Wild Unveils New Foods For Hockey Season At Xcel Energy Center
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Wild hockey season is just around the corner.
With a new season, there are also tasty new menu items. WCCO's Molly Rosenblatt was at Xcel Energy Center on Thursday and has a preview of what hungry Wild fans can order this winter.
"Anytime you can mix meat and gravy and French fries and cheese curds, I'm doing okay there," one fan said.
From the Havana hat trick to pulled pork poutine, hungry Wild fans will have plenty to choose from to satisfy that game time appetite.
"The bread was good. It was a nice, perfect crisp bread with a pickle on there that really gave it a good kick," another fan said.
This is what she's describing: "Biscuit in a Basket," the new menu item with some southern flare, and naturally, a hockey-inspired name. The mastermind behind all of it? Executive Chef Jason Steidle.
"You kind of build on what you know is hot. Obviously there's food trends, we always kind of keep an eye on those food trends in Minnesota, food trends that may be coming to Minnesota," Steidle said.
Steidle says don't worry, they're keeping all the classics. And as far as expanding, that includes more than just the menu items.
And this restaurant, the Reserve, used to be exclusive to suite holders. But this year, they've opened it up to everyone in the arena.
And they don't forget adult beverages. There are also new wines from two Minnesota wineries. Because at the end of each game, there's much more to the experience than what happens on the ice.
"If they can come in and the Wild win, that's great. But if they came and they can take away and tell somebody about the sandwich they had or the loaded fry or the sausage they had, you know anything, obviously that just helps out a little bit more," Steidle said.
The Wild will start the season on the road in St. Louis next Wednesday, Oct. 12. They will then be home at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday, Oct. 15.
