Your Next Chopped Cheese Should Be the ‘ROC’ Chopped Cheese at Starlight on South Ave

Inside photo of Starlight, a deli on South Ave in the South Wedge in Rochester, NY

The famed “chopped cheese” sandwich on a hero is a staple in New York City. It is accepted that the sandwich was invented in Harlem around 1998 at Hajji’s Deli. The chopped cheese is a perfect, affordable meal after a night out, or anytime you’re craving a loaded burger on a sub roll.

Go to any deli or bodega in the Big City, and ask for a “chopped cheese on a hero”, and prepare yourself for the euphonious vibrations of a metal spatula clanking on the grill as the cook sautés a beef burger patty, layers it with a couple of slices of American cheese, and proceeds to “chop” everything into ground up pieces, sprinkles it with salt and pepper, and tops it onto a grilled hero roll with lettuce, tomatoes, and whichever condiment you ask for. It’s simple, it’s savory, and importantly, satiating.

A half slice of the ‘ROC’ Chopped Cheese from Starlight

While the Chopped Cheese was born in NYC, it’s made its way upstate to delis across cities like Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo. The effects of this pilgrimage have paved the way for a new contender, one that pays homage to the classic sub but adds a new flair and uniqueness, and embraces the culture and heritage of Rochester, New York. It’s called the ROC Chopped Cheese, and it’s being chopped up at Starlight, a market & deli on South Avenue in the South Wedge.

By now, you may be asking yourself, What’s different between the ROC Chopped Cheese and a NYC-classic chopped cheese? The answer is this — while the original chopped cheese uses a long hoagie-type roll, the ROC Chopped Cheese uses Coco bread, a bread originating in Jamaica, but with roots throughout the Caribbean. Coco bread is made from flour, butter or oil, yeast, sugar, and milk or coconut milk, which gives it a softer texture. Its profile is dense, softer in consistency, and a bit sweet to the taste. It pairs perfectly with a savory ground beef patty.

The process that Starlight uses is on par with the NYC-style chop; however, they add banana peppers, onions, provolone, and pepper jack cheese, and top it off with boss sauce, a Rochester original sauce known for its tangy-sweet flavors with mild spices. All of these flavors combine to make for a sandwich that is somewhat tangy, somewhat sweet, and savory, but packed with flavor. The owners at Starlight are originally from The Bronx and have established a deli that brings a New York City-type vibe to the South Wedge. In doing so, they have reimagined a traditional sandwich and given it a Rochester spin that is delicious for all the right reasons.

Deli meats and cheeses in the deli section at Starlight in Rochester, NY