always rely on the original location. 


Bread Rating: 8.4/10 (Roll was fresh, soft and the perfect size)

Pork Roll Rating: 8.7/10 (They got it right, and the pork roll was very good)

Egg Rating: 7.3/10 (Little thin on the egg but let's be honest pork roll is the star)

Cheese Rating: 7.5/10 (Plenty of it, tasted like real cheese)

Sandwich Composition: 8.4/10 (This was just what you want out of a breakfast sandwich)

Overall Rating: 8.1/10 

Price: $5.50, cards accepted.  

Follow me on Instagram @eljefeeats

Brennan's Delicatessen of Rumson is located at 44 W. River Rd. Rumson, NJ 07760

PEC Challenge: Brennan's Delicatessen of Middletown

March Madness began yesterday and with it another day of deflating losses and horrific picks.  I'm close to last place in almost every bracket I've entered, which is an embarrassing showing coming from a guy who's first AIM screenname (RIP) was marchmadman.  Hoping for a bounce-back day on the 2nd Tournament Day of the first round starting with a pork roll (Happy Hour may have gotten a bit aggressive yesterday).  A new (kind of) deli has emerged on the Seaside Highway (Rt. 35) in Middletown.  Brennan's has been a staple in Rumson for many years, and a great spot to pick up a sandwich on the way to the beach. (Brendan, hi).  Naturally, I was very excited to hear they were opening a location right across the highway from Sunken City and a short 3-minute drive down the road from me.  What better way to cure the blues of the Thursday picks and get your Friday off to a great start than to go to a brand new deli with an established presence in the marketplace? 

I'm going to lose all of my games today, aren't I? What you see above is not a pork roll, egg, and cheese.  Nope.  It's a bacon, egg, and cheese. I'm not sure where the disconnect was, my receipt said PEC on it, but imagine the horror and disappointment when I opened up the tin foil and found the above. Don't get me wrong, bacon, egg, and cheese are OK but that's not what we're here for.  I have no choice but to grade what I was given but since it's March Madness, I will go to the original Brennan's location tomorrow for redemption.  Hopefully, the few winners I picked yesterday will come through for me tomorrow and make it to the Sweet 16.  


Bread Rating: 7.2/10 (I enjoyed the hard roll this was on)

Pork Roll Rating: 0/10 (Bacon just isn't the correct breakfast meat on a sandwich. I'm sorry I have to tell you this but look how skimpy the sandwich looks without pork roll.)

Egg Rating: 6.3/10 (Barely any on there)

Cheese Rating: 6.8/10 (There was the correct amount of cheese on this)

Sandwich Composition: 5.4/10 (I mean, I got the wrong sandwich, salt pepper ketchup ratio was there.) 

Overall Rating: 5.1/10 

Price: $5.50, cards accepted.  Priced a little high for the value received, hoping for a big-time turnaround tomorrow. 

Follow me on Instagram @eljefeeats

Brennan's Delicatessen of Middletown is located at 212 NJ-35 (Seaside Highway) Red Bank, NJ 07701. (It's in the Middletown part of Red Bank).

*Just realized I ate meat again on Friday during Lent, so in a way, I deserved this. Hello, Catholic guilt!

Sandwich Challenge: Sammy Davis Jr.

My tribute to The Rat Pack Continues. 

Xavier +7 hit, in case you guys were wondering from the cliff-hanger I left on the last blog in AC.  And it's a good thing too because other than Tennesse, I picked only losers on Saturday to just about negate any gains I made on Friday.  Those two day AC trips really get you! Anyway, while staying at the Hard Rock all weekend, I got a glimpse of a lot of memorabilia from the rat pack days, including the freshest suits I have ever seen.  

Sammy Davis Jr's on stage career began at age three, performing in vaudeville shows with his father and he performed for nearly 20 years in comedy, dancing and acting before joining the Rat Pack.  Davis was the Rat Pack's first African-American member and is regarded as the most talented of the group with a 60-year career in just about all forms of on-stage entertainment.  Due to his mixed-race marriage in 1960, JFK opposed him performing during his inauguration.  Twelve years later, Richard Nixon would invite Davis and his third wife Altovise to a White House sleepover, the first time African-Americans were invited to do so.  He's an absolute legend and an icon for racial equality. If you have the chance make sure to check out the PBS documentary that aired last month, "I've Gotta Be Me." I know, I know PBS documentary, what am I 80? Just check it out, I'll leave the trailer below.  

