How to Make Chopped Cheese Sandwich - Recipe

 

A CHOPPED CHEESE SANDWICH

NEW YORK

The CHOPPED CHEESE SANDWICH

Birthplace - Blue Sky Deli, East Harlem, New York

A Chopped Cheese" is a popular NEW YORK CITY Sandwich made in Bodegas in East Harlem, and now all over New York City. A chopped cheese sandwich features Ground Beef sautéed with Onions, and melted Cheese (usually Yellow American Cheese). These ingredients are cooked and chopped together on a Flattop Griddle (or in a pan if making at home). These ingredients are put into a Hero Roll, and topped with lettuce, Tomato, and condiments like Mayonnaise, and /or Ketchup. The sandwich is known for its tasty savory flavour, and substance to satisfy ones hunger. The sandwich has been described as a deconstructed Hamburger, and is a Staples of New York City food culture.

Key Components

• Meat: GROUND BEEF, seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, or adobo seasoning. 
• CHEESE  Typically American cheese, melted into the meat mixture. 
• Vegetables: Sautéed ONIONS are standard; lettuce and tomatoes are common additions. 
• Condiments: Mayonnaise and ketchup are popular choices, often spread on the roll. 
• Bread: A long Hero Roll or hoagie roll. 
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• HOW to MAKE a CHOPPED CHEESE SANDWICH

Preparation :

1. Sauté chopped Onions on a griddle or skillet.
2. Add Ground Beef patties, seasoning them as they cook.
3. Chop the meat and onions together as they cook, mixing thoroughly.
4. Add CHEESE slices and let them melt into the meat mixture.
5. Spread condiments on the roll, add the meat/cheese mixture, and top with lettuce and tomato. 

ORIGIN

• The sandwich is widely believed to have originated in East Harlem, New York City, with many crediting Blue Sky Deli (also known as Hajji's) as the birthplace. 

The BADASS COOKBOOK

BLUE RIBBON MEATLOAF

PRIZE WINNING CHILI

THe BEST SANDWICHES

And SECRET RECIPES

The BADASS COOKBOOK

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Danny Bolognese

 

"DANNY BOLOGNESE"

aka Daniel Bellino Zwicke

DANNY BOLOGNESE

 Dnny Bolognese is a Professional  "Pen Nam" of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke, a Bestselling Italian-American cookbook author, Wine Professional, and former Chef. Based in New York's Greenwich Village, he is a recognized authority on Italian cuisine and wine with over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

Culinary Career and Contributions

• Professional Pedigree: He has worked as a chef and wine director at renowned NYC restaurants, including Da Silvano, Del Posto, Barbetta, and John’s of 12th Street.
• Venetian Wine Bar: In 1997, he founded Bar Cichetti, which is credited as America’s first-ever Venetian wine bar (Bacaro).
• Signature Recipe: He is most famous for his "Secret" Ragu Bolognese recipe, which he was taught in 1987 by Chef Pasquale at Ciao Bella in New York. 
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• PUBLISHED WORKS
• Under both his legal name and the moniker "Danny Bolognese," he has authored several popular titles focusing on Italian-American food and culture: 

The Ragu Bolognese Cookbook: The Secret Recipe and More: A condensed guide featuring his most essential Italian recipes.

• Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook: A long-running #1 best-seller on Amazon.com for Italian cookbooks that combines family recipes with cultural storytelling.
• Other Titles: The Feast of the 7 Fish – Italian Christmas, Segreto Italiano (Secret Italian Recipes), and the humorous The Big Lebowski Cookbook. 
• Daniel also maintains several culinary blogs, including Greenwich Village Italian and New York Italian, where he shares recipes, restaurant history, and stories about Italian icons like Frank Sinatra. 

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

aka "DANNY BOLOGNESE"

BOOKS by DANNY BOLOGNESE

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The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

DANNY BOLOGNESE

AMAZON.com

Lentils and Cotechino for Italian New Years

COTECHINO & LENTILS For ITALIAN NEW YEARS 

COTECHINO e LENTICCHIE 

LENTILS For GOOD LUCK

ITALIAN NEW YEAR TRADITION

COTECHINO LENTICCHIE

ITALIAN COOKBOOK author DANIEL BELLINO

Wrapping My COTECHINO

PINO'S PRIME MEATS

ITALIAN BUTCHER SHOP

PINO

SUNDAY SAUCE

LASAGNA - MEATBALLS - PASTA

And STORIES of ITALIAN-AMERICAN NEW YORK

by Daniel Bellino Z

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COTECHINO LENTICCHIE "EXPLAINED"

PINA Makes COTECHINO

With LENTILS

Sinatra Eats Italian Cookbook

 

A Young Frank Sinatra  ....  Hoboken, New Jersey

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Frank Sinatra

"Come Fly with Me" !!!

