Midtown Lunch

Thanks to Carrie Bradshaw and co, Magnolia Bakery is best known for their cupcakes. I’ve been down on Magnolia’s cupcakes before, they’re just not my thing. Too dry and too sweet for my taste. The red velvet is pretty good, but nothing I’d go out of my way for. I used to maintain that the best things on their menu are the non-cupcake items, but now I’m willing to make one exception: their flourless chocolate cupcake special. Read more »

With Thanksgiving a little more than a week away, at least a few of you might be starting to figure out your Thanksgiving eve plans i.e. how to procure everything needed for dinner with the least resistance and crowds possible. And while Magnolia isn’t the tops on our bakery lists, may I present their pies for Thanksgiving ordering. Between Rockefeller Center and Grand Central, it would be easy to pick up your pie on the way our of town. A few weeks ago, I tasted their pumpkin and black bottom pecan, and was pleasantly surprised. Both were thoroughly enjoyable and I wouldn’t mind either after gorging myself on turkey and stuffing. A regular sized pie goes for $24, and Thanksgiving day ordering ends on Sunday.

Magnolia Bakery, 1240 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, (212) 767-1123

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not Magnolia Bakery’s biggest fan. I side with Blondie in thinking that they are good for everything but cupcakes. That said I’m sad that September is already coming to a close because I only just discovered that Magnolia is carrying special Peanut Butter Month treats. Read more »

Cupcake haters best start scrolling now because there’s serious cupcake action happening in midtown today. Sprinkles, the LA cupcakery that’s about to invade NYC is planning on giving away cupcakes in Times Square (yeah, good luck with that). Follow them @sprinklesmobile for details on when/where the giveaway is going down. Yesterday, they ran out of 1000 cupcakes in under an hour. Elsewhere in midtown Robicelli’s has their once- a-year Mint Julep cupcakes (hello, bourbon-mint cake & buttercream with hand candied mint leaf). You can snag some for Derby day at Schnitzel & Things (3rd Ave. btw. 45+46th). Lastly, Magnolia is currently offering “the Japan cupcake,” (chocolate cake, vanilla frosting with a raspberry “to signify the ‘rising sun’ symbol known as the Nisshoki.”) These cupcakes are $3 and $1 goes to the Japan Society’s earthquake fund (regular cupcakes are $2.75). Available at both the Rock Center and Grand Central locations.

Sadness is showing up on the last day of Flex Donuts, hoping for one last hurrah with their spiced chocolate goodness, only to see a sign saying “Out of Doughnuts.” That is a sad sign. One look to the left reminded me of the paradox that is Magnolia Bakery (in the Grand Central Food Court.) Knowing I was not going to be getting a cupcake, I took a gander at the display case to see if anything else tickled my fancy: personal chocolate pudding pie, anyone?

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According to Grub Street, Buttercup Bake Shop (on 2nd btw. 51+52nd) will be giving away free cupcakes tomorrow morning from 9-10am on Vanderbilt and 42nd St. (in front of Grand Central.) Apparently it’s to promote the launch of their new website, and Channel 11 news will be there. But we can’t help but wonder if the location has anything to do with the brand new Magnolia Bakery that just opened in Grand Central? Owner Jennifer Appel (who according to Grub Street will be handing out the cupcakes tomorrow) co-founded Magnolia before leaving in 2000 to open Buttercup in Midtown East. On the other hand- who cares about the why… freeloaders engage.

Photo courtesy of Bloorozez

After months of construction on the former Little Pie Company space, the Magnolia Bakery at Grand Central Terminal is open for business. They officially opened on Saturday but are still working out the kinks and figuring out hours. Tourists and fans of mediocre cupcakes rejoice! The rest of us should be prepared for hordes of gawkers ogling the cupcake frosting rituals.

Things have gotten so bad that even Magnolia Bakery (on 49th & 6th) has to resort to offering free samples to drum up business! Don’t ask me why I was in there… I didn’t buy anything, but I took a free sample of carrot cake. I’m not going to lie- their cupcakes may be mediocre but that carrot cake freebie was goooood.