When the Buffalo Sabres begin their 2016-17 National Hockey League season next week, fans will be able to enjoy new food items ranging from specialty hot dogs to sushi. The Sabres, along with Delaware North Sportservice, are emphasizing local flavors that utilize components from local businesses in this year's new menu items.
The Sabres and Delaware North hosted a sneak preview for news media Thursday morning in the Lexus Club at KeyBank Center. Chefs were busy preparing the entire line of new food menu items, many of which pay tribute to Buffalo beyond its most famous delicacy.
"We really wanted to highlight Buffalo this year," said Andy Altomare, Delaware North's director of food and beverage at KeyBank Center. "The food scene is growing and becoming a spectacular thing here. But we didn't want it to be just the traditional hot sauce and bleu cheese."
The local flavors include a Broadway Polish Platter, paying tribute to the city's Polish population and featuring locally produced pierogi. There is also a foot-long Polish sausage on a pretzel bun topped with Weber's mustard.
The new waffle ice cream sandwich features components made locally. The ice cream is produced by Perry's, while the waffle batter contains ground-up cereal produced by the General Mills plant in Buffalo.
Numerous local businesses are featured in the new menu items.
"We always try to have the local people here involved," said Michael Gilbert, the Sabres' vice president of administration and general manager of HarborCenter. "Not just here but over at the stadium (New Era Field), over at HarborCenter, any time we can do that and help the local economy."
The Sabres host their first home game of the 2016-17 season on Thursday, October 13.
