I Found the Best Chopped Cheese - Babish, Joshua Weissman, Kenji Lopez-Alt, Chef Jae Lee

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The Recipes I Followed-
Joshua Weissman- • The Cheapest Sandwich ...
J Kenji Lopez Alt- • Harlem Chopped Cheese ...
Chef Jae Lee (Muchies)- • How To Make A Korean C...
Babish- • Chopped Cheese | Basic...
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David Seymour
P.o. Box 98
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
I post every week, so make sure to subscribe to catch every video!
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Intro: (0:00)
Joshua Weissman: (1:39)
J Kenji Lopez Alt: (5:57)
Chef Jae Lee (Muchies): (8:37)
Babish: (13:48)
Outro: (17:12)

[@rice_frying_shrimp]

Yo this format is so cool, being out and about like that really suits your style!! I remember really liking that part of the NYC pizza video as well. Would love to see you expand on that

[@PetitChouPumpkin]

You could do Arthur Avenue and Chinatown episodes!

[@Ferinex_666]

I'd assume that those rice cakes probably exploded similarly to popcorn or a pipe bomb. The oil temperature is much higher than water's boiling point and those rice cakes probably had some water left in them. The very hot oil rapidly boiled the water in the rice cakes and that water turned to steam very quickly, which increases the internal pressure of the rice cakes until the outer shell could no longer contain it - and pop, they explode.

[@baby_muppy]

"similar to popcorn... or a pipe bomb" (((;ꏿ_ꏿ;)))

[@corbinbrier0]

I love how much both examples you gave are on such opposite sides of the spectrum. 😅

[@dwayneb72]

Close but no cigar ...all rice noodles blow up when fried ..when you have a large really dense rice noodle the explosion is just way larger ..nothing to do with the water just what rice noodles do when they are fried ..look at any video frying a small handful of vermicelli rice noodles they fill up a wok in like 5 seconds it's crazy the reaction what rice noodles do in hot oil

[@auntlynnie]

They came out of the package wet, so I'm wondering if they had water inside of them (I"m not familiar with them, so I'm not sure if they're capable of holding water inside).

[@kfam9719]

​@@corbinbrier0it felt like a continuation of the explaination. Not two separate and opposite reasonings

[@evilmissmunchkin]

The defeated little “…I gotta be more careful in the kitchen” cracked me up. Take all the mental health/personal breaks you need, especially when the content you’re making is this good!

[@TheAX665]

I'm always glad to hear you took a break! There's no way for me to even imagine how much effort even one of there videos takes. So, do you. It's always nice to see your videos pop up, and we'll be watching, regardless of the schedule. Personally, I love these comparisons especially because they teach me different techniques, and after all is shown I try to combine everything I learned from it. Much appreciated.

[@hannac5535]

Well said and couldn't agree more 😊

[@geminihexx9858]

I have never seen tteokbokki deep fried like that ever. Maybe with a few teaspoons of oil in a wok, or boiled but frozen rice cakes in that much oil is asking for an explosion! Glad you’re safe though! I usually boil them or fry in a pan with a little sesame oil

[@GameGeekRob]

I hear an important part of the chopped cheese experience is actually wrapping it firmly in paper to get everything to sort of congeal together.

[@lucasorion]

paper and/or foil, tightly wrapped - give it 5 minutes in there and then slice it open

[@moniebee]

Chop cheese is a NYC classic. Don't feel bad for never having one before, it took me 25 years to try one and I'm 26 y/o from Brooklyn, lol. It's not a new thing, it's just a classic bodega sandwich.

[@BradPrichard]

I love it when you do Joshua Weisman recipes, so I can see the recipe but not see Joshua Weisman himself.

[@BeersAndBeatsPDX]

I'm sure he's a cool guy but I can't watch his videos.

[@BradPrichard]

@@BeersAndBeatsPDX The first time he said "kwispy" I was out of there never to go back.

[@BeersAndBeatsPDX]

@@BradPrichard It was the singing that got me

[@vaishnavisingh9244]

the hate on the guy 😭😭

[@BeersAndBeatsPDX]

@@vaishnavisingh9244 I don't hate him. I dislike his video presentation so I don't watch.

[@Snowfrog]

Echoing other commenters to say I really like this format of you out in the world trying something thing and then making various at home versions of that same thing. Keep up the awesome work man, love your channel!