Sammy Davis Jr.: Turkey Pastrami, Sauerkraut, Swiss, Russian Dressing

I'm going to go ahead and assume these were the things Sammy Davis Jr. enjoyed on a sandwich, though my 5-second google search didn't yield any results.  This was, again, another very solid panini.  I wasn't too sure what the difference was between turkey pastrami and regular deli meat turkey breast.  Turns out turkey pastrami is taken from the thighs, seasoned with peppercorns, and smoked.  The more you know! The sauerkraut and Russian dressing are so subtle you'd have no idea it's in there by just looking at it.  However, the flavor is all there, and we all know you can never go wrong with melted swiss.  

Rating: 7.3/10

PEC Challenge: Perry's Cafe & Deli

Greetings from Atlantic City!  Took an early trip down this morning in order to optimize some NCAA bets starting at noon, but before we start rooting for the overs, I needed to get some food in me.  Atlantic City is a great time if you don't stray more than one block away from your hotel.  Well, this classic cafe was situated a couple of blocks away from our humble abode (Hard Rock) in what some people might call a "rough" block.  Would this be my first choice? No.  But it was on the way to the Hard Rock and I figured why not do the real AC before hitting all the glitz of the resorts.  

It's a classic diner vibe inside, with a wide assortment of breakfast and lunch items to choose from.  I'm here for one thing though and that's the pork roll.  I went with a hard roll, though they also have english muffins and bagels, likely left over from the continental breakfast offered at the Best Western next door.  A couple of weeks ago I went to a place with well-done pork roll that worked, this one fell a little short.  And while the use of white American and fried eggs saved what would have been an unmemorable PEC, there was a little too much bread to meats.  Anyway, time to go back to the bar, I have Xavier +7.  

Bread Rating: 5.2/10 (The bread was actually toasted correctly, there was just too much of it.)

Pork Roll Rating: 6.1/10 (Well-done, two slices, though layered in between the egg.)

Egg rating: 7.2/10 (Two fried eggs, good stuff)

Cheese Rating: 7.4/10 (Multiple slices of white American)

Sandwich Composition: 5.6/10 (This is probably a very spoiled complaint and likely expected at diners, but I had to deconstruct the sandwich to apply my own ketchup, which reminded me of Virginia)

Overall Rating: 6.3/10 

Price: $6.25, plus whatever change you want to give the panhandler outside.  

Perry's Cafe & Deli is located at 1339 Pacific Ave. Atlantic City, NJ 08401.  

Sandwich Challenge: The Sinatra

Friends, I have reached a milestone.  No, I'm still not talking about my birthday, that's old news.  Tomorrow, I will be embarking on my very first "dad-chelor" party.  I'll be honest, I didn't know these existed (millennials amiright?) but when my college roommate calls the banners in celebration who am I to refuse? It couldn't have come at a better time because this weekend also happens to be the opening weekend of "bro lent."  "What the hell are you talking about, misogynist?" exclaim the lovely, strong, independent women sitting in the front row.  Well, many years ago, when I lived exclusively with my bros, we realized many of life's joys happen to fall around the same time of the year.  The time when we finally escape winter's depressing winds and bring out our fresh throwback NBA jersey's during our first BBQ's.  When we wake up at 8am for kegs and eggs wearing the only green clothing item we own to celebrate St. Patrick's day.  And when we lose all of the money we saved not going out during the winter because we thought this could be the year Duke won't choke in the Elite 8.  I'm talking the magical stretch that is March Madness, Baseball Opening Day and Wrestlemania; the start of the NBA/NHL playoffs and epic EPL title chases.  If you are into any of these things, well I have good news for you because, today, I declare winter DEAD and usher in the Lenten season.  You're welcome. 

