Food & Drink
The Viral Chopped Sandwich Trend Arrives in Fells Point
At Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli, the chopping—done with the help of a rounded mezzaluna blade and a knife—leads to a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
When Ernestine Chambers and Naté Gordon opened Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli in Fells Point in May, they marked many a milestone as the first Black women-owned bodega and deli in Baltimore—and the first to feature a menu based on chopped sandwiches, the latest TikTok trend.
Chopped sandwiches are just what they sound like—with all the components of a sandwich cut into small pieces and mixed before being loaded into some sort of sub roll.
“Everyone comes in and says they saw us on TikTok,” says Chambers, laughing, “but we just got on TikTok.”
Look for plenty of overstuffed sandwiches (weighing between one and three pounds) like The Godfather, an Italian sub mash-up with peppered ham, Genoa salami, capicola, and provolone, plus onions and peppers tossed with scratch-made Italian dressing; and the vegan Wise Warrior, a colorful combination of vegan cheddar, lettuce, avocado, garlic hummus, tomato, and onions dressed with garlic aioli.
The chopping—done with the help of a rounded mezzaluna blade and a knife—leads to a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
“What happens when we take all the ingredients and chop them together is that your tongue explodes on every bite because you are activating all your senses in that process,” explains Chambers. “But what keeps people coming back are homemade dressings and sauces.”
In addition to chopped sandwiches, Chambers and Gordon are hoping to serve the community by being the corner store that also sells household products, fresh produce, and dry goods at reasonable prices.
“It’s a convenience store,” says Gordon, whose other job is workforce development, “but it’s also gourmet food in the back of a bodega.”
Thus far, their customers couldn’t be happier.
“A few days ago, I was sitting in my car and a guy banged on my car window,” says Chambers. “He was like, ‘You have to get in there to make food!’ I went in and he ordered the Frank Lucas, a beef pastrami with melted provolone, mayo, and honey mustard. He came out and stood on the curb dancing while he ate the sandwich—he did this entire joyful shuffle in front of the store.”