Surrounded by New York accents, we anticipated authenticity during this week’s Chef’s Kitchen visit to an Oviedo mom ‘n’ pop.

But a mom ‘n’ pop takes on new meaning when it’s run by twin brothers. Alex and Nick Kritikos own The New York Bakery Boys in Oviedo (2960 W. State Rd. 426). 

With a heritage spanning over a century, the boys are bringing the Big Apple taste from the family-owned bakery in New York to the Sunshine State.

“My father got involved in the 70s,” Alex said. “He and his brother got involved. Those were the original bakery boys,” adding, “We wanted to keep the name involved with it.”

Alex says he’s best at baking, hence “the bakery boys.” (They whip their own cream cheese in a huge machine in the back of the kitchen). But for our featured recipe this week, Alex wanted to show off their Chopped Cheese.

“This started in the bodegas in New York,” he said, preparing the meat patty. “Just mix it all up and make it like a hamburger. But this is chopped.”

No fuss. No frills. Just comfort. Let’s cook!

Recipe: Chopped Cheese – by The New York Bakery Boys

Ingredients:

8 oz ground beef

2 slices American cheese

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Adobo

Lettuce

Onion

Tomato

Ketchup

Mayo

Hoagie
 

Instructions:

1.        Season ground beef with Adobo, garlic powder, onion powder

2.        Cook beef flipping to ensure fully cooked

3.        Add cheese to beef and steam

4.        Toast hoagie

5.        Add mayo, lettuce, onions and tomatoes

6.        Add beef and cheese to hoagie

7.        Add ketchup to finish