[@stikinthemud9710]

Dude there is no need to apologize for taking a break, anyone who talks shit on that is an idiot. You do you brother, I appreciate the videos over the years and have definitely improved my cooking as a self taught home cook due to your content!

[@mariapizzaa]

The rice cakes exploded bc the oil made the rice cakes expand and the bit of the water left in the middle escaped into the oil and oil + water = 💥. Next time shallow fry them more in a deeper and wider pan so there's more room for expansion and they're not totally surrounded by a ton of oil on all sides.

[@OfficialRedTeamReview]

Everyone has their favorite place for chopped cheese. I personally like the one from Hajji’s Deli in Harlem. Another thing i would advise people to do when making this, because i don't live in NYC anymore and have noticed this issue out here in the Midwest, is make sure you have good hoagie bread. I have to usually buy good hoagie bread from out of state and they ship it out to me. Amoroso Hoagie Rolls is what I always get and they're the gold standard of bread for chopped cheese and Philly cheeseteaks. They don't break apart easily and are perfect for heavy foods like this

[@danielblocker8008]

Gotta say, you never have to apologize for taking a break. Please always take care of yourself and your family first and foremost. Us, your loyal fans, will always be here when you get back. Keep up the great work!

[@attakmint]

Just a FYI: Dutch Crunch in J Kenji Lopez-Alt's video is a very San Francisco Bay Area sandwich bread. You paint the top of a roll with rice flour and sugar paste, and as it bakes and expands the topping kinda separates into stripey things that are a bit darker than the underlying bread due to the sugar. The original Dutch bread it's based off of is called "Tiger Bread" for this reason. It's hyper local (when I was in LA for college about 10 years ago I could never find it), so no worries about not getting it. And while I usually got sourdough rolls for my Little Lucca/Mr. Pickles sandwiches, I would never turn down a Dutch Crunch roll.

[@rooscanbulat6107]

lol its tijgerbolletje. originated in the netherlands. dutch crunch is litteraly dutch bread xD

[@sethzard]

I appreciate the use of a clip of Kenji's first chopped cheese video when introducing what a chopped cheese is. For the topoki it may have been them releasing water. You'd probably have a better time in either a much deeper pan with less oil or a Wok.

[@TheNinnyfee]

The rice cakes are full of moisture that expands with heat and needs to escape the dough. When that steam hits the oil and doesn't mix it causes explosions, I guess. LOVE the homemade hoagie rolls! But top tip from Claire Saffitz: use slices of iceberg instead of shreds, way less messy. ♥️

[@simonemartinez9927]

David you may have wanted to hit up a real deal Bronx or Harlem bodega. The chop cheese is usually just seasoned with Adobo and extra pepper maybe some added garlic powder. Babish’s was the closest to the real deal regular chop cheese but they all looked delish. Keep up the awesome work and please count all your fingers before and after cooking 🤣🤣

[@JRock424]

Babbish lives in NY and tried so hard not to gentrify it like so many others (And let's be real, Josh Weissman.). Babbish kept it real and I appreciate him for that.

[@PapeySapote]

It’s Sazon and I can’t stand that shit 😂

[@Jess1013]

Hey David! It looks like your rice cakes came straight out the store bought pack and weren’t the freshly made kind, so you will need to blanch them in boiling water for about 30 seconds first before you fry them. They should expand a bit and soften, then drain them very well and pay them dry. I’ve never deep fried tteok before, but they work very well for pan frying in oil. The outside will be crispy while the inside is fluffy and chewy. Hope this helped!

[@River_Frost]

Blanching something that can absorb water like a sponge and putting it in hot oil! What can go wrong?

[@vaishnavisingh9244]

I think pan frying is much better and safer choice just a little bit of oil and boom crispy tteok

[@Jess1013]

@@River_Frost idk it’s almost as if I don’t actually cook tteokkochi on a regular basis and know what I’m talking about🙂

[@tylercooks4521]

Very easy for me to say, but.... You being a one man show really adds to the uniqueness of your channel. Even before you mentioned it in this vid I was thinking how other cooking you tube channels tend to blend together as they grow in subs/sponsors/revenue. I'm not commenting just to gas you up either - ATM my favorite cooking channels are Kenji and Ragusea, but you still have so much potential IMO where so many other channels are kind of tapped out. Either way you doing it good - cheers from Australia.

