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Born and raised New Yorkers are putting a fresh spin on a New York classic. <\/p>\n
Courtesy of Veronica Irwin<\/p>\n
\t\t Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in the Bronx<\/a> for more local events \u2014 or submit your own<\/a>!<\/p>\n The chopped cheese is undergoing a \u201cculinary explosion,\u201d whereby the classic New York sandwich is being reinvented by a new generation of New York chefs.\n<\/p>\n That\u2019s according to Kelvin Murphy, a self-proclaimed \u201cbodega baby\u201d whose grandfather, mother, and father worked in and owned bodegas in Queens.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was working at my dad\u2019s bodega, the chopped cheese wasn\u2019t a thing,\u201dMurphy said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think I really started hearing about the chopped cheese and it being sold out of the bodegas probably the last maybe 15 years, and they\u2019ve really blown up in the last five.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The sandwiches are typically made of ground beef, American cheese, peppers and onions, chopped together on the grill and topped with tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup and mayonnaise spread on a hero or a roll.\u00a0<\/p>\n But new restaurants, Murphy told the Bronx Times, are having fun with those base ingredients. They\u2019re also rethinking the sandwich\u2019s presentation and service, with their establishments ranging from gourmet pop-ups to food trucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n These are the best places to experience the revamped Chopped Cheese.\n<\/p>\n Bodega City\n<\/p>\n Bodega City Truck: Check @bodega.truck for updated locations.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Brooklyn Restaurant: 139 Havemeyer St.\n<\/p>\n Bodega City\u2019s menu is made up entirely of variations on the chopped cheese, served on either a roll, hero, or over a bed of french fries. Chopped cheese sandwich variations vary from the \u201cGood Mawning,\u201d a mash-up between a chopped cheese and a bacon egg and cheese, and \u201cDown the Block,\u201d a chopped cheese topped with bacon, onion rings, and barbecue sauce.\u00a0<\/p>\n The restaurant\u2019s signature dish is \u201cEl Dominicano,\u201d a chopped cheese served with an extra layer of fried cheese and salami. The cheese is a mozzarella-adjacent Dominican cheese, which gets firm and chewy when fried, retaining its structural integrity. The salami, meanwhile, is cut thick, loaded with salty flavor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Together the Dominicano is an extra-hearty variation on the chopped cheese, perfect for the customer looking for a delicious option that will stick to their bones. It\u2019s also the most affordable chopped cheese we covered, nearly meeting bodega prices at just $13.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nishaan\n<\/p>\n Manhattan Restaurant: 160 1st. Ave\n<\/p>\n Nishaan\u2019s Chapli Kabob Chopped Cheese is a perfect fusion between warm, aromatic Pakistani flavors and a comforting American classic. The sandwich is served with flavorful (and halal) beef kabob patties, complimented beautifully by peppers, onions, a mix of pepper jack and American cheese and a combination of lime cilantro sauce and tamarind chutney that drips out of every delicious, messy bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n The restaurant serves variations of the sandwich made with vegan Impossible beef, chicken, or, on occasion, lamb. For spice lovers, we recommend the addition of the chili pickle mayo \u2014 a slightly spicy, deliciously acidic addition that helps all the other bold flavors shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shmackwich\n<\/p>\n Pop-up: Check @shmackwich on Instagram for updated locations.\n<\/p>\n For those with a more elevated palette, Shmackwich\u2019s wagyu chopped cheese is sure to impress. The high-quality beef is met with locally-sourced fluffy white bread buns, premium produce, and house-made tomato, rosemary, and garlic aioli.\u00a0<\/p>\n At some pop-ups, the sandwich\u2019s richness is balanced with a squirt of Mike\u2019s hot honey. The combination transforms the bodega classic into a fine-dining experience, made available at restaurants with which Schmackwich\u2019s three chefs partner.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though the sandwiches come with a steep price tag, costing $25, that\u2019s because they\u2019re made with the most premium ingredients the chefs can find, typically sourced the same day for maximum quality. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Born and raised New Yorkers are putting a fresh spin on a New York classic. 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