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PATSY'S  "Franks Favorite Restaurant"

Frank's Favorite Restaurant in The World, was Patsy's on West 56th Street in New York, in The Theater District near Times Square .. Frank's Favorites were; Calms Posillipo, Spaghetti Pomodoro,  Veal Milanes (extra Thin & Crispy) and Spaghetti & Meatballs of which patsy's makes The Best in The City ..

PATSY'S is by far the restaurant most associated with SINATRA -- on its website, the restaurant notes that it "has been known for years as the restaurant Frank Sinatra made famous." You can still order up old-school Italian there, but you might not have the exact same experience as Sinatra, who was said to have entered through a special door to sit at a reserved table on the second floor. Sinatra became especially loyal to the restaurant after making a solo Thanksgiving reservation one year, not realizing the restaurant was slated to be closed that day. Patsy Scognamillo didn't want to turn Sinatra away, so he allowed the reservation. He also didn't want Sinatra to know the restaurant was opened just for him -- so he had the entire staff bring their families to fill the place up, something Sinatra didn't learn until years later, according to Patsy's lore. The restaurant still celebrates its connection to Sinatra: At right, in 2002, Joe Scognamillo served actor Bill Boggs, who had dressed up as Sinatra . (236 West 56th St.)

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FRANK & AVA GARDNER

The SINATRA COOKBOOK

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES

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FRANK & DEAN

 

FRANK'S FAVORITE ITALIAN BREAD

PARISI BAKERY MOTT STREET

LITTLE ITALY, NY NY

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FRANK'S FAVORITE PIZZA "PATYSY'S"

FRANKS FAVORITE PIZZA

PATSY'S in EAST HARLEM

No Relation to PATSY'S on 56th STREET

SINATRA at JILLY'S New York with Friends and Daughters NANCY and TINA

Frank loved going to his close Pal JILLY RIZZO'S New York Restaurant JILLY'S where Frank would eat Chinese Food, tell stories, and drink JACK DANIEL'S to the Wee Hours of the morning 

 

Despite having served as an icon for high living for generations, Frank Sinatra was not a fan of haute cuisine. A high school drop-out from Hoboken, New Jersey, the only child of a father who was a lightweight boxer turned fireman and a political activist mother who ran an illegal abortion business that provided services for free, Sinatra even after his fame was established preferred simpler fare and cozier surroundings than were found in the five-star restaurants of the world. In New York he favored only a few establishments, none of them popular celebrity hang-outs (except for the celebrities invited by Frank). There was P.J. Clarke’s at 915 Third Ave., where Sinatra carefully scheduled his nights around those of gossip columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, whose favorite topic was anything going wrong in Sinatra’s life, especially if it concerned the disillusion of his relationship with actress Ava Gardner. Then there was PATSY'S at 236 W. 56th St., where Frank ordered the breaded veal and spaghetti with red sauce on the side. As a story goes, Sinatra found himself on the skids one Thanksgiving, without company and without plans. So he made a reservation at Patsy’s, which wasn’t open that day. But owner Pasquale Scognamillo scrambled his staff and family so that when Frank rolled in at 3pm, the place was full. Rocky Lee Chu-Cho Bianco at 987 Second Ave was where Frank would go for pizza, and if he wanted something a little more upscale, he hit the 21 CLUB over at 21 W. 52nd St., where the jacket and tie dress code was a lot less of an issue in the 1950s than it is now.

But above and beyond them all was his affection for Jilly’s Saloon. Born Ermenigildo Rizzo on May 6th, 1917, Jilly’s career in food services started early, when he worked for his father delivering Italian ice to cafés. He opened his first restaurant, JILLY'S SALOON , on West 49th Street but eventually moved it to a new location on West 52nd. It was this second incarnation of Jilly’s that attracted Sinatra’s attention. On any given night, Sinatra could be found at his regular booth surrounded by regular friends who received the call earlier in the day — having grown up an only child, Sinatra swore he would never dine alone. Jilly’s kitchen specialized not in Italian fare but in Cantonese food. Sinatra spent so much time there that Jilly Rizzo became Sinatra’s closest friend, his right-hand man, and his bodyguard.

Learn How to Make SINATRA SUNDAY SAUCE and MEATBALLS

Frank Sinatra with Jilly Rizzo and JACKIE "O"

By 1962 he and Jilly Rizzo were so close that Sinatra was securing bit parts for the saloon owner in films like The Manchurian Candidate. That same year, Sinatra and fellow Rat Packer Sammy Davis Jr. recorded the duet “Me and My Shadow,” which twice mentions ending up at Jilly’s. In Sinatra’s 1968 detective movie Lady in Cement, he pays tribute to his friend by naming a seedy Miami strip club Jilly’s. Also in 1968, Sinatra once again paid musical tribute to his favorite hang-out when, in the song “Star,” he crooned “If they’ve got a drink with her name in Jilly’s bar, the chances are the lady’s a star.”