[@xkewl19]

Kenji's recipe was made for a drunk person craving a sandwich at 2 am and i respect that

[@jml4774]

Good for you for taking a break when you needed it. I missed you (but it was more worry, like "I hope he's ok,") Happy to see you back this week.

[@mims738]

Love you, David. And there's something so comforting, familiar and wholesome about your video format in that it hasn't changed much over the years. Thank you for that! ❤️ It makes your videos so much more enjoyable. (maybe bring back the falling off your chair when the food is fantastic... But don't hurt yourself LOL. Sucks getting old 😆)

[@hevytimes]

Totally makes sense stuff at home is just as tasty. No need for specialized kit. Pizza NEEDS that super hot oven, homes can't do it.

[@PapeySapote]

I make pizza in my oven all the time, and it’s pretty comparable to the pizza in nyc

[@taratr98]

That Korean "chop cheese rice cake" was almost closer to a Korean version of a cheeseburger pasta (American goulash)

[@LeePlz]

Very interesting, it's always fun to see so many different versions compared in one vid. I hope things can calm down a bit for you in your personal life soon. I know it can be rough though stay safe and take your time, we will be here. I would love to see possibly an Udon or Pho episode.

[@thenoellewaren]

Please dude, take all the breaks you need when you feel you need to! Your channel is awesome, we'll all still be here. Or at least I will! Also, your poor heart valves and arteries deserve some healthy recipe videos like asap 😅 I've always wanted to find the perfect zucchini bread and avocado brownie recipes.

[@kronocorruption2012]

As someone who got pretty severe oil burns from trying to fry those rice cakes, do not recommend lol. They have moisture inside them that expands with the heat of the oil, and makes them burst. Boiling is definitely safer.

[@dwayneb72]

It's actually the rice flower reaction to fried oil since the little bullet noodle is bigger and dense you can't control the explosion the same as if you were frying say vermicelli rice noodles ..all rice noodles expand about 5 to 10.times their size when fried in oil ...so having such a chunk of noodle the noodle wants to explode all at once and there is quite a violent explosion ..you can watch many KZbin videos on what happens when frying different rice noodles same thing happens when they are none dry and when wet

[@brittanykopke6133]

Great video as always. Glad you are taking time for yourself as needed!

[@skystryker4716]

you can take as long as you want man, your own health is what comes first

[@angiead]

Tip for frying rice cakes. Use a spider (it a metal sieve) put the rice cakes in there and lower into the oil. 30-45 seconds and then pull them out immediately and put them to one side and don't go near them for 30 seconds. Using the spider/sieve means you can pull them out in one go and not have to go fishing round with a tiny spoon (which was super dangerous and a bit silly). Because it's such a dense mix the only way the moisture can escape when it turns to steam is by exploding out.

[@nobiz]

The reason the rice cakes were doing that is because they were probably frozen so you’re essentially putting water in hot ass boiling oil

[@glennquagmire34]

joshua's filling with babish's bread is a god tier combo. a combo so powerful it maybe, just maybe, might be able to defeat the impossible halo 2 legendary 13/14 skulls no death challenge.

[@supMELINA]

WHERES OCKY?

[@PygmaApril]

Α big component that makes bodega/store sandwitches so much better is that they are wrapped tightly in paper. This allows the flavors to come together and creates uniform bites. It's worth trying at home.

[@bradrogers2279]

You're the best! Glad you took some time off for yourself. Love your videos and looking forward to many more. :)

[@maryantczak]

This is the first video of yours I have seen. It is really great! Always a good idea to chill when you need to.☺️

[@shnibbydwhale]

Great video as always! I like the little outtakes/behind the scenes stuff you sneak in during your videos. Hopefully stuff in your personal life is going alright. Taking care of your mental health is key.

[@15oClock]

"I need to be more careful." I'll call that the understatement of your career.

[@selvibalasubramaniam4927]

Agree with those who are supporting you taking breaks when you need ❤️

[@armacham]

6:14 that's not a "dutch crunch" roll. Dutch crunch a/k/a tiger bread has crunchy bits on the outside, I think they use rice flour that cooks differently so it becomes crunchy. The whole outside becomes covered with crunchy scales. The bread shown at 6:15 is definitely not dutch crunch.

