Magnolia Bakery Shows Some Pride (aka the ‘Who Doesn’t Love Rainbows and Sprinkles?’ Post)

Pride is back! New York City’s annual Gay Pride parade is set for Sunday, June 26, which means it’s that time of year when the West Village nearly bursts at the seams with pride of all shapes and forms, from leather to rainbows. On the sweeter end of the spectrum, today through Sunday Magnolia Bakery will be selling Gay Pride Cupcakes — a vanilla or chocolate cupcake topped with buttercream frosting and edible rainbow decorations. Considering the original location of the bakery that sparked the country’s cupcake craze is on Bleecker Street in the heart of the Village, we vote they keep this limited edition treat on the menu year round.

Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street, 212-462-2572. For information on all locations, visit magnoliabakery.com.

Meet Pichet Ong’s Impossible to Pronounce Cocktail, the Krungthepmahanakhon Amornrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit

Yes, this cocktail is for real, and it’s a delicious (and cheap!) one at that.

The Krungthepmahanakhon Amornrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit — known as the “Krungthep” for short — could even be considered the house cocktail at Qi, Pinchet Ong’s pristine new temple to Bangkok-style Thai, as that string of indecipherable words is a name for Old Bangkok, more than one server confirmed.

While sheer audacity of the name is what caught my attention — (“Really, five lines for the name of a cocktail in a bar menu? Is this some sort of gimmick?”) — in actuality, the Krungthep is a lovely cocktail composed of gin, vodka, star anise, ginger, yuzu, lime, Thai iced tea and guava juice. It’s fruit-forward without being too sweet, complex without being pretentious. When the heat of the spicy beef mango salad flared up, a sip of the Krungthep would set things right. Likewise, this cocktail has the backbone to withstand any heat it may receive for its name. (e.g. “Couldn’t it just be called “The Krungthep” from the start?“)

Qi Bangkok Eatery, 675 Eighth Ave., btwn 42nd and 43rd sts., 212-247-8991.