Philadelphia cafe, bars and restaurants are offering specials in tribute to LeBron James joining the Sixers. McGillin's and Attico have custom cocktails, while Càphê Roasters has a limited-time Fruity Pebbles latte.
How do you welcome the NBA's all-time leading scorer? In the days since LeBron James joined the Sixers, the mayor and seemingly every cultural institution in Philadelphia have extended greetings through carefully workshopped Instagram posts and marquee messages. Gov. Shapiro even declared July 24, the date the news broke, LeBron James Day.
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But some city chefs and bartenders are taking it a step further. These fans are making their well wishes material (and edible) through custom menu items inspired by and made for the basketball legend.
Here's how seven cafes, bars and restaurants in the region are hailing the king's arrival. While some are planning to sell their specials for the foreseeable future, others are approaching their expiration date, so get them before the first wave of LeBron mania fades:
Càphê Roasters3400 J St., G1
James has a well-documented love affair with Fruity Pebbles. With Nike, he's released multiple cereal-themed sneakers and he even hazed his son by filling Bronny's car with the breakfast classic. Càphê Roasters felt it was only fitting, then, to honor him with a LeCereal Latte. The special features Fruity Pebbles-infused cereal milk, Vietnamese espresso and a cold foam with more Pebbles on top. The Kensington coffee shop will be serving it through the weekend, but likely not much longer.
Attico219 Broad St.
Sixers fans can now toast the team's new star with a red and blue cocktail. Attico has created the King's Reserve, a drink that combines Hennessy, honey, lemon and raspberry with layers of blue curaçao. The colors nod to James' new jersey, while the cognac draws from his catalog of brand partnerships.
Little Walter's2049 E. Hagert St.
Taco Tuesday is a sacred tradition in the James household, so much that the forward tried (and failed) to trademark it. Now, it's spread to an unlikely place: a Polish restaurant in East Kensington. Moved by LeBron's passion for tacos, Little Walter's chef Mike Brenfleck is cooking up his own. His first effort was a kielbasa taco on house-made blue corn tortillas, which debuted Tuesday and then disappeared. More are on the way; keep an eye on the Little Walter's social media channels for the next Polish-Mexican delicacy.
Huda Burger1603 Frankford Ave.
For a Fruity Pebble drink without the caffeine buzz, head to Huda Burger. The Fishtown spot has whipped up a LeBron Shake with Bassetts vanilla ice cream, strawberry syrup and a whole bunch of cereal. It might be for King James, but the subsequent sugar rush will probably have you speeding across Frankford Avenue just like him.
McGillin's Olde Ale House1310 Drury St.
One institution recognized another when Philly's oldest continually operating tavern unveiled a LeBron James cocktail. Crown the King is an Arnold Palmer with an edge. The special spikes iced tea and lemonade with Crown Royal and peach schnapps, making it, in McGillin's words, "a cocktail fit for royalty."
Vita261 S. 17th St.
The GOAT meets goat (cheese) at Vita. The Rittenhouse gelateria is dishing out a cherry and goat cheese flavor for the player whom many consider the greatest of all time. Hopefully he likes Italian ice cream as much as he does Fruity Pebbles.
Cup of Joelie'sBurlington County, New Jersey
This mobile coffee shop will be peddling a King's Gold Latte — a honey, maple and cinnamon concoction topped with glittering gold cold foam — around South Jersey "for a while," owner Joelie White confirmed via email. She's next scheduled to hit Woodland Township Farmers Market in Chatsworth on Aug. 8, followed by Red Top Farm Market and Peticote Junction in Southampton on Aug. 15 and 16, respectively.
This story has been updated with additional items
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