[@unstoppabledoris]

Oh my goodness am I jealous lol As much as I dislike Josh's extraness the food I've made from him ALWAYS hits

[@tasneemhesham2526]

Hey David! I love your videos so much and really loved this one because it introduced me to a new dish, sending love from Egypt

[@brookski726]

Just wanted to say that I love ya David! Your videos are always so fun to watch and as an avid cooker in the kitchen, it's always inspiring to see what recipes you are gonna cook up. Also what other kitchen tips and cookware to try. We ended up buying one of those ridiculously heavy pizza steel pans and holy heck, game changer. Even down to venturing out and making homemade bread. You really are a light and a pretty awesome one man band. Another great video❤️

[@dare-ikrise8026]

No pressure to post. Ill enjoy yoyr vids when you upload them =>>>

[@Wychwood]

So for the perfect chopped cheese, you should make Babbish's rolls and fill it with Joshua Weissman's sauce and mix. Got it!

[@WarChortle]

NYC's answer to a Philly cheese steak perhaps makes sense to say, but struggle food came to be because it was struggle food... not because it was an answer to another cities cuisine.

[@angelwild5665]

Thank you for all you do and all the time and effort you save me!

[@Davida-dk7qx]

Been a big fan of yours since the start of the pandemic and I’m glad to hear you took a break for your own well being, and I’m also glad you show errors in the kitchen to remind us that these really aren’t easy tasks but are so worth it in the end, you’re dope and I love your videos !!! 🤍🤍🤍

[@melissaweyrick5311]

Yay David! nice to see you.

[@Heeman1119]

Hey David, did you start working out? You are looking great!

[@lautlos2121]

I love your videos! I watch all of the channels you cook off but often it feels hard to asses how hard the dish is when i only have access to a "normal" kitchen. Your videos put them to the field test and then i can decide :) Please keep going, your are wonderful!

[@Princesse-Chaos]

Everyone needs a break sometimes, especially if they're constantly making content for us to enjoy! You put so much work into every video 💖 I'm tempted by Joshua’s however I wonder which bread recipe will be the best. I'm so picky about my bread and I don't want just plain and fluffy white bread

[@charb2743]

I’m fairly new so when you didn’t put one out I watched a bunch of older videos. Who can even watch one David Seymour video at once anyways, you always end up watching 3 lol

[@Besties583]

Bronx NY 💪🏾💪🏾

[@roberthamilton1301]

Thanks for the recipes 😋

[@MissLluviaDays]

Always put your mental health before anything, dont let it get to the point of burnout. I love watching your videos and have been watching for over a year now. My fiance and I always look forward to watching you cook and try new recipes, the bed that you have too lol and the pots! Can't forget the pots! Take care of yourself David! We'll be here whenever you upload ❤

[@nervousbabbs2769]

Glad to see you back! Your mental health and general health always come first and we support you on that. Never feel like you need to apologize

[@lilonemacaddict]

David, the “chop cheese” is not new. It’s been in the nyc bodega (corner grocery store)circuit for years. True New Yorkers (from the city) know what’s up. I’m happy you enjoyed it

[@liamtravis6512]

It’s only a thing in certain neighborhoods

[@Charlottedraper1]

I’ve literally never had a chopped cheese or even really heard of them before!! Is that weird? 😂 I’m from the UK though so maybe that’s why. Off to make 100 of these now though 😂

[@sweaterweatherlady]

As a USA citizen, I have never heard of chopped cheese. 😆

[@Charlottedraper1]

@@sweaterweatherlady okay that makes me feel so much better 😂😂

[@glennquagmire34]

@@sweaterweatherlady chopped cheese like david says is basically what the philly cheesesteak is to philidelphia, but to new york.

[@reikinaexperience1646]

for frying things that have moisture, get a sheet pan that fits well over the top of the frying pot and drop in the product then cover the pot, wait for the popping to stop to remove the lid

[@Dreamerrr2011]

We love you david i live for these videos and you always bring me peace! Always put yourself first :)

[@robinsiciliano8923]

Yum! Definitely trying a version of this at home.

[@sarahstewart1075]

I absolutely never comment on KZbin videos. That being said, I love your content and you are amazing! I appreciate all that you do and I wish you would stop putting yourself down so much. The internet sucks, but you are fantastic! Keep doing you ❤️

[@DavidSeymourofficial]

❤️❤️

[@adrilyst5]

Chopped cheese is a NYC hood classic. Probably why most people (including some New Yorkers) didn’t know about it unless you lived in Harlem/Bx until it’s been made popular recently.

