There\u2019s no secret sauce here. It\u2019s just years of asking friends and Twitter followers, searching on Google and stumbling into dumb luck.<\/p>\n
Avalanche Journal: What the Avs have done this offseason, and what could be left<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n We\u2019re going to use the Avalanche schedule, and try to stick to a simple plan with two options for each stop: something close to the arena and something worth a longer trek to seek out and enjoy.<\/p>\n Oct. 7, March 2 \u2013 Los Angeles<\/p>\n Near the arena: RIP to The Original Pantry, so Fixins Soul Kitchen<\/a> is now my favorite place at L.A. Live. One of the postgame taco trucks on Olympic Boulevard or the hot dog carts right by the exits might be the correct answer.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Grand Central Market<\/a> (with a stop at The Last Bookstore) is typically my go-to afternoon stroll when I stay downtown. Many great options: Eggslut and Sarita\u2019s Pupuseria are my favorites.<\/p>\n Oct. 13 \u2013 Buffalo<\/p>\n Wings: A curveball here, because there\u2019s so much good food just north of downtown. Gabriel\u2019s Gate<\/a> is my go-to. Bar-Bill and Duff\u2019s are great too. Anchor Bar \u2026 is overrated.<\/p>\n Not wings: Mothers<\/a> is a wonderful spot not far from Gabriel\u2019s Gate in Allentown.<\/p>\n Oct. 16 \u2013 Columbus<\/p>\n Near the arena: North Market is great, but my PHWA membership might be revoked if I don\u2019t say Tip Top Kitchen<\/a>, specifically the pot roast sandwich.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: HangOverEasy is a great breakfast spot, but the burgers at The Thurman Cafe<\/a> are an experience.<\/p>\n Oct. 21, Feb. 25 \u2013 Utah<\/p>\n Near the arena: HallPass<\/a> is a delightful food hall, and Dr. Volt\u2019s is a go-to for fellow comic book nerds.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Caputo\u2019s Deli,<\/a> as other members of the Avs media corps will attest, serves some professional sandwiches.<\/p>\n Near the arena: Anywhere in the North End, but especially Carmelina\u2019s<\/a> and then Mike\u2019s Pastry<\/a> across the street.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Mike & Patty\u2019s<\/a> for the best breakfast sandwiches in America, but also The Parish Cafe<\/a> in Back Bay, which offers nearly 20 sandwiches from local chefs around town.<\/p>\n Oct. 26 \u2013 New Jersey<\/p>\n Near the arena: Hobby\u2019s Delicatessen<\/a> is locally famous and a hockey-friendly place, but Cornbread<\/a> is my favorite pregame spot.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: The Ironbound<\/a> has the best collection of Portuguese restaurants on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n Near the arena: The Crack Shack<\/a>, or Best Friend<\/a>, depending on your budget, at Park MGM next to T-Mobile.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: It\u2019s Sushi<\/a> is the best all-you-can-eat sushi place I\u2019ve been to.<\/p>\n Nov. 1 \u2013 San Jose<\/p>\n Near the arena: Freshly Baked Eatery<\/a>, home of the best sandwiches (fresh sourdough baked daily) on the NHL circuit.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Rosario\u2019s<\/a> for the best quesabirria on the planet, and Bertucelli’s La Villa<\/a>, or just La Villa, for raviolis in a sourdough bread bowl.<\/p>\n Nov. 8, April 13 \u2013 Edmonton<\/p>\n Near the arena: Bernadette\u2019s<\/a> for Indigenous food or Seoul Fried Chicken<\/a>, which has a few locations.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: RGE RD<\/a>, which has a strong case for my favorite restaurant in North America.<\/p>\n Nov. 9 \u2013 Vancouver<\/p>\n Near the arena: It\u2019s the best sushi city in North America, but also Japadog<\/a> for a slightly less expensive experience.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Granville Island has multiple great places, but my first time at Salmon n\u2019 Bannock<\/a> was a life-changing meal.<\/p>\n Nov. 22, Dec. 9 \u2013 Nashville<\/p>\n Near the arena: Go find the originals if you have time, but Prince\u2019s<\/a> and Hattie B\u2019s<\/a> both have locations across the street from Bridgestone Arena now.