7 of the top meals and treats to try at Golden 1 Center this Sacramento Kings season
By Benjy Egel
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Expectations are relatively high for the Sacramento Kings’ 2022-23 season, which tips off Wednesday night. But trade targets and free agents aren’t the only off-season additions worth noticing.
It’s a fresh slate for Golden 1 Center’s concessions as well. New menu items have popped up at stands around the arena, ready to assist the game-day experience at one of the NBA’s tastiest venues.
The arena’s culinary team has sourced 90% of their ingredients from within a 150-mile radius since opening in 2016, and that commitment continues today under chef Brien Kuznicki. That means beef from Panorama Meats in West Sacramento, dairy products from Petaluma Creamery and pints of Auburn Alehouse beer on tap.
“It’s really focusing on what the fans want, and really having chef-inspired dishes that have (been thought about) all the way from start to finish,” said Kuznicki, who’s been Golden 1 Center’s chef or sous chef since it opened.
These seven must-try items are new to Golden 1 Center’s concession stands this season. Pricing wasn’t immediately available.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis is a grassfed burger from Petra’s available with shaved gyro meat, feta cheese, tzatziki, red onion and tomato as one of the new Local Eats menu items for the Sacramento Kings 2022-23 NBA Season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: a towering burger composed of a grass-fed beef patty, shaved gyro meat, feta, tzatziki and sliced red onion and tomato. Served with fries.
A plant-based bulgogi rice bowl from Star Ginger is available at the Media Food Tasting on Oct. 13 featuring items from their Local Eats menu for the Sacramento Kings 2022-23 NBA Season at Golden 1 Center. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: an all-vegan grain bowl with imitation beef bulgogi, cucumber, kimchi, edamame, sesame-dusted kale, đồ chua (pickled carrots and daikon) and jasmine rice from Next Generation Foods in West Sacramento.
Paragary’s BBQ Chicken Pizza, made with BBQ Mary’s chicken, house BBQ sauce, mozzarella, pickled jalapenos and fried shallots is one of the new Local Eats menu items available at Golden 1 Center for the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings Season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: a wood-fired pizza topped with Mary’s Free-Range Chicken (Fresno County), housemade barbecue sauce, house-pickled jalapeño slices, mozzarrella and fried shallots.
Where to find it: Paragary’s (Sections 118 and 203)
Quesabirria tacos
Centro’s quesabirria tacos are filled with 16-hour slow-cooked Richards grass-fed beef and mozzarella cheese at the Media Food Tasting earlier this month featuring new Local Eats menu items for the new Kings season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is:Richards Grassfed Beef (Yuba County), slow-cooked for 16 hours and stuffed alongside melted mozzarella in a crispy Mi Rancho (Clovis) tortilla. Served with a cup of consommé.
Centro’s Sactown Fries are topped with 16-hour slow-cooked Richards grass-fed beef, nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream on chili lime fries. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: fries more loaded than the 1992 Dream Team. Toppings include that same 16-hour beef birria, house nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream over chili-lime dusted fries.
The SK Fish Sandwich from Café Bernardo has beer-battered rock fish with sambal tartar sauce on a brioche bun. It is one of the new Local Eats menu items available at Golden 1 Center for the Sacramento Kings 2022-23 NBA Season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: beer-battered rockfish with pickled red onions, shredded lettuce, sambal tartar sauce and sliced tomato on a Posh Bakery (southeastern Sacramento) brioche bun. Served with fries.
Where to find it:Cafe Bernardo (Sections 101 and 216)
Kings-themed Doughnuts
Kings Donuts from Sweet Bird have purple glaze with golden crown sprinkles at the Media Food Tasting at Golden 1 Center on Oct. 13 featuring new local menu items for the Sacramento Kings season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
What it is: a new way to celebrate a sweet win or make a tough loss more bearable. Choose the Kings Donut (purple velvet cake with a vanilla bean glaze) or a cookies-and-cream variation with that same glaze and Oreo crumbs.
Where to find it: Sweet Bird (Section 219)
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
