The Post pits NYCs mighty chopped cheese vs….
As the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers face off in the playoffs, the longtime rivalry is heating up off the hardwood and onto New York City menus.
Some zealous Knicks followers have even gone as far as to “ban” the long-lasting Philly cheesesteak, while others are doubling down on New York’s humble bodega legend: the chopped cheese.
To honor the playoffs, New York Post staffers settled the controversy over Philly cheesesteaks and New York’s chopped cheese. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
The beef runs deeper than sandwiches.
Both the Philly cheesesteak and chopped cheese have change into hometown consolation meals — but despite sharing meat, cheese and onions, the similarities largely end there. And for keen followers, bragging rights are at steak.
To settle the controversy ourselves as the Knicks and Sixers face off in Game 3 Friday night time in the City of Brotherly Love, New York Post staffers warmed up their appetites on the bench and ready for a little 1v1 lunch-hour showdown.
The contenders:
Philly’s beefy transplant
The Philly contender got here from Danny & Coop’s, the buzzy East Village cheesesteak store co-owned by actor Bradley Cooper and Philadelphia restaurateur Danny DiGiampietro. The $21 sandwich, loaded with thinly sliced ribeye, grilled onions and Cooper Sharp cheese, almost fell out of the seeded bun. Sweet and scorching peppers have been obtainable on the facet for an added contact.
The humble bodega legend, the chopped cheese on the left, in contrast to Danny & Coop’s East Village rendition of the cheesesteak on the appropriate. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
Outside Danny & Coop’s in the East Village, arguably the best cheesesteaks in town. Stephen Yang for NY Post
On first look, the almost foot-long sandwich was introduced in a glossy, sturdy to-go box that traveled effectively to The Post’s Midtown workplace. The girthy sandwich was politely cut into quarters for shareability.
“It’s quite a substantial sandwich,” said Eric Hegedus, deputy Lifestyle editor and biased ex-Philadelphian, upon first look. However, he was adamant that sesame seeds historically don’t belong on the roll.
The meat, he said, was a little salty and total lacked the “je ne sais quoi” of ready in line at Jim’s South St. in his former home metropolis.
Thinly sliced ribeye swims in melted Cooper’s sharp cheddar cheese. Stephen Yang for NY Post
But not everybody agreed with that.
Benjamin Cost of the Lifestyle crew gleefully called the shaved shreds of ribeye “super tender, and baptized in a fondu-like river of molten Cooper’s sharp.”
And even though she would have eaten something at that level, hungry Lifestyle author Allison Lax said the cheesesteak expertise total blew her expectations out of the water.
“It was so flavorful and just the right amount of chewy without being too much.”
Bradley Cooper’s overflowing sandwich transported fantastically to our workplace in a to-go box. Stephen Yang for NY Post
NYC’s basic chopped cheese
Then got here New York’s reply.
The chopped cheese arrived from Hajji’s in East Harlem. For less than half the price of Danny & Coop’s creation — just $8.50, to be precise — the hero combines chopped ground beef, onions and melted American cheese, topped with lettuce, tomato, mayo and ketchup. Simple, understated, touring effectively, wrapped in white parchment paper and in a black bag. Also, politely cut into quarters.
Outside Blue Sky Deli (Hajji’s) in Harlem, home of the Chopped Cheese. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
But after a few bites, reactions grew to become noticeably more divided.
“It reminds you of comfort food you’d have as a kid,” said photographer Tamara Beckwith, who in contrast it to a McDonald’s cheeseburger thanks to the “nondescript” mix of American cheese and mayo.
Then there was the issue of the nice and cozy lettuce and tomato, which made the sandwich a “soggier experience,” according to Page Six’s Jacquelyn Kozak.
Chef Frank Ramirez prepares a chopped cheese sandwich at Bue Sky Deli. Ground beef and cheese are chopped together on the grill before being served on a roll. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
Even The Post’s own food critic, Steve Cuozzo, struggled to get the sandwich out of the wrapping.
“What is this, Crazy Glued?” he joked before really being pleasantly shocked upon taking a chew. “The bodega one gives a good account of itself for fewer dollars.”
His afternoon “snack needs” had been met.
Even with that in thoughts, most of the workers felt prefer it was an unfair comparability.
The chopped cheese also combines lettuce, tomato and mayo, giving it more of a burger really feel. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
“I am a native New Yorker who absolutely abhors Philadelphia sports, and it brings me no joy to report that this was not a close contest,” said Shane Galvin of The Post’s Sunday news crew. “The chopped cheese is just not playing the same sport as the cheesesteak.”
He brutally called the sandwich bready and flat, with “a concerning amount of vegetable matter mixed in with the ground beef, which featured plasticy American cheese.”
At least in phrases of accessibility in town’s abhorrent line tradition, the chopped cheese has a leg up. But other workers said, even still, they couldn’t see themselves having another one in their future, despite being a New York basic.
For the price, the bodega chopped cheese has change into a staple for New Yorkers. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
The winner
Overall, Danny & Coop’s cheesesteak was the gang favourite, which feels a little unfair for a sandwich with a a lot increased price level — and actually, it’s just a matter of what you’re in the temper for.
The chopped cheese felt more like a late-night or hangover repair, whereas Danny & Coop’s felt like a premium expertise that one staffer said was like evaluating wagyu to Hamburger Helper.
“The chopped cheese goes in a different direction with a sweeter profile that’s more burger-esque — which certainly has its place in the pantheon of cravings,” said Post Sports Editor Michael Blinn.
If only there have been a approach to “Frankenstein the chopped cheese on the Coop’s bread,” that could be it, said Photo Editor Alyssa Hargrove.
The chopped cheese (left) vs. the cheesesteak (proper). Tamara Beckwith/NY Post
But by the end of the tasting, the cheesesteak had received over even some of New York’s most loyal hometown defenders.
In maybe the largest upset of all, Philadelphia diehard Hegedus went back for seconds of Danny & Coop’s New York cheesesteak — salt bomb be damned.
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