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kashmir772 t1_je2mufz wrote

Yep, but make sure it is chipped chopped ham. Sizzle that up for a bit pure yummy.

3

tesla3by3 t1_je2n5n6 wrote

I don’t know of any place that sells it pre-made. It’s basically chipped chopped ham cooked in barbecue sauce and served on a bun. There are variations in how people make it, though. Some people add onions, pickle relish,etc.

So ask grandma what her recipe is and make it for her.

23

DoctorCAD t1_je2nn36 wrote

Isleys chipped ham plus Open Pit BBQ sauce. Warm it up and stick on a hamburger bun.

If that doesn't say Pittsburgh, you ain't real Pittsburgh.

18

TwilightTurquoise t1_je2o94g wrote

Giant Eagle has the Isalys BBQ Sauce. In my local store it is near the deli.

42

cmyk412 t1_je2oa02 wrote

Only legit if it’s made in a huge crock pot from the VFW.

99

PearBlossom t1_je2pkhg wrote

Islay’s chipped ham with Islay’s bbq sauce. Sold at every Giant Iggle and Shop n Save in the area but ya gotta buy it at the deli and make it yourself.

Im not from the area originally but I found it revolting. The ham is the most disgusting fatty mechanically separated and put back together weird hunk of nope Ive ever seen. And I come from the land of pork roll (chefs kiss) and scrapple (everything but the oink). The second ingredient in Islay’s bbq sauce is high fructose corn syrup and the fourth ingredient is corn syrup, to give you an idea.

3

helpmefindthissongg t1_je2qkjc wrote

My grandmother just called it barbecued ham. Definitely a thing. She made her sauce with ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, maybe some vinegar but I can’t remember. Soft sesame seed buns. Chips on the side.

6

burghfan t1_je2qnzx wrote

1T vinegar, 1/4c brown sugar, 1c ketchup, 1c water, 1/2t dry mustard. Paprika to color, simmer, add 1 lb ham. Let simmer for at least 15 minutes before serving. Better leftover!

311

PearBlossom t1_je2r0a4 wrote

Replying to Substantial_Name595 (#2,432,494)

Ive worked at Shop n Save deli for a while, I can’t even begin to tell you the hundreds of pounds of this stuff that I have chipped. The official Islay’s brand. There is an absolute clear difference between this type of lunchmeat and your standard actual hunk of whole meat. No pig is marbled in such a way that Islay’s ham looks like. Its all ground up and made into a loaf. The only ham I found worse was Bar S and it is mostly white and very light pink due to all the fat. Its the reason they are so much cheaper per pound.

9

SBpotomus t1_je2r3dy wrote

I may be kicked out of Pittsburgh for this... but ham BBQ is gross

10

MagentaMist t1_je2rj56 wrote

Replying to PearBlossom (#2,432,446)

You can make your own BBQ sauce. Brown sugar, ketchup (Heinz, of course), red wine or apple cider vinegar, water, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Easy peasy.

1

Karen2211 t1_je2s0az wrote

My parents simply made their bbq sauce with ketchup and Coca Cola. It was quite tasty.

24

PearBlossom t1_je2sibq wrote

Replying to A_lunch_lady (#2,432,948)

yes! It flies everywhere. Fat smeared all over the slicer. We chip multiple pounds of it and put it in containers to sell throughout the day because it makes such a mess. When I have to clean the trays and containers I have to soak them in the hottest soapy water I can to melt all the residual fat because there’s no just wiping it off.

6

nintante t1_je2umqd wrote

Ritual house downtown has chip chopped ham

3

yolorelli t1_je2uwh6 wrote

They used to feed them to us in grade school at lunch.

2

Zealousideal-Bug1967 t1_je2v78g wrote

Don’t think it’s something you’re going to find at a restaurant but it’s most certainly a Pittsburgh staple meal.

3

wi_voter t1_je2vh1w wrote

I grew up in Pittsburgh and it is chipped ham, a cup of Heinz ketchup, and a can of Coke

2

CowboyNealCassady t1_je2vhwi wrote

CoGo’s is my go to, 5 paunds a chip chop ham and a bottle of isley’s bbq in a crockpot, boom

2

beardedbearjew t1_je2w7cv wrote

I'm a transplant so maybe it's a yinzer thing, but my wife makes it a crockpot with bbq sauce. I'd never had it before but it's pretty good.

2

sonofcrack t1_je2wgmf wrote

Get a pan.

Some isalys ham(or whatever is cheap), must be chipped.

I prefer sweet baby rays but whatever BBQ sauce you prefer.