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Chauhan Ale and Masala House<\/a>, heavenly Indian food with a Southern bent from frequent \u201cChopped\u201d judge Maneet Chauhan.<\/p>\n Nov. 23, March 20 \u2013 Chicago<\/p>\n Near the arena: Stretching the limits of \u201cnear\u201d but Carnitas Uruapan<\/a> is a short drive and the carnitas is tremendous.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: This could be its own column, but my favorite place is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder<\/a>, or just Oven Grinder, near Lincoln Park. The pizza pot pie and the Mediterranean bread are tremendous.<\/p>\n Nov. 28, Dec. 21 \u2013 Minnesota<\/p>\n Near the arena: Cossetta<\/a> is very good, and very popular on game days, but Afro Deli & Grill<\/a> is a bit of a hidden gem.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: The Market at Malcolm Yards<\/a>, near the Gophers\u2019 campus, is great. Owamni by The Sioux Chef<\/a>, in Minneapolis, is at the top of my bucket list.<\/p>\n Dec. 4 \u2013 N.Y. Islanders<\/p>\n Near the arena: One thing I miss the most about New York is the Caribbean food. Cookerz Blend<\/a>, or Golden Krust<\/a>, which is my favorite fast food establishment.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Queens is not far, but we\u2019ll stick close-ish to UBS — Vincent\u2019s Clam Bar<\/a> is over by the old Nassau Coliseum.<\/p>\n Dec. 6 \u2013 N.Y. Rangers<\/p>\n Near the arena: Don Antonio\u2019s<\/a>, the sister place of the best pizza in town (Keste, near the world trade center).<\/p>\n Worth the trip: I have a list of 41 favorite places — just in Manhattan. Let\u2019s go with \u2026 Sarita\u2019s Mac-N-Cheese<\/a> (S\u2019MAC) in the East Village, then Veniero\u2019s<\/a> for cheesecake.<\/p>\n Dec. 7 \u2013 Philadelphia<\/p>\n Not cheesesteaks: Just take the subway back to Center City and go to Reading Terminal Market<\/a>, one of America’s great food halls.<\/p>\n Cheesesteaks: It\u2019s hard to go wrong. I\u2019m partial to Cleaver\u2019s<\/a> and Paesano\u2019s<\/a>, but there are dozens that will do the trick. Wiz wit, though.<\/p>\n Near the arena: The 5 Point Cafe<\/a> is a classic old diner, but we\u2019re going to stretch this just a little and say Pike Place Market<\/a> — it\u2019s the best \u201ctourist trap\u201d in America. Pike Place Chowder and Honest Biscuits are among the many highlights.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Another city with copious sushi\/seafood options, but take the ferry over to West Seattle and Marination Ma Kai<\/a> for some excellent Hawaiian\/Korean en route to Alki Beach.<\/p>\n Jan. 3 \u2013 Carolina<\/p>\n BBQ: There\u2019s not a lot close to the arena — you\u2019ll need a car\/Uber. Midwood Smokehouse<\/a> is a Charlotte transplant, and maybe the best BBQ on the east coast.<\/p>\n Not BBQ: Bull City Burger and Brewery<\/a>, which is not far from the Durham Bulls stadium, for chili, a pimento cheese burger and copious amounts of sweet tea in a mason jar.<\/p>\n Jan. 4 \u2013 Florida<\/p>\n Near the arena: Don\u2019t stay in Sunrise, but Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine<\/a> has a location near-ish there and is a really good lunch before heading to the beach.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Yellow Green Farmer\u2019s Market<\/a> in Hollywood is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours on any road trip.<\/p>\n Jan. 6 \u2013 Tampa Bay<\/p>\n Near the arena: Jackson\u2019s Bistro<\/a> is an institution on the water.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Bern\u2019s<\/a> is the best steakhouse in the country. Columbia<\/a> in Ybor City also meets the hype at a lower price point.<\/p>\n Jan. 25 \u2013 Toronto<\/p>\n Near the arena: The revamped Union Station has a great food hall, including WVRST<\/a>, an amazing exotic sausage place that\u2019s also on King Street West.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Dozens of options, but for something different \u2026 Maha\u2019s Brunch<\/a> for Egyptian food.<\/p>\n Jan. 28 \u2013 Ottawa<\/p>\n Near the arena: I haven\u2019t been to Ottawa since 2009, so I\u2019ll be asking one of the local writers at the morning skate which shawarma spot near the arena is the best for lunch.