The Sinatra: Turkey, Swiss, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Dijonaise

So what the hell does any of this have to do with Frank Sinatra? Well, this weekend the boys are heading to Atlantic City for the said dad-chelor party.  For much of the 2nd half of the 20th century, Sinatra and his rat pack (there are sandwiches dedicated to rat pack members in coming weeks) were kings of Atlantic City (and Vegas), performing shows from the 500 Club (RIP) to the Sands Casino(also RIP), Steel Pier to the Convention Center.  Anyone that has ever listened or have seen Sinatra perform (YouTube it, trust me), would never miss the unmistakable charisma, confidence, and charm the man exuded.  He invented swag, and for that, we should all be grateful.  Like ol' blue eyes, this panini is a classic.  Nothing too crazy on here, a turkey and swiss with bacon topped with dijonaise.  I really enjoyed this panini, and no it wasn't because I was also listening to Sinatra Live from Atlantic City in 1979 while I was eating it.  

Rating: 7.7/10

Many of you didn't grow up listening to Sinatra and it shows, but it's never too late to start.  Enjoy. 

PEC Challenge: The Windward Deli

Still reeling from Colton's stunning decision on the finale of The Bachelor last night? Same.  Was drinking multiple bottles of wine aggressive for a Monday night? Maybe, but it was the finale*! (Shoutout to the greatest Bachelor dinner club on the planet, "Bach Daddies")  Now that that's over, I can fully invest my Monday nights back to the Road to Wrestlemania.  Anyway, enough about my TV habits, we're here for the pork roll.

I must have driven past The Windward Deli over 1,000 times during my life but never once stopped and went in for a sandwich; likely because I had my own deli just up the street from me, but also it's on the same street as my dentist's office which is traumatizing enough for me to stay away.  It's a typical clean deli that I yearned for during my time in the DMV.  I don't think they have bagels here so it went on a hard roll that was a little too soft.  But that would have to be my only complaint with the sandwich.  They featured 2 fried eggs and even snuck in an extra piece of pork roll at the bottom in between two slices of cheese. This place pleasantly surprised me, I'll definitely have to go back an try their breakfast burrito sometime.  

Bread Rating: 6.8/10 

Pork Roll Rating: 8.1/10 (Three thick slices with a surprise slice beneath the egg and cheese)

Egg Rating: 8.4/10 (Fried egg >>>)

Cheese Rating: 6.5/10 (Typical, Kraft single bumped a bit by putting it in on both sides of the egg.)

Sandwich Composition: 7.2/10 (Maybe a little heavy on the ketchup but it wasn't messy and I couldn't get over the surprise pork roll in there)

Overall Rating: 7.4/10 

Price: $4.25, $10 minimum with a card.  They are closed on Sunday's.  

The Windward Deli is located at 254 Maple Ave. Red Bank, NJ 07701

*Turns out last night was only part 1 of the finale so we'll need to run it back again tonight with steak tacos and tequila, hey, I don't make the rules.

Sandwich Challenge: Testa's Muffuletta

Fat Tuesday was this week and with it the end of another Mardi Gras.  Of course, the most famous celebrations of Mardi Gras take place in New Orleans.  Every year tourists pour into The Crescent City in search of beads to toss up to women on balconies hoping for just one peak of anatomy you can gather with a quick google search.  A few years ago, I visited this city and was surprised to find out that everything I have heard about it was true.  It truly is a weird melting pot of cultures spanning from French, Spanish and African, that creates perhaps the most memorable culinary experiences of my life.  I didn't have one bad meal in New Orleans and I look forward to the day I go back.  The Muffuletta sandwich is the Italian contribution to the absolutely stacked food scene there, and the first one was created in 1906 at Central Grocery Co. by Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant of New Orleans.  

Testa's Muffuletta: Ham, Salami, Provolone, Homemade Muffuletta

Typically, a muffuletta is a large, round bread that's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, almost like a baguette.  Testa's Muffuletta, however, features the same semolina bread Taliercio's is known for.  So what made this a muffuletta? The olive spread which apparently shares the same name.  They make it in-house and while I have no idea what their recipe is muffuletta spread is normally: olives, olive oil, pickled red peppers, parsley, vinegar, garlic, and Italian seasoning.  It is damn good.  I enjoyed this more than the regular Italian sandwich with the same meats so the muffuletta really makes a difference here.  

