Newark deli Hobby’s Delicatessen launches namesake burger for Devils GM Sunny Mehta and goalie Connor Hellebuyck

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Hobby’s Delicatessen and Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey has introduced two new Devils-themed menu items named for New Jersey Devils general manager Sunny Mehta and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, continuing the deli’s tradition of creating food inspired by the team’s leadership and players. The announcement was made as Hobby’s partnered with the Devils’ early-season storyline, with the deli located steps from the Prudential Center where the New Jersey Devils play their home games.

The featured burger is called “Sunny’s Cooking,” presented as a freshly ground, more than half-pound burger topped with American cheese, sautéed onions, Taylor Ham, a sunny-side-up egg and a touch of “Devils” hot sauce. The deli framed the name as a play on Mehta’s first name and described the egg placement as a central idea behind how the sandwich came together. According to Hobby’s owners, the burger design ultimately aligned with Mehta’s described “Taylor Ham” response from his introductory press conference on April 21, and they characterized the result as a Jersey-flavoured staple built around that answer.

Hobby’s said the menu development process began after Mehta and Hellebuyck became key figures in the Devils’ roster changes this season, including the acquisition of Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 23. The deli reported that it initially considered other approaches, including a Hellebuyck-inspired sandwich concept, but adjusted its direction when it tested different elements meant to fit the goalie's food and hobbies, including the difficulty of building a lake-fishing theme into a sandwich.

For the final “Sunny’s Cooking” recipe, Hobby’s described conducting internal testing that included two versions of the burger—one with hot sauce and one without—plus a three-person taste test at the deli on Oct. 29. The deli said those evaluations led to an outcome that was unanimous: the version featuring the “Devils” hot sauce. Hobby’s stated the hot sauce was chosen because it added heat and acidity intended to cut through the richness of the burger without overpowering the other ingredients.

Hobby’s also announced that Hellebuyck will receive a companion tribute through dessert. The dessert option will be called “The (Helle)Buyck Stops Here,” described as a lava cake inspired by the cakes the goalie reportedly purchased at the Olympic Village for the United States men’s and women’s ice hockey gold medal-winning teams at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hobby’s tied the pairing of Mehta and Hellebuyck to the theme that Mehta helped “build the meal,” while the goalie is included in the finish through the dessert concept.

The deli’s release added that Hobby’s has long used food as a way to celebrate the Devils. It cited past examples such as captain Nico Hischier creating a deli visit and inspiring a sandwich named for him, Jack Hughes receiving a sandwich tied to his iconic golden goal for the United States at the Winter Olympics, and other hockey figures including Glenn “Chico” Resch, Martin Brodeur and Scott Niedermayer being honored similarly through Devils-linked menu items.

In the same announcement, Hobby’s owners linked the new offerings to their relationship with Devils fans and described the sandwiches as a way to “honor the Devils” in Newark. The deli also said Mehta has personal ties to Hobby’s, noting that he previously visited while he worked for the Devils as director of hockey analytics from 2014 to 2018, and that he returned for lunch the day after he was named general manager on April 16.

Hobby’s said it expects Mehta may eventually revisit the menu item and that the deli’s “research and development department” has completed its work for now. The deli described “Sunny’s Cooking” as the set burger concept with the hot sauce having passed testing, and indicated that Hellebuyck’s tribute is complete through the lava cake dessert as long as diners have room to try both items.

The deli said the burger is designed to satisfy the “Jersey requirement” through Taylor Ham, the egg supplies the “name” element for Sunny, and the hot sauce is the final component selected from the taste-test process. Hobby’s encouraged readers to check its official website for menu and hours of operation at https://www.hobbysdeli.com.