At the sandwich counter, Heathcliffe grills the onions and peppers on a flattop, and he grills and thinly slices ribeye for the steak. He also has a vegetarian cheesesteak that’s got extra veggies and mushrooms. Either way, Heathcliffe gives the option of either provolone or Cheez Whiz. I order mine with the provolone because it’s melty, and I like it better; the Whiz is saucier and more runny. And all of this is served on a dense, soft hoagie loaf that I’m pretty sure he ships in from Philadelphia.
Verti Marte is a counter in the back of a convenience store in the French Quarter, and it’s open 24 hours. Even though they’re a convenience store, they still have good food. Everything is prepared super simply, grab and go. The best thing about the place is that you can just get something good and quick in your stomach—po’ boys, omelettes, and chicken Creole, a half-braised, half-roasted chicken—and there doesn’t have to be anything fancy about it. That’s why I love it.