Rating: 7.9/10

PEC Challenge: Bagel Bistro

I'm about eight months into remote working and I have to say it's been pretty great to have a commute that requires putting on zubaz pants (optional) and walking across the hall.  Every so often though, this commute turns into a 4-hour drive to Alexandria, VA when I visit my actual office.  This week, I made this commute at 6am to and from Alexandria.  Usually, I stop at a bagel shop to provide my colleagues with some insight into what they are missing. (Mostly bagels in VA come from Panera Bread, yikes). On this trip, I decided to stop at the far reaches of Monmouth County (Millstone) on my way to the Turnpike. It had a solid rating on Google and was also easily accessible off the highway.       

Bagel Bistro is right off the same I-195 exit as Great Adventure so it could be an option for pre-Nitro riding fuel or before hitting the Jackson Outlets.  I was expecting the bagels to be a little better from a place with "bagel" in their name but it really was more of a deli than a bagel shop.  The place is nice enough but the PEC was about average and certainly nothing to write home about. I'm sure their sandwiches are solid (they use the only appropriate deli meat, Boar's Head).  So it goes. 

Bread Rating: 5.6/10 (The bagels here were kind of weak, to be honest.)

Pork Roll Rating: 5.8/10 (Only one slice?)

Egg Rating: 6.5/10 (Fried, average)

Cheese Rating: 6.5/10: (Standard)

Sandwich Composition: 7.1/10 (The highlight of the sandwich, was able to eat it while driving and didn't make a mess)

Overall Rating: 6.3/10

Price: $4.75, cards accepted.

Bagel Bistro is located at 498 Monmouth Rd. Millstone, NJ 08510

PEC Challenge: Bagel Hut

Editor's note: This post is from 2/15/2019

Let's talk about road trips.  This may not come as a surprise to many of you but I absolutely love them.  And I happen to be on one right now! (Two weeks ago) I'm currently heading to Lake Placid, NY, a place that does not have any pork roll, unfortunately.  (Trust me, I did a Google search) So my travel cohort and I did what any self-respecting New Jerseyian would do and we got PEC's to go.  There's just something really great about eating a pork roll in the car while catching up with close friends on the way to what is about to be an incredible weekend of snowboarding (and engagements).  Can it get messy in the car? Sure, especially while driving (I'm not driving right now, btw). But this is certainly not any of our first time crushing a PEC in transit, in fact, it's probably our most popular method.  

Bagel Hut is one of the many bagel spots you can find on Rt. 34 between Matawan and Old Bridge.  The place has definitely been there for a while, and you can tell with the cramped quarters when ordering and old school bagel boards.  They do have a pretty large section to wait and eat to the side, but we're taking these to go.  The eggs were super fluffy and the pork roll was a bit burnt but it somehow really worked. They also add cheese on top as well as below the meats, which is admirable.  This is a solid local spot for anyone in Matawan, very comparable to Hole Lot of Bagels in Middletown. Every town should have at least one place like this within its borders. 

Bread Rating: 6.8/10 (Bagels are a bit doughy, still pretty good)

Pork Roll Rating: 8.2/10 (I wasn't sure I'd like the pork roll as well done as it was here, but it worked)

Egg Rating: 7.4/10 (Very fluffy and ample)

Cheese Rating: 7.9/10 (Melted cheese on top AND bottom)

Sandwich Composition: 6.2/10 (It was a little off-centered, with the contents hanging off the side leaving only the bagel on the one side. Solid amount of ketchup though, and once repositioned a solid PEC)

Overall: 7.3/10 (A solid option)

Price: $4.25, cards accepted with $5 minimum so grab yourself a YooHoo.



Bagel Hut is located at 1208 NJ-34, Matawan, NJ 07747.


(Just like NJ-35, I'm renaming NJ-34 (and all other unimaginatively named State "routes" in NJ.  Henceforth, NJ-34 will be renamed Matawan Highway.) You're welcome, Gov. Murphy.