I mean, it'd be a real challenge. But some sort of savory cheesecake, with a savory crust, topped with cheese steak fillings and I could see it being... okay-ish. I don't think it would gain mainstream appeal, but I could see it being some sort of local delicacy that all the locals say is delicious but also a acquired taste.
My thought is some sort of rosemary heavy crust with whole wheat bread crumbs instead of graham crackers, a garlic and onion flavored (and sugar free) cheese cake and then standard Philly cheese steak filling for the topping. Add in a dollop of cheese wiz on the top and some sort of balsamic/worcestershire reduction drizzled onto the top.
We could call it the Trenton Makes. Or name it after the Raritan. Or call it the Chris Christie Calorie Bomb Special. Or we could call it The Great Adventure. Or call it something like The 6 and 7 (growing up in Trenton, you get both NYC and Philly channels on TV - for example, Philly 6ABC was on 6 and NYC's ABC was on 7).
I try very hard every day to avoid making a savory salmon and dill cheesecake. When my resolve fails, I like to top it with some capers or pickled red onions.
So, will native Philidephians be more upset that someone put cheese steak on a cheesecake, or that you called it a 'Philly' when it is adulterated with peppers and missing one of the two acceptable [traditional] cheeses (American [Provolone] or whizz)? Place your bets and hopefully a real Philadelphian can let us know which is more upsetting. I'm betting on the latter, but not heavily.
Philadelphian here. Sharp provolone is preferred. Nevertheless, I'd try it. Although cream cheese separates when you heat it so this would have to be eaten cold. It's probably not bad, but I'm not sure about the chocolate on bottom.
I'm not native, but have lived in Philly. The bell peppers bother me. Wiz, American, provolone, or Swiss all are pretty common in my experience. As is no cheese at all, which this appears to be. But then it's not a cheesesteak, it's a steak.
Yeah, I think I misremebered that one. It's been some years since I heard my coworker at the time rant about how cheesesteaks made other ways might taste good, but they're not Philly cheesesteaks anymore and please stop calling them that.