Chef Jose Garces now has an appetite for sports.
The award-winning chef will bring his prized food to the Wells Fargo Center in the fall, giving hockey, basketball and lacrosse fans something new and exciting to chew on.
The brand-new culinary concept “Garces Eats” will be ready to serve hungry sports fans at the start of the 2022-23 National Hockey League and National Basketball Association seasons.
“Having the opportunity to bring my Garces Eats concept to the Club Level has been hugely exciting for me,” said Jose Garces, Founder & Chief Culinary Officer of Garces.
The new concept is part of the $350 million Transformation of Wells Fargo Center and will debut as part of the brand-new Club Level this fall. Garces Eats will replace The Bistro stand on the Broad Street side of the Club Level at the stadium and will feature a rotating menu to highlight many of Garces’ most notable dishes from his iconic restaurants throughout Philadelphia, which include Village Whiskey, District and The Olde Bar. Some offerings will be exclusive only to Wells Fargo Center.
Menu items will include a Village Whiskey favorite Smash Burger done with Village Whiskey proprietary beef blend and Garces toppings, as well as its Duck Fat Fries.
A Buffalo Cauliflower with Buttermilk Ranch and Gin Pickled Celery will be familiar to patrons of The Olde Bar in Old City.
New offerings will include a JG Mission-Style Burrito Bar with options of proteins familiar to Garces fans, such as Pork Carnitas or Al Pastor, Chile Braised Beef and Adobo Chicken.
“At its core, Garces Eats is intended as an extension of my personal test kitchen and studio, where I will be bringing the best of handheld and bowl-based foods from around the world to one of the most dynamic event venues in the country,” Garces said.
Garces, an Ecuadorian-American chef, was the winner of the second season of The Next Iron Chef reality show. He studied culinary arts at Kendall College in Chicago and owns and operates several restaurants in the Philadelphia and Atlantic City areas through his brand Garces.
This project will be part of the new Club Level, which aims to become the city’s premier sports and entertainment experience, honoring Philadelphia’s rich sports and entertainment past while also showcasing the latest in entertainment and service technologies. Highlights of the Club Level include a Premium Seating Entrance & Lobby, new seating options and open-floor layout, exclusive retail and themed whiskey and tequila bars.
“Wells Fargo Center offers incredible food and beverage options, including many from local chefs, and we’re honored to feature some of Chef Garces’ famous dishes for our fans starting this fall,” said Valerie Camillo, president of Wells Fargo Center. “With his rotating menu, guests will be treated to something new and exciting during each visit, and this is just another way that the new Wells Fargo Center offers the best guest experience in the world with a Philly twist.”