Apart from being Sinatra’s throne room, Jilly’s was most famous as the spot where mobsters decided to murder television comedian Johnny Carson.

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SUNDAY SAUCE

alla BELLINO alla PACINO

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FRANK SAMMY & DEAN

And "JACK DANIEL"  TENNESSEE WHISKEY

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Recipe for SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS alla SINATRA

Click Here ! 

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Jack Daniel's and Frank Sinatra

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FRANK SINATRA with Cigarette & JACK DANIELS

SINATRA and Friends at JILLY'S , New York

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Dinner at Babbo

 

BABBO

Greenwich Village, New York NY

December 4, 2025

New York, NY

We had an amazing dinner at Babbo last night. Babe, the restaurant created by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich (mostly Mario). Mario Batali became famous with Babbo, and a show on The Food Network simultaneously. The year was 1998. Anyway, Mario was (still is) a marvellous chef with tons of personality. He gained fame, became a celebrity chef and TV personality. Then he had a fall from grace, lost his TV show, and eventually sold his share in Babbo and other restaurants he owned with Joe Bastianich. After Mario left, Babbo began to slide, and lost much of its cache, which was Mario. Babo has never been the same post Mario.

Mark Ladner worked for Joe B & Mario during the duo's glory days. Mark was the chef of Lupa, and later the Executive Chef of Del Pesto. Mark is very talented, and so when restaurant impresario Stephen Starr bought Babbo and Lupa from Lida and Joe Bastianich, Starr hired Ladner as the executive chef of Babbo. Good move. Mark's food is amazing. Our dinner last night proved that. My cousin Joe made the statement that we had eaten at Babbo many times, and he said "This was our best meal here ever." I tend to agree. The food was amazing, we had some phenomenal wines, and I was with my cousins Joe, Eddie, and Tommy, and our good friend Max. We are all heavily into food and wine, and we are quite knowledgeable and versed on these subjects.

The food was quite wonderful. There were 6 of us, and we ordered more than half of the items on the menu.  We had the 48 Day Minestrone, whatever that means. It was delicious. Everybody at the table loved it. Then for antipasti, we ordered Sweetbreads, Vitello Tunato, salad, and Carne Cruda. 

We had two pasta courses. We ordered ; Tagliatelle with White Truffles, Beef Cheek Ravioli, Cavatelli with Rabbit Ragu, Spaghetti Vongole, and Tagliatelle Bolognese. All of these pasta dishes were amazing. The Truffles were sublimed. The Tagliatelle Bolognese was spectacular, a true Ragu of Bologna, "So Good." I loved it. Everyone, including me loved the Cavatelli with Rabbit Ragu. Really Tasty. And I always have loved eating the Beef Cheek Ravioli. I must say the pasta course was the highlight of the meal. Totally awesome.

We had started the meal with a Pigato, which I picked. Not many people would have ever heard of Pigato, a wine and grape varietal that comes from Liguria. It's a refreshing tasty white wine, and everyone at the table loved it. After the Pigato, my cousin Eddie ordered a magnum bottle of Barolo "Francia" 2001 from Giacomo Conterno, which is considered along with it sibling wine "Monfortino" to be the very best Barolos in the World. The wine was in perfect condition, and we all just loved it.

Our second pasta course came. The famed 100 Layer Lasagna by Chef Mark Ladner. This is becoming the signature dish of the restaurant and Chef Ladner. It's $100 a Pop. Not Cheap, but dammed good. Everybody in our group loved it.

For the main course, we had a T-bone Steak, Veal Chop Marsala, and Swordfish Milanese. The Steak was phenomenal. Loved it. The Veal Marsala was really good as well, but again, "The Steak," seriously good. The Swordfish was OK.

For dessert we had Saffron Zabiglione which was quite good, Panna Cotta (so-so), and Olive Oil Chocolate Cake which was one of the best-tastiest Chocolate Cakes that I've ever had. "So Good." we drank Averna Amaro with our desserts. The meal was phenomenal, and we all had a wonderful time.Thanks Joe. Cousin Joe who bought us all dinner. Not Joe B, he's gone.

And thanks to Chef Mark Ladner, and the whole crew at Babbo. Great job, we really enjoyed.

