WORCESTER, Mass. - Making the best cheesesteak has always been a passion for longtime Worcester resident Mike “Ziggy the Cook” Devish.
"There's not really a steak and cheese place out in Worcester right now,” Devish said in a recent interview. “I really wanted one steak and cheese spot because you always see people talking about going to a pizza place for a steak and cheese or going to some random place.”
Devish launched Ziggy Bombs earlier this year and is cooking up specialty steak and cheeses, like his extremely popular Pu Pu Platter cheesesteak which is topped with appetizers from Nancy Chang's Chinese restaurant in Worcester.
"Chicken tenders, beef teriyaki, crab rangoons, threw it all on top with some duck sauce and everything,” Devish said. “Ended up getting a great crowd."
A crowd so great, he sold nearly 300 sandwiches in his first ever pop-up in July and was back at on Friday at Lucky’s Cafe.
For Devish, cooking is just something he says comes natural to him.
“That was just pretty much my first job when I was like 15,” Devish said. “I started at Friendly’s and I just wanted to cook since then really."
It's why he has two cooking jobs on top of running Ziggy Bombs
Spectrum News 1 got behind the stove with Devish during his second pop-up last week. Selling hundreds more sandwiches, he says he's grateful for the support he and his business have seen so far.
"When I was putting out orders, people were clapping, rooting away and everything,” Devish said. “The fans are everything. Online is great."
Devish is running his operation out of Lucky’s Cafe, where he serves as a cook. But after two successful pop-ups and hundreds of cheesesteaks, he’s ready to take the next step.
"I'm actually looking at a location right now to open up an actual store,” Devish said. “I'm definitely looking to open up a restaurant."