Danny & Coop's co-owner says Bradley Cooper is '1st one in, last to leave' cooking Philly cheesesteaks
There's less than a month to go until Super Bowl LX, and as football fans dream up their big game menus, they may want to consider including one beloved regional sandwich: the Philly cheesesteak.
You don't have to be a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan like Bradley Cooper to enjoy tender shredded beef mixed with Cooper Sharp cheddar on a sesame hoagie -- just ask Michael Strahan, who after one bite of a Danny & Coop's cheesesteak, delivered live on "Good Morning America" Friday by Danny & Coop's co-founder Cooper himself, said, "Honestly, this is the best cheesesteak I've ever had."
"I gotta say, it's the only thing I like outta Philadelphia," the Hall of Fame New York Giants defensive end added while bantering with Cooper.
Cooper gave a shoutout to the Danny & Coop's staff, including the baker and line cooks who woke up early to make the special morning show delivery happen.
"This is the maestro," the actor then added, giving a shoutout to his co-founder Danny DiGiampietro, who also owns the renowned Angelo's Pizzeria in South Philly and ensures each foot-long sesame seed roll for Danny & Coop's signature menu item gets baked fresh daily to achieve a perfectly crusty-yet-chewy texture.
Cooper first teamed up with the Philly cheesesteak master in 2023 to bring an authentic taste of Philly to the masses in New York City with a food truck. Tge duo later opened their East Village counter service shop in 2024.
"It was his idea," DiGiampietro said, referring to Cooper. "He called me one day, and he was like, 'You've been dodging me long enough, I want to open a cheesesteak place in New York.' I thought he was kidding."
Since the success of their food truck turned brick and mortar, DiGiampietro said the 12-time Academy Award nominee is often "in there cooking, cleaning, he's the first one in and last to leave. I can vouch for him."
When he's not slinging cheesesteaks, Cooper, who turned 51 on Monday, has kept busy with other projects, including his latest project with Will Arnett, "Is This Thing On?", which the pair co-wrote with Mark Chappell and starred in, with Cooper directing.
"We have a movie with a hopeful ending -- hope you walk away feeling better, especially right now," Cooper said on "GMA" Friday. "I'm excited for everyone to see it."
As for his NFL playoff outlook for the Eagles, Cooper, a longtime fan, was equally hopeful.
"Looks like Lane Johnson is back against the [San Francisco 49ers]," he said, referring to the Eagles' star right tackle, who returned to practice this week from a foot injury, just in time for the team's NFC wild-card matchup against the 49ers on Sunday. "Feeling good."