Fry the ham and add some BBQ sauce once the ham has a slight char. Mix well.

That’s how I grew up on ham BBQ

0

longredbeardpgh t1_je2wv8h wrote

We called it chipped ham barbecue growing up. I've lived in a bunch of different places and never found anyone who knew what it was unless they were from western PA.

1

IMicrowaveSteak OP t1_je2y1ec wrote

Sorry, OP just getting back to this thread. So there are 51 replies as of now, everyone seems to have validated this is indeed “a thing” but literally nowhere has them for sale? I’m at a damn Marriott hotel. I can’t whip it up in a crock pot!

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snaptop43142 t1_je2z6e2 wrote

Doesnt have to be complicated. Ketchup and Coke. Relish optional. Just thin the ketchup (Heinz) with the coke and heat with the chipped ham.

5

pparhplar t1_je31bbh wrote

One can of tomato soup, just enough relish. Simmer to perfection. I don't remember my mom adding anything fancy.

0

motociclista t1_je32qok wrote

It’s a thing. But you don’t buy it. You make it.

1

atuznik t1_je33zmc wrote

There’s a little town just north of the city that is home to one of Pittsburgh’s Legends: Islay’s Chip-Chop Ham Barbecue. Genevieve has been a server here for 65 years, and she’s never missed one shift.
“So what exactly is a chip- chop ham, Genevieve?”
“We’ll, we take the ham and chip it so thin, some of it gets chopped!” “Mmmm, that sounds delicious.” “It is.”

2

ATastyPickle t1_je34yla wrote

You don’t find it. It finds you if you’re lucky

3

CL-MotoTech t1_je36n5s wrote

Replying to pghreddit (#2,433,657)

BBQ sauce usually has garlic, Worcestershire sauce, onion (either fresh or powder), and usually more sugar than you would find ham BBQ sauce. A lot of BBQ sauces are quite high in the molasses, which ham BBQ is typically not. I know we are sort of splitting hairs here, but personally, ham BBQ sauce is enough different from traditional BBQ sauce to me that I consider them to be two separate things.

17

NotAnOxfordCommaFan t1_je37llj wrote

People all make it differently. We do isalys chipped ham and heinz chili sauce.

2

PearBlossom t1_je37mo9 wrote

Replying to sonofcrack (#2,433,909)

Don’t get me wrong, fat has its time and place. I cant eat meat any longer but I long for the days of a nice fatty rib eye or thick hunk of fatty prime rib cooked medium rare. Im a big believer in Philly cheesesteaks being fatty. Hell I picked the fatty parts off the roast hams my mom made for the holidays. But there is just something so off about the fat in lunchmeat like this. I also think their closely related cousins the dutch load, old fashioned loaf, pickle loaf etc are equally gross and they use similar methods.

3

PoorPauly t1_je39mfd wrote

Buy a lb of Islay’s chipped ham and a jar of islays bbq sauce. Combine and heat. Put on a bun with some American cheese. Viola.

2

colindean t1_je39zhm wrote

Replying to burghfan (#2,432,658)

I had a really dumb recipe that I used to make a lot when I live alone that was basically open pit barbecue sauce because it was so cheap and then I would add some extra soy sauce because I wanted to feel fancy. This recipe is a lot better than that but the way that I used to do it was a great mindless bachelor way to whip up some chipped ham that wasn't just straight from store-bought.

1

HOTGRIZZY t1_je3ctyh wrote

Cant believe this is even a real question

0

hiperson134 t1_je3dr9h wrote

Here's what you need to do to do this at a hotel. Find your nearest Giant Eagle or Shop'n'Save. If Kuhn's is closer, one, I'd be surprised, but two I'd go there. They just tend to have better prices imo. Locate the deli, ask for Isaly's chipped ham. It'll almost surely be pre-sliced in a giant heap at the deli counter. Nearby you'll be on the lookout for a jar of orangish red sauce on a yellow label that says something like "Isaly's bbq sauce." It's usually somewhere in the vicinity of the deli, not in the aisle with condiments. I wouldn't exactly call it bbq sauce and I wouldn't substitute it with anything else. Forget the homemade stuff, this'll do.

Find yourself some kaiser rolls, don't need to be anything fancy. Mix up your ham and sauce and heat it up. I like mine sauteed in a pan, some people do a crock pot, honestly....a microwave will do if that's all you have access to. You're really just trying to warm it up.

Throw it on the roll and serve with a Turner's iced tea.

