The Chopped Cheese’s Sharp Rise to Fame (Published 2016) (2024)

FAQs

Where is the original chopped cheese? ›

The actual origins of the sandwich are up for debate, although generally most agree it was first created in a Spanish Harlem bodega called Hajji's Deli, also known as Blue Sky Deli.

A chop cheese is a burger that's being cut up.

You can still stop in to try the original up in Harlem, at Hajji's.

The famous Chopped Cheese (also known as Chop Cheese) is New York's finest bodega sandwich. Seasoned ground beef hits the hot griddle with onions and cheese. Scooped into a soft hero roll and topped with ketchup, lettuce and tomato. The ultimate sandwich!

No, chopped cheese is not the same as a Philly cheesesteak. While both are popular sandwiches made with meat and cheese, a Philly cheesesteak is made with thinly sliced ribeye steak and melted cheese, while a chopped cheese is made with chopped ground beef and cheese on a hero roll.

They are somewhat in the same vein as a sloppy joe, though – seasoned loose ground beef on a bun and wonderfully messy. Call them a chopped cheeseburger, a loose meat sandwich, or a Maid Rite.

["Cheese Boy" is township slang for someone who has money i.e. someone who can afford to put cheese in his or her sandwich] South Africa.

There are several theories as to why the cheesy slang cheddar is used to refer to money. According to the most popular theory, cheddar referred to government cheese found in welfare packages. From there, it was used to refer to money (i.e. benefits) from the government rather than the cheese.

What does “Chop” mean? A bowl packed in a bong, bubbler, or pipe that is equal parts cannabis flower and loose tobacco. The bowl is generally enjoyed in multiple hits. This slang originates from areas of New Zealand, Australia, and the UK.

Well, it's basically a hamburger on a hero roll, featuring beef patties, American cheese, and toppings such as lettuce and tomatoes. The “chopped” part refers to the hamburger meat being finely chopped before the cheese is added on top (see my recipe video below!).

Who added cheese to the hamburger? ›

So what genius put it all together? None other than a 16-year-old named Lionel Sternberger. His father owned a sandwich shop, and one day in 1924, Lionel put a slice of American cheese on one of his father's hamburgers.

The chopped Italian sandwich absolutely lives up to the hype. Since the ingredients are chopped together, you get all of the flavors in each bite, just like you do with a chopped salad. It's also a bit easier to eat than a regular sandwich since there's little risk of jeopardizing the sandwich's structural integrity.

Depending on location, the triangular slices are American, the round slices are provolone, the shredded white is mozzarella, and the triangular slices with holes is Swiss.

1) New York's Signature Sandwich

Pastrami on rye is a staple among New York's famous Jewish delicatessens.

from Subway.

Frankie Frank takes us back to 1999, when he flipped the dilemma of running out of hamburger buns into a fortuitous scenario. Wanting to make a sandwich for himself, but with no hamburger buns in sight, Frankie instead grabbed a hero roll and chopped up the hamburger meat with seasonings, cheese, and onions.

From its modest beginnings in Harlem to its status as a social media sensation, the chopped cheese has become more than just a sandwich – it's a symbol of identity and a flavorful slice of New York City's culinary mosaic.

Consistent is that they always come on either a roll (around $4.50) or a hero (around $5.00) and are served wrapped in paper, then cut in half, and wrapped again in aluminum foil. The last great chopped cheese I ate was soulfully prepared by a guy named Jeffrey in the N&W Deli Grocery on Amsterdam at 150th Street.

While the exact origin is uncertain, it's safe to say that creative cooks have been experimenting with melting cheese between slices of bread for generations. As time progressed, the cheese toastie evolved, and it found its place in various cuisines around the globe.