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Downtown Ottawa is great, but also far from the rink. I\u2019m excited to check out Sansotei Ramen<\/a> or Kalinga Indian Cuisine<\/a> down the street.<\/p>\n Jan. 29 \u2013 Montreal<\/p>\n Near the arena: Crew Collective & Cafe<\/a> is a wonderful coffee ship in an old bank near Old Montreal. Escondite<\/a> is a standout, or splurge at Liverpool House<\/a>.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: This is a world-class food city, and the famous bagel shops are legit. But my can\u2019t-miss here is Ma Poule Mouill\u00e9e<\/a> — Portuguese chicken on top of poutine is a first-line NHL meal.<\/p>\n Jan. 31 \u2013 Detroit<\/p>\n Near the arena: Mom\u2019s Spaghetti<\/a> \u2014 yes, it\u2019s Eminem\u2019s place. Yes, it looks like leftover spaghetti. Yes, it is wonderful.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Downtown Detroit has been overhauled and is worth an afternoon stroll and the famous dueling Coney Island hot dog places are really good, but come back near the arena for Frita Batidos<\/a> before the game.<\/p>\n Near the arena: Near Honda Center is pretty bleak, with some hope — OCVIBE<\/a>, a new entertainment district that says it will have 35-plus restaurants, is currently under construction.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Go to the beach, or Disneyland. Lighthouse Cafe<\/a> in Newport Beach was a great lunch.<\/p>\n March 6, April 4 \u2013 Dallas<\/p>\n Near the arena: Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ<\/a> can go punch for punch with the more famous places over in Deep Ellum.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Dallas Farmers Market is great, particularly on the weekends. If you rented a car, make the 75-minute drive to West, Texas to get kolaches at Czech Stop<\/a>. It\u2019s an annual pilgrimage for me.<\/p>\n March 14, March 26 \u2013 Winnipeg<\/p>\n Near the arena: Clementine Cafe<\/a> for breakfast or Famena\u2019s Famous Roti and Curry<\/a> for a pregame meal in a very underrated food city.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Feast Bistro<\/a>, for bannock pizza or other wonderful First Nation dishes.<\/p>\n March 22 \u2013 Washington<\/p>\n Near the arena: SeoulSpice<\/a> or Bindaas Bowls & Rolls<\/a> for lunch amongst some other more famous, more expensive options en route to an afternoon stroll on the National Mall.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Founding Farmers<\/a> has been one of my favorite farm-to-table places for a long time.<\/p>\n March 24 \u2013 Pittsburgh<\/p>\n Near the arena: Moonlit Burgers<\/a> might be the best place within 600 feet of an arena in the league.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: The Strip District has many great options, including the original Primanti Bros., but Meat & Potatoes<\/a> downtown is a pricey, spectacular meal.<\/p>\n April 7 \u2013 St. Louis<\/p>\n Near the arena: Sugarfire Smoke House<\/a> is great. If you need a second meal \u2026 get something different at Sugarfire.<\/p>\n Worth the trip: Ask the St. Louis native you know — they\u2019ll tell you all about the great food in the suburbs.<\/p>\n April 14 \u2013 Calgary<\/p>\n Near the arena: Pigot\u2019s Burger Club<\/a> inside CRAFT Beer Market for an excellent smashburger.<\/p>\n![\"HallPass,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Corey-Food4.jpg\")
HallPass, a food hall near Delta Center in Salt Lake City. (Corey Masisak, The Denver Post)
\nOct. 25 \u2013 Boston<\/p>\n![\"Cornbread](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Corey-Food2.jpg\")
Cornbread is one of several great places to eat near Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Corey Masisak, The Denver Post)
\nOct. 31, Dec. 27 \u2013 Vegas<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Corey-Food1.jpg\")
A classic Philly cheesesteak at Cleavers in Philadelphia. (Corey Masisak, The Denver Post)
\nDec. 16, March 12 \u2013 Seattle<\/p>\n![\"Mom's](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Corey-Food3.jpg\")
Mom\u2019s Spaghetti, across the street from Comerica Park in Detroit. (Corey Masisak, The Denver Post)
\nMarch 3 \u2013 Anaheim<\/p>\n