These eateries bleed orange and blue.
After sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
Game 1 in the long-awaited series takes place on June 3 in San Antonio, Texas — and what better way to gear up for it than to chow down on some Knicks-inspired eats?
Eateries across the five boroughs and beyond have jumped in on the excitement, conjuring up game-themed creations to honor NYC’s beloved team.
From cookies with beloved players’ faces printed into the frosting to game-themed cakes that can ring up well into the thousands, Knicks fanatics can amp up their excitement with desserts and dishes that display their dedication to the game — and taste delicious while doing it.
The Post rounded up a mouthwatering mashup of Knickerbocker treats that will have your taste buds shouting, “Score!”
‘The Knickerbocker’ latte and themed cookies — Saint Michel Café, Brooklyn
The “Knickerbocker” drink by Buschwick’s Saint Michel Café is a tasty treat that pays homage to the iconic team’s historic playoff run.
Created by Chef Benny Emeri (a lifelong Knicks fan) and his wife/co-owner Carolina Wang, the dessert-esque drink, which rings up at $6.50 for a regular size and $7 for a large, is a turmeric-chai latte topped with a sweet maple cold foam, colored with blue spirulina to represent the Knicks’ blue and orange colors, and complete with a candy team logo topper.
The cafe also sells various Knicks-themed cookies for $4.50 a pop — with the option to order a larger batch.
“We’ve seen people stop in wearing Knicks jerseys, take photos of the treats, and share them on social media,” Wang, who also co-owns Brooklyn’s EatGoodNYC with her husband, told The Post. “The excitement surrounding the team has been contagious, and it’s been wonderful to see our café become a small gathering place for fans to celebrate together.”
Orange and blue bagels — Rego Bagels/Bagel Chef, Queens
Enjoy your morning bagel with a basketball-themed twist.
“As a local New York bagel shop, we love being part of the energy in the neighborhood, and the orange-and-blue bagel felt like a perfect way to celebrate game day,” Mark Boris of Rego Bagels and Bagel Chef, both in Rego Park, Queens, told The Post.
The themed bagel is made with the shop’s standard fresh bagel dough, which is colored and twisted in the Knicks signature hues, then topped with “everything” seasoning and sesame seeds (plain versions are also available).
“The response has been great,” said Boris. “Customers have been excited to see something colorful and fun connected to New York basketball, and people have been buying them for game days, sharing photos, and bringing them home for friends and family. It has definitely created a lot of excitement in the store.”
The Knicks-themed dough is only $1.75 for the bagel itself — with prices increasing depending on what toppings are added.
Themed cupcakes — Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery, various NYC locations
The hype around these cupcakes has been anything but junior.
Throughout the NBA Finals, Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery is selling moist, melt-in-your-mouth mini treats for $5.75 individually or $69 for a dozen, composed of vanilla cake and frosting, complete with a fondant wafer New York Knicks logo on top.
Alan Rosen, the third-generation owner of the Big Apple culinary staple (most famous for their iconic cheesecake), told The Post that the restaurant’s inspiration for the special cupcake is how much “we love our hometown teams and always want to support them in the way we know best — through food.”
“Plus, we both go back a long time in this city; we [Juniors and the Knicks] grew up together,” added Rosen. “Junior’s opened in 1950 and is now celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Knicks are a few years older, dating back to 1946 … We are both only getting better with age.”
On-theme dot cakes — Ladyfingers Bakery + Bar, New Jersey
Dot cakes, mini cakes topped with frosting, and a thick blanket of nonpareil sprinkles have recently garnered viral attention, with visitors lining up for hours to try the sweet sensation.
Inspired by the viral phenomenon and a familial love for the Knicks, NYC-born pastry chef Lauren Kavourakis and business partner Samara Cinque created a team-themed version of the tiny treat for Ladyfingers Bakery + Bar, located in Bloomfield, New Jersey (a little over a half-hour drive from the Big Apple).
“This is our signature cake (funfetti) with a vanilla fluff frosting, or a chocolate cake with our chocolate pudding frosting,” Kavourakis told The Post. “They are decorated with non pareil sprinkles. The cakes take a couple of hours to make (including the cake and frosting), then assembling and stenciling the sprinkle pattern.”
The eatery makes a few dozen cakes per day and sold out last Friday. Kavourakis recommends that customers pre-order the $6 cakes on their site for watch parties this week
Knickerbocker slices — Saucey Pizza Bar, Long Island City
Created by Justin Martinez (founder of Long Island City’s Saucey Pizza Bar) and his team, the Knicks-logo-fied dish was intended to serve as a tribute to New York and the “incredible” Knicks playoff run.
Martinez told The Post that the team-themed $20 pie is Saucey Pizza Bar’s take on a classic Neapolitan Margherita, featuring imported Italian tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. The handcrafted Knicks logo is carefully cut and assembled using mozzarella and sauce.
The pies are made to order, and that demand increases significantly whenever the Knicks play, which is expected to be high during the Finals.
“It’s become a great way for fans to show their Knicks pride while enjoying a pizza with a friend,” said Martinez.
Specialty cakes — The Cake Don, Long Island
Don Donneruno, founder of The Cake Don in Huntington, NY (about an hour drive from NYC) has had his phone ringing off the hook the past few weeks with orders for his outrageous Knicks-themed cakes.
He told The Post that his staff has had fans asking for everything from simpler iterations to elaborate custom creations featuring players, logos, jerseys, and memorable moments from the season.
Donneruno, who fancies himself a “lifelong, die-hard Knicks fan,” emphasized that these cakes have been especially meaningful to create due to his own NYC background.
“Growing up in New York, the Knicks have always been part of my life, so being able to combine my passion for the team with my work as a cake artist has been a lot of fun,” said Donneruno. “The excitement from customers has been contagious, and every new order feels like a celebration of what this season has meant to Knicks fans and what’s to come.”
Pricing typically starts around $250 for a small, intimate celebration cake and can range into the thousands for large-scale, highly detailed, one-of-a-kind custom creations.
The Cake Don regularly delivers throughout the New York metropolitan area, including the Hamptons, Manhattan, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
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