5

KeisterApartments t1_je3ecev wrote

If you're not using chipped chopped ham, you're not getting the hammiest flavor you can

1

pugapooh t1_je3erl1 wrote

Is this the same idea as Barbecue Loaf? Made by Esskay,found at some deli counters.

1

ElJamoquio t1_je3eygb wrote

Definitely a thing. We just made it in the skillet.

1

scholly73 t1_je3fve5 wrote

Any time I pick my kid up from Pitt we buy Isalys chipped chopped ham and bring it home. There isn’t any here on the eastern side of the state that I can find anyway. Can’t beat it. One of my girls loves it. Other one hates it lol. Can’t win them all I guess.

1

Kairenne t1_je3gto5 wrote

I have used DelGrosso’s sloppy Joe mix as the sauces. Very tasty!

1

Jahya69 t1_je3ig8z wrote

I believe it's just sliced ham, basically marinated in very salty barbecue sauce.

1

Hokiecivil t1_je3jo2a wrote

My Grandmas, Mom and Aunts all called these sloppy joe's and yes, Isalys all day.

1

ChUNkyTheKitty t1_je3n18x wrote

You have to make it yourself. I cook the isaly’s chipped ham down , add sweet baby rays and some dill relish. Delish!

1

die-jarjar-die t1_je3n1ct wrote

You can satisfy ol' grandma by dressing her up in a pair of yogurt pants and getting her over to the Arby's on Mcknight. Order a ham sandwich, add Arby's sauce, find love.

1

watergate_1983 t1_je3nin5 wrote

The one Pittsburgh delicacy I never loved. I still remember the commercials though.

2

rogimonster t1_je3oqha wrote

HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE OF HAM LATELY??? WE CANT EVEN AFFORD CHIPPED HAM SANDWICHES.

5

1stCaptainSkrall t1_je3phlb wrote

Replying to A_lunch_lady (#2,432,948)

We just got done with a sale at my store, $2.99 a pound. Everything since last Wednesday has been coated in a thin veneer of grease and I've found pieces of the ham stuck in the grooves of my sneakers every day after work. People came and ordered anywhere from 2 pounds to some lunatic who ordered 14 pounds. I think today alone I chipped almost 40 pounds.

If that sale comes around again I'm going to work in the bakery or something for a week

2

Kolintracstar t1_je3pjgd wrote

Replying to IMicrowaveSteak (#2,434,115)

No one would sell them. It is a cheap but good thing, and I would definitely not buy one from a store out of posterity.

Just go to your nearest shop n save, pick up Isally's Chipped ham, Isally's Barbecue Sauce (since you can't make your own) and hamburger buns (and a bowl to heat it in the microwave). Combine sauce and ham, heat, then put the ham on the bun, then eat.

3

SendAstronomy t1_je3qwyq wrote

My grandma worked at Islay's so chipped ham and Klondikes were staple foods when I was growing up.

2

pugsnblunts t1_je3svmc wrote

Isaly’s chipped ham, Heinz ketchup, yellow mustard, relish. That’s it

1

CrowSucker t1_je3y09r wrote

The fried green tomato on the chipped ham bbq is a family favorite. It’s usually Sunday week 2/3 Steeler games.

1

booksgamesandstuff t1_je41gex wrote

Replying to thatoneladythere (#2,435,959)

My uncle would always put some piccalilli (that my aunt had made!) on his barbecue chipped ham, and my aunt and cousin would glare at him, as if he were desecrating the barbecue ham. I'd had it both ways for years, depending on whether my mother or my aunt were making it, but wow people got serious about it.

2

VulturE t1_je43xpe wrote

Replying to IMicrowaveSteak (#2,434,115)

Just goto giant eagle, buy the islays sauce (should be in a jar that says buy 1.25lbs of their islays chip chopped ham), ask for the islays meat at the deli counter chip chopped, they'll cut it Bible paper thin if they do it right.

Layer it meat then a little sauce in a container then heat it, then transfer to a bun. Bun is gonna get soggy so don't try to heat it on the bun or it's gonna be mushy as hell before you even eat it.

It's referred to as "ham barbecue", I don't think you'll find it at any restuaunt. It was Def an at home meal.

8

lhurker t1_je47tc8 wrote

YINZ CAN GET IT AT ISALY’S ANNAT

2

tactslave t1_je4axeq wrote

Take her to another grandmas house.