Thanks,

Daniel Bellino

Me & COUSIN JOE

BABBO

December 4, 2025

Greenwich Village, New York

"Thanks for the Wonderful Dinner Joe"

GIACOMO CONTERNO

BAROLO "FRANCIA" 2002

"One of the Best BAROLOS I've ever had"

CHEF MARK LADNER

BABBO

MARK LADNER'S 100 Layer LASAGNA

VALENTINI TREBBIAN d' ABRUZZO

A LEGENDARY WHITE WINE

ABRUZZO, ITALY

"We Drank this too"

All photos and article by Daniel Bellino Zwicke 

SUNDAY SAUCE

AMERICA'S FAVORITE ITALIAN COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino Z

AMAZON.com

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Best Travel Guide Italy - Bellino

 The # 1 BEST SELLER - ITALIAN TRAVEL GUIDES

ITALY 

AMAZON.com

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL is the # 1 BEST SELLER

ITALY TRAVEL GUDIES - Amazon .com

Amazon.com

Just to Clarify - "ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL'

is Not a BOOK solely on VENICE, but all of ITALY

It is an ITALIAN TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK on ITALY

There are 30 Pages dedicated to just VENICE, which is Quite Large and

Extensive as far as TRAVEL GUIDES of ITALY Go

Amazon Categorised it as VENICE, but it's ALL of ITALY

From VENICE to PALERMO and Back "You Get It All" All ITALY !!

SPECIAL SECTION "BORUDAIN in ITALY"

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

All  ITALY

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Amazon.com  

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL - Travel Guide - Cookbook

Italian Food & Travels "Rome Venice Pizza Pasta &? Travel and Eat throughout Italy, with Bestselling Italian Cookbook / Travel Writer - Daniel Bellino Zwicke. Take a journey with Daniel on his many journeys in Italy, from Rome, Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples, Capri, Positano, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Puglia and more. Daniel Bellino has 40 years experience, spending time in Italy, eating, drinking wonderful Italian Wine, living among the locals, gathering a brigade of stories and tasty Italian recipes from every region of Italy. Daniel has a great perspective of Italian Food knowledge, of Italy, and how to travel in this the most beloved travel destination in all the World, from the Ancient Roman ruins of Rome, to the singular uniqueness of Venice, to Sicily and it's people, food, Roman & Greeks ruins, and some of the most beautiful churches in all the World. Daniel weaves wonderful stories of Italian adventures, with many tasty recipes to accompany the stories, Travel Info, and knowledge of Italy, its sights, peoples, landscape, and it's food, the most beloved cuisine in all the World.

Included are Recipes for 40 of Italy's most beloved dishes, and a few extra surprises. Italy's most loved Pasta Dishes, Ragu Bolognese, Porchetta, Wild Boar Ragu, Amalfitana Lemon Cake, how to make Limoncello, Ragu Napoletana, Pesto Genovese, Caponata, Lasagna, Spaghetti Vongoles, Pasta Nerano, and much more. You'll Love these amazing recipes.

Special Section : Anthony Bourdain's Italy. Follow Tony's footsteps, and relive his most memorable Italian meals - Rome, Venice, Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, Venice, Tuscany and more.

TRAVEL INFO

40 of ITALY'S Most Loved RECIPES

ULTIMATE TRAVEL TIPS

Stories of ITALY - The Food, People, & Places

SPECIAL - BOURDAIN in ITALY

Daniel created and runs the Highly Successful Italian Instagram page @NewYork.Italian - which as of the publication of this book, has more than 500,000 loyal Followers. The page pertains to all things ITALIAN, both in New York - America, and ITALY - Italian Food & Wine, Recipes, music, movies, Italian Travel, Italian-American Culture, and of Italy, Pizza, Pasta, cooking, books, and anything related to Italy and Italian Americans. 

Amazon.com 

"ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

"

Italian Food & Travel: Travel Guide - Cookbook

" by Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a combined cookbook and travel guide that focuses on specific Italian regions and cities, including Naples, Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. It integrates personal travel anecdotes, practical advice for travelers, and authentic recipes. 

Overview of the Book

This resource is designed for individuals planning a trip to Italy, as well as those who wish to experience Italian cuisine and culture at home. Daniel Bellino Zwicke, a best-selling Italian cookbook author who has traveled extensively in Italy since the 1980s, uses his deep knowledge to provide a cultural companion rather than a typical guidebook. 

Key features include:

Regional Focus: The book covers culinary and travel information for areas like Rome, Venice, Positano, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

• Recipes: It features recipes for popular dishes from these regions, such as Insalata di Polpo, Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiano, Polpette (meatballs), and Spaghetti Vongole.
• Personal Stories: The narrative is enriched with the author's personal experiences, recommendations for local spots (like bacari in Venice), and insights into the local food culture.
• Practical Information: It provides travel tips and information, helping readers navigate specific locations and find authentic experiences. 
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• Where to Find It
• The book is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. You can purchase it or view snippets on the following platforms: 

Amazon.com

• Daniel Bellino Zwicke's Author Website 
• Other related works by the author include Mangia Italiano, Segreto Italiano, and POSITANO The AMALFI COAST COOKBOOK & Travel Guide

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

CAPRI, ITALY

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