Who’s coming out with Pride this month? Orlando-area foodies, that’s who. And they’re looking for gloriously colorful ways in which to celebrate Pride Month.
It began as a way to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City — a tipping point for the LGBTQ rights movement in America — and has grown into a monthlong celebration, sparking events, parades, workshops, memorials to those lost to HIV/AIDS and hate crimes and so much more.
“The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally,” the Library of Congress notes of Pride Month.
And food, of course, unites us all. Here are a few fun ways to devour your Pride experience around town.
Pride Macarons from John Ryan Macs
Food meets fine art in this gorgeous offering from John Ryan Macs. Find them at the Rainbow Run (7–10:30 a.m. June 5; communityrainbowrun.com/), a 4.9K and related event organized by the One Pulse Foundation). They’ll be selling for $2.85 each, and 10% of gross sales will go directly to the organization, founded to create a sanctuary of hope to honor the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and the first responders and health care professionals who treated them.
Co-owner Jonathan Castro took his baking pro after being furloughed during the pandemic. Giving back, he says, is a cornerstone of his fledgling business.
“I wanted to not only sell baked goods but be involved in the community — and especially the LGBT community, cancer and mental health and suicide,” he said. “All of these things have touched my life personally.”
Involvement in this event is especially meaningful; Castro lost a friend on the night of the shooting.
A simpler version of the Pride Macarons will be available for a limited time after the event. Contact John Ryan Macs to order through their website at johnryanmacs.com/.
The Rainbow Crunch Cake from Gideon’s Bakehouse
This fluffy, three-layer, vanilla confetti cake with multicolor marshmallow buttercream and crunchy rainbow crumbs will be available by the slice every day in June at Gideon’s in Disney Springs — and every weekend at Gideon’s East End Market location. Slices are while supplies last each day.
The cake, of course, is going to disappear fast, so to make Pride last, Gideon’s is offering a collectible metal gargoyle pin, a prismatic rainbow sticker and T-shirt in a new celebratory design. Available June 1 until they’re gone. (T-shirt available in black or extra-limited red.)
If you go: Disney Springs, 1486 Buena Vista Drive in Lake Buena Vista or 3201 Corrine Drive in Orlando; gideonsbakehouse.com/
The Pride Cheese Melt from Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria
Served on sourdough or pumpernickel, this garish-and-gooey limited-run sandwich ($10) will be available June 3-6 at Pom Pom’s in Orlando’s Milk District.
“It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate Pride because in 2021, throughout the world LGBTQ+ people are still being tortured or killed for who they are, who they love, how they look and even cast out by their families,” says owner Pom Moongauklang, who was honored by Watermark with a 2021 WAVE Award, in part for “being a safe space for the LGBTQ community,” the publication wrote. “It’s important to let them know that we are here to support them and stand by them all.”
If you go: 67 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando, 407-894-0865; pompomsteahouse.com/
Rainbow Cake from Se7enbites
White velvet cake with white wedding buttercream gets a supreme Pride makeover in Se7enbites‘ over-the-top Rainbow Cake, which is rainbow inside and out. Grab it by the slice from June 3-6, but if you miss it, don’t panic.
“Se7enbites will have Pride out the ying-yang [this month], and we’ll also do it again in October for Come Out with Pride,” says chef/owner Trina Gregory-Propst.
If you go: 617 Primrose Drive in Orlando; 407-203-0727; se7enbites.com/
Pride Croissants, Doughnuts & Petite Cake from The Glass Knife
The Glass Knife will be bringing the colors all month long with three fun offerings for your Pride celebrations. First up: Pride Croissants (available every Saturday and Sunday throughout June) offer up layers of rainbow accents between its flaky, buttery yeast-leavened interior layers. Their Rainbow Petite Cake (available daily from June 4 -July 5) is a rainbow-hued vanilla cake layered with house-made buttercream and finished with bright sprinkles. Their Pride Donut is a gorgeous, one-day only treat available June 26 and marking the historic day on which same-sex marriage was legalized.
If you go: 276 S. Orlando Avenue in Winter Park, 407-500-2253; theglassknife.com/.
Pride Cookies from Tornatore’s Ristorante & Italian Market
Sweet, colorful and $2.50 each, these M&M-studded beauties are a tasty, Technicolor salute to the community — and available June 12-19 at Tornatore’s Ristorante & Italian Market in Orlando’s College Park neighborhood.
“Celebrate Pride, celebrate diversity and have a cookie!” says Ron James (aka Mr. Sugar Buzz), executive pastry chef at Tornatore’s.
If you go: 3818 Edgewater Drive in Orlando, 407-292-2248; tornatoresitalianrestaurant.com/
Pride Punch from Cavo’s Kitchen & Bar
Pride is refreshing! Especially when you celebrate with fruit-forward, booze-spiked sangria at Cavo’s, a fun, friendly hang in Orlando’s Thornton Park neighborhood. Available by the glass ($7) or pitcher ($28) all month long, it comes in two colors — red and orange — but celebrates the whole rainbow.
“We’re so happy to be a part of an open-minded and inclusive community,” co-owner Mark Cavallini says on behalf of himself, partners Butch Cavallini and Johnny Markaj and the whole Cavo’s team. “The LGBTQ community has been big supporters and great advocates for small businesses like ours and many others in the Thornton Park neighborhood and a cornerstone for our city. We are always thrilled to celebrate with our friends and family in support of equal rights.”
Cheers to that!
If you go: 900 E. Washington St. in Orlando, 321-352-7600; www.cavosbar.com/
Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group or follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
