The United Center's new menu: Beer in a hockey stick, plus elevated sandwiches

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It’s been 30 years since the United Center first opened its doors, and as new seasons begin for the Blackhawks and Bulls, the stadium’s concession team hopes its new menu will be a big winner with fans.

“We are always trying to find new ways to enhance the guest experience through food, and I think that we really try to showcase all the different varieties of food … so there’s something for everyone,” said Scott Perez, the United Center’s executive chef.

Perez spoke at Monday’s menu unveiling, which took place at the United Center. He told WBBM that crafting a menu for stadium-goers is all about consistency.

“We want to know that our fans are going to get the same thing every time,” he said. “You start with cooking for yourself, and hopefully it translates well to the guest.”

Among the food menu’s new additions: A slew of handheld items, including a prime rib onion roll, a crispy chicken and pimento cheese sandwich, house-made chips and avocado dip, and thin-crust pizza from Giordano’s.

Perez, though, said one of his favorites is the double-dog, which he described as an homage to the classic Chicago hot dog. The United Center’s version features two beef franks, mustard, relish, onion and sport peppers, but it’s missing the pickle, tomato and celery salt that normally top a Chicago hot dog. Although the flavors are missed, the decision to take away some of the bulkier toppings makes the hot dog a bit less messy than its traditional counterpart.

“Having the Vienna natural casing there gives it a nice snap,” he said. “Having two of the smaller links in there gives it a different texture,” so it’s definitely a unique item.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the menu, though, was the prime rib onion roll. Perez said the “elevated sandwich” isn’t one that most people wouldn’t expect to see from a stadium concession stand.

The sandwich, which will be available from MadWest in Section 105, features sliced-to-order prime rib, spicy barbecue sauce, Dijon cheese and crispy onion straws. Perez said they were looking for a “wow item in that area.”

“There’s a lot of foot traffic that comes through the building,” he said. “I was challenged with coming up with something that’s over the top. That was literally the request: over the top.”

As for beverages, two stood out. The first was the split old fashioned, which takes bourbon and mezcal and turns them into a smoky take on the traditional cocktail. That can be purchased from Queenie’s Supper Club, which is located near the Gate 4 atrium.

The other was the beer-filled hockey stick, which takes clear inspiration from the viral Chicago Cubs Beer Bats. Officials said the beer-filled hockey stick will have 24 ounces of beer but likely won’t be ready for purchase until December.

Below, find compiled a list of WBBM’s favorite new concessions items, as well as where they can be purchased inside the United Center:

Prime rib onion roll: MadWest, Section 105

Crispy chicken and pimento cheese sandwich: Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Section 115

Split old fashioned: Inside Queenie’s Supper Club, which is located just off the atrium at Gate 4

Nitro espresso martini: Ketel One Bar at Section 104

Housemade chips and avocado dip: This Little Goat Taqueria, Sections 114 and 230

Giordano’s thin crust pizza with slice meatball, banana peppers, giardiniera and black olives: The Giordano’s stand at Section 120

The double-dog: Chicago Dish locations in Sections 104, 222, 305 and 322

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