How many of you know what "Chip Chopped Ham" is?
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
United States
February 28, 2007 3:24pm CST
This is a very local thing, first created by a small locally owned business called Isleys in Pittsburgh, Pa. While the idea of chip chopped ham (or chipped choppped ham) caught on as far as 4 hours outside the Pittsburgh area I think it really is something very local. There are now some Islay's delis in Ohio, Pennsylvania and I believe even West Virginia.
Do you know what it is and have you ever eaten it?
For those who don't know, it's simply chopped ham luncheon meat that is chipped very thin sliced. Islays became famous for putting it in a succulent bbq sauce, heating slowly all day and creating the best ever in the world bbq ham sandwiches. Very, very inexpensive to make! Here in Erie we can get it for as cheap as 99 cents a pound sometimes and never more then $1.99! I personally don't care for chopped ham on it's own but love it bbq'd.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@suscan (1955)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Isaly's is truly the best chipped ham. One of my friends lives in California and when he comes home he takes several pounds back with him when he leaves. He insists there is nothing like it in CA.
I love a good ol pittsburgh ham barbq ,but I also like it with cheese on a sandwich.
My DAd always took us to the big Isalys store in Oakland to get chipped ham and while we were there we got a rainbow cone or a klondike.Isalys had great ice cream too.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Oh yeah.... nothing can beat Islay's for both ice cream and sandwiches... of course the chipped chopped ham ones. LOL
A true burgher knows how to eat... I'll say that!
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Not sure if I've ever had chipped ham but I sure do remember chipped beef...Mom used to buy the packets in store that you could put in a saucepan with water; we would then put them on toast. Oh, they were so good and I remember that the price was very low. But now, the same packet(s) are over a dollar. How can they justify that?
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
1 Mar 07
It's just like Spam. Remember Spam used to be what the poor folk or those on a strict budget ate? Heck, it's not so cheap anymore and for the price you pay you can generally get a decent cut of meat now! LOL
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
1 Mar 07
chip chopped ham is luncheon meat, chopped ham, that is sliced razor thin through "chipping" the meat loaf against a commercial meat slicer blade. Chopped ham is a mixture of ham chunks and trimmings and seasonings, ground together and then packaged into loaves. By chipping the meat extremely thin, the meat is more tender and has more flavor than if it is sliced thickly. In Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, the slicing process is also known as "Pittsburgh Style." Sometimes the chopped ham, once chipped, is mixed with barbecue sauce before it is made into a sandwich. Isaly's in Pittsburgh helped to popularize chipped ham
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Exactly!!!! I noticed I misspelled Islay's too. OOps. LOL
But I guarantee... cook up one and u will have a new fave!
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Maddy's recipe hits the nail right on the head too! If you can find chopped ham and ask them to shave it ... hence the chipped part... then have them shave very thin any ham you can find.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
1 Mar 07
Sounds good to me. I would like to try it myself. Chip chopped ham sandwich, side of potato salad and a diet pepsi, Hmmmmmmmmmm.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
1 Mar 07
OK... u come to pitt and i'll buy!!! LOL
You're not only a cheap date but one with good taste! LOL
It seriously rocks. You're from the NYC area, right? I'll bet you can find chopped ham at a local deli and have them shave it real thin, then just plop it in a crock pot with a couple bottles of the best bbq sauce u can find. Serve in on toasted buns. I don't even bother with the cheese... I love 'em just plain.