[@juliam1573]

Looks fantastic!!

[@naazbutool6553]

Hey David, I just wanna say you're looking great in this video! Love to see you go out more in a low key vlog type format trying food. Also please try some of ethan chlebowski's recipes (maybe restaurant style vs low cal to the test)

[@kRdp.]

David out on the field is great! You should definitely do more videos like that

[@angelwild5665]

Never heard of chopped cheese sandwich but I live in PA, USA. Thanks for introducing me to another sandwich!

[@domodangle5871]

This reminds me when you use to go the restaurants and recreate food I loved that series

[@1mjack]

Love seeing the opening scene in the wild. LOVE YOUR VIDS

[@CarolinaGirlie313]

I love this form and I am so so so glad that you're giving yourself breaks!!!! You more than deserve it.

[@celestesproull6854]

I have watched your videos consistently since your 4th buzzfeed test. I had covid all week last week and I KNEW there was something missing.... your weekly video! From a long term fan, never forget to take care of yourself when you need it. Everyone needs a few days off every once in a while. I wish you the best and even if you stopped uploading for 2 months, I would be happy to see you back :) thanks for your hardwork david

[@brainfry]

I loved the bullion addition in Kenji Lopez, just a sneaky way to sneak MSG in that bad boy. Just sear your patties like Joshua's, and use better sauce. See you in an hour...

[@Steve-bv1to]

Take all the time you need, whenever you need it! Love your content, and I can always wait. Your mental health is paramount.

[@lenapawlek7295]

Cool to see you out and about!!!

[@RinIzanami]

Yes more of this I love this!!!!!

[@RONNOR323]

I’m from LA so I’ve never heard of chopped cheese? It literally looks like a torts and Philly cheesesteak put together lol. Also love your style of being out in NY! Try this out more 👀

[@RenegadeLK]

David's hate for tomato is the same of my hate for pickles.

[@Annie1962]

I'm with David.

[@efueds]

Finally someone who just says Worcester sauce without being weird about it

[@yunamchill9169]

There's nothing better to celebrate the return of our cousin's doggo than to watch a delicious David video. And thanking the universe that my magick worked

[@Aperson156]

The Korean take on it seems more like an elevated hamburger helper.

[@JustinCrovo]

I hope all is well! Another great video! Take care of yourself!

[@misha745]

Another awesome video

[@Salafrazz]

Love what you do, just remember to be kind to yourself

[@MichaelAlthauser]

Love a good chopped cheese, and had to watch as soon as I saw the video title.

[@wolfpredator5226]

Those rolls look delicious😩🤤

[@singerofsongs468]

Hey David! Love the videos. Solidarity in strong opinions on steak and cheese sandwiches from Philly :)

[@laasyanandula575]

Aw just when i was missing the old DVR episodes you came up with this🥺

[@rachelhall3892]

I’m gonna have to try making this. Down to the homemade bun.

[@yitziyyb]

Need to wrap sandwiches for that authentic NY feel. That steam just elevates any sandwich!

[@SolaireFlair]

Do a follow up where you combine the best elements of all four into the Ultimate Chopped Cheese.

[@stopplayingwiththefuckingi2054]

Love me a chopped cheese, I feel the local bodega just adds to it, vs making it at home.

[@thestalkinghead]

that oil explosion scared me, i jumped and put my hands out like i was protecting me face

[@NostalgiaBrit]

Oh David, I am _right there with you,_ regarding the slices of raw tomato! Also, mental health is _SO_ important, so you must absolutely take as much time as you need, to be ok; we, your loving fans, will always be here 🥰❤️ Sending *love & hugs* from Nottingham, UK 🙏🏻🥰❤️

[@NatashaGraves555]

The last one looked the best 😍😍

[@jahjahwubsu]

You tried everybody’s except the hoods recipe!!! The real recipe.

[@se_charlie6022]

Cool format. Take all the breaks you need x

[@paigemassaker3265]

Sending you love during hard times!

[@lazy_dad]

wrapping a chopped cheese or philly cheesesteak in foil or parchment helps it steam and makes the bun soft as well as keeping it neat and making it easier to eat. i have seen places in philly actually use both on their cheesesteaks. thanks for the great video. greets from canada. :-)

[@bigfeIIa]

It's just a cheeseburger. Chopped up. He's making it out to be the most revolutionary thing ever.