Smorgasbord of food options set for Winter Classic

PHILADELPHIA -- For the fans attending Citizens Bank Park for the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic expecting the usual ballpark fare, think again.

Pass on breakfast and bring your appetite, because there will be a bill of fare available that will keep you warm and happy.

Citizens Bank Park Senior Executive Chef Glenn Richmond and his staff have created a selection of soups, sandwiches, desserts and beverages for the Winter Classic that are sure to satisfy.

"It's the winter season so we're getting away from the tomatoes and fruit-based items we'd offer in the summertime," Richmond told NHL.com. "We're gravitating more toward comfort foods and things that will warm you up, like hot chocolate, homemade soups and hot sandwiches."

The specialty soups available will be tomato bisque and a chicken, cannellini bean and Tuscan kale.

Those soups will be paired with two Panini sandwiches -- a maple-brined turkey breast with oil-cured tomatoes, thick-cut bacon, brown butter and sage mayonnaise on ciabatta bread; and a petit filet with Kenneth Square mushrooms, onions and Vermont cheddar grilled cheese.

Other sandwiches added for the game include a lobster BLT -- a fresh lobster salad with bacon, oil-cured tomatoes and a bit of celery greens -- as well as an Italian sausage sandwich with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone on a seeded Italian roll.

There also will be a Flyers-inspired sandwich -- the Broad Street Bullies Breakfast Sandwich, made with cage-free eggs, melted cheddar cheese and slab bacon, and served on a Liscio's roll.

Desserts also will play a major role in feeding hungry hockey fans.

"For dessert we're going to be featuring Gina's Cupcakes," Richmond said. "And we did some special ones up for this event. There's a Flyers-colored (orange) vanilla, and we'll also have a cannoli (cupcake) and red velvet. We're also going to be featuring S'mores and warm apple pies. And at some of our premium locations we're going to be featuring a Tastykake bread pudding that will have butterscotch krimpets and we're going to serve that with a warm bourbon sauce."

Specialty beverages include what Richmond called a "Flyer-ed up" hot chocolate, with steamed whole milk, Belgian chocolate, mini-marshmallows, orange sprinkles, whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

The specialty items will be located at restaurants -- including the popular Harry The K's -- and concession stands all around the ballpark, and are in addition to the regular food choices that dot the ballpark, including the signature Ashburn Alley concourse that runs through the outfield.

Richmond said he and his staff have been working on the Winter Classic menu for a few months now, and he hopes fans take the chance to sample anything they can.

"I hope they try the sandwiches and the soup because I think they're fantastic," he said. "I think that the cupcakes are a great addition the menu. We have Gina's Cupcakes and she's a tremendous pastry chef. They look fantastic, taste even better.

"I'm happy if they try anything. I just want them to have a good time and enhance the fan experience when you're here at the hockey game."

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK