Tastes Like Team Spirit: Vogue Puts 7 Knicks-Themed Foods to the Test

What’s blue and orange with sprinkles all over? That would be the Knicks-themed dot cake at the boutique grocer Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side—a dessert recently enjoyed by Kylie Jenner, who posted a stack of the treats to her Instagram Story on Thursday, while celebrating the Knicks’ win in game four of the NBA Finals.

Yes, Knicks fever is sweeping the streets of New York City, from the star-studded courtside seats of Madison Square Garden to the watch parties and impromptu street festivals breaking out after every game. (Even the Empire State Building has been lit up in blue and orange in honor of the team’s runaway success this season.)

But there’s another phenomenon that Vogue staffers have noticed, too: the proliferation of Knicks-themed snacks and desserts taking over the city’s culinary institutions. You’d be hard-pressed to walk a few blocks without spotting a swirly blue-and-orange bagel, a pizza with mozzarella artfully arranged to form the “NYK” logo, or a pack of bright orange Zabar’s smoked salmon presented in a themed box. So it only felt right that we should hit the streets and sample a few of them ourselves.

Below, read seven of our most intrepid writers and editors on the Knicks foodstuffs they picked up at their local bakery or grocery store on their commute over the past few days. (One colleague’s dogged pursuit of a basketball donut even saw her visit the store twice, after they were sold out on her first visit.) Who knows what all those garishly colored food dyes will do to our digestive systems, but in the name of journalism, we were willing to take the risk.

When I stopped by Have a Bagel on an early morning last weekend, the guy behind the counter asked if I was a Knicks fan, to which I stammered out a “yes.” The answer was proved good enough—he threw in a free Knicks bagel, a vibrant swirl of blue and orange. It tasted like a regular plain bagel (always excellent there), but with spirit! —Hannah Jackson

No food is more distinctly New York than the black-and-white, making it the ideal candidate for a Knicks playoff glow-up. E.A.T.’s orange-and-blue edition is every bit as good as the original—moist, slightly doughy, and more cake than cookie. The only thing more colorful than the icing is the price tag, though devotees of Eli Zabar’s (remember the viral $23 ham & cheese? Well, that price is three years old…) will hardly be surprised. —Lilah Ramzi

I tried the Knicks-themed cinnamon roll at Noa Bakery, which is very truly just their beloved cinnamon roll with blue and orange food coloring. I had the blue, and it was delicious—though it did turn my mouth wholly blue in the process. Let’s go, Knicks! —P. Claire Dodson

Nestled directly between two of Brooklyn’s hottest Knicks game watch spots—Habana Outpost and FancyFree—Saint Street Cakes would be remiss not to seize on the fervor of this moment. And seize on it they have! A few hours before Wednesday’s victorious comeback in game four, I stopped by the bakery to test their wares, and already fans were camped out at the nearby bars in head-to-toe Knicks swag. Unsurprisingly, they were sold out. Morgan Knight, the owner, happened to be in the shop, overheard my inquiry, and insisted that they could frost a few fresh cakes. Their adorable mini vanilla and red velvet cakes iced with blue and orange American buttercream (the orange piping orbs bear some resemblance to a basketball) are a sweet basketball-sized celebration for a game well played. —Alex Jhamb Burns

As if dot cakes couldn't be any more in the cultural zeitgeist, founder Alex Posner is sprinkling some Knicks spirit into her newest batch. Just ask Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner, who recently got their hands on the fan-favorite dessert and shared the exclusive colorway with their Instagram followers. Blue and orange dot cups can now be found at Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side—and for fans hoping for a sweet Knicks victory, a dot cake can make it that much sweeter. —Lea Donenberg

When I first stopped by Homie’s Donuts on Cleveland Place, the Knicks doughnuts had already sold out—a testament to the Knicks fever currently sweeping the city. On my second attempt, I finally got my hands on one, and it may have just won my unofficial NBA Finals food championship. The standout detail? The doughnut hole is transformed into a miniature basketball. It’s part of an OG Anunoby tribute combo, paired with a side of espresso in honor of the rumor that he takes a shot before every game. —Molly Barstein

Few pairings feel more quintessentially New York than Zabar’s and the Knicks. The iconic grocery store’s black-and-white cookies in blue and orange are the perfect addition to any watch party. While you’re there, grab some of the legendary smoked nova for breakfast the next morning. —Parker Hubbard