2

IClight69 t1_je4dbs1 wrote

Just buy the jar of Islay’s Ham bbq and chipped ham at like Kuhns or shop n save. Put that ish in a crock pot and get some potato buns and live ur best life. Add an ic light or a red ribbon to warsh it dahn . Maybe make a pretzel salad to goes long wid it nat

1

BuffyTheMoronSlayer t1_je4ha6x wrote

A few weeks ago, I made this for my teen sons. They were horrified by it. It was hysterical to watch their reaction. It’s such a throwback to a very specific era in Pittsburgh history.

3

RLS1969 t1_je4ird1 wrote

My gram worked for isly’s this is her recipe

5 lbs Chipped Chopped Ham

1 big bottle of heinz ketchup

1/2 c of brown sugar

20 oz pepsi

warm chipped ham in a pot enough to drain some grease

add ingredients, stir

simmer for 5 hours

(also better left over imo)

2

mball80 t1_je4kr2w wrote

Go to I.S.A.L.Y’s in West View. You can have a great breakfast and then get your chipped chopped ham and Isley’s BBQ sauce to go.

1

jinreeko t1_je4m0fc wrote

Replying to burghfan (#2,432,658)

This reminds me a lot of what Central PA calls BBQ. Except the use ground beef instead of ham. Nice sweet and tangy sauce that crystalizes orange when you put in the fridge

1

skuc79 t1_je4mked wrote

We just made this last week

1

natetrnr t1_je4no2c wrote

Party food around here. Not the greatest.

1

Agile-Hopeful4707 t1_je4tza0 wrote

It's possible that your grandma used Isaly's sauce for this. It is still available and it has directions. Sweet or dill relish are recommended choices. And potato buns. It takes 5 minutes and grandma will appreciate it.

1

winebiddle t1_je4wqlc wrote

you put that shit in a crockpot with some of the isaly's sauce. throw it on a bun. oooobaby.

3

PoopyInThePeePeeHole t1_je50rlg wrote

I'm more of a rum ham kinda guy. At least when I'm not having a good milk steak

1

Other_Ad_1515 t1_je5auon wrote

Yes it is a thing. Apparently the only part of it that we can agree on it however is that you use Isalys chipped ham. For the sauce my grandma always uses brown sugar, ketchup, and a little bit of grape jelly.

2

jak341 t1_je5ec79 wrote

Pittsburgh ham BBQ made easy.

  1. Go to local deli and request Islay's chip chopped ham. Chipped chopped is how you want it sliced.
  2. Buy a jar of Islay's BBQ sauce. 3 Boil ham in sauce for 20 minutes.
  3. Serve on a roll. If you want some N.E. Pennsylvania flair, serve on a hard roll.
  4. Enjoy.
1

mooninthelining t1_je5pcno wrote

idk what if any other stores carry it buy you can buy islay’s bbq sauce in a jar a khuns

2

1stCaptainSkrall t1_je5pquj wrote

Replying to FunyunInspector (#2,446,756)

There's people that swear it's better sliced. Honestly I'm ashamed these people's vote counts as much as mine, because I cannot possibly fathom being so confidently wrong

And every time I ask why they get it sliced, they always say it was their parents who got them on that when they were kids. I don't know why anyone would make choosing the worst possible way to eat grease meat a lineage.

1

wagsman t1_je6aw5h wrote

Oh hell yes. Get you some chipped ham at the deli, cook it in BBQ sauce(islays is the #1 seed), slap that on a bun, and eat it.

Every family engagement with the Pittsburgh side of my family had/has a slow cooker full of that.

1

GarbageSad5442 t1_je6lvyx wrote

Replying to Substantial_Name595 (#2,431,824)

Isaly's also makes a BBQ sauce that most GE's carry near the deli! Make sure they chip the ham.

I'm not a fan of the Isaly's, it's really greasy so I use chipped cooked ham and either Sweet Baby Ray's or Sticky Fingers sauce. But, try the Isaly's first for the authentic Yinzer sandwich!

1

Pittsburgh-Punk-Rock t1_je8o63u wrote

Ham BBQ. Just grab a pound of Isaly’s chipped ham and a jar of Isaly’s bbq sauce. Mix them together and warm it up in a pot, Serve on fresh Italian bread or rolls. Delicious.

1

JuliKay2u t1_jeb5l9v wrote

Many, many moons ago, I worked in an IGA deli. We made BBQ chipped chopped ham with Isaly's, Heinz chilli sauce, Heinz ketchup, and brown sugar.

Start with a dump of the chilli sauce, ketchup and a good spoonful or two of the brown sugar. Heat slowly over low heat, stirring. Taste and augment flavor with more of the above, then slowly add in the ham. Add more "sauce" ingredients as needed to coat the ham. Serve on a good squishy bun. Enjoy!

1