NYC ‘Cheesecake Convention’ for mayoral candidates proposed at Junior’s: ‘The people’s forum’

The owner of the city’s famed Junior’s cheesecake company is inviting mayoral candidates to stick a fork in the mudslinging — and take on real issues at a special meal at his flagship eatery.

Third-generation family owner Alan Rosen is extending an invite to the hopefuls to chow down at his Brooklyn restaurant along with diners Oct. 28 to answer lingering questions a week before voters head to the polls. 

“Say `cheesecake,’ candidates. You’re coming to Junior’s for the corned beef and cheesecake,” said Rosen, extending the invite in celebration of the company’s 75th birthday in the business.

Rosen cheekily called the suggested gathering the “Cheesecake Convention.”

But he had a warning for the candidates.

“You will not eat your cheesecake with a spoon. Only with a fork!,” quipped Rosen in a dig at former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was roasted for eating pizza with a fork and knife.

“Cheesecake is traditionally eaten with a fork, not a spoon,” the businessman said.

But Rosen is dead-serious about candidates showing up and answering questions. He will moderate the event.

New Yorkers can submit questions at cheesecakeconvention@juniorscheesecake.com.

Diners present during the town hall-style event will also be able to ask questions, Rosen told The Post.

Details are still being ironed after discussion with the campaigns, but he expects the forum to run one to two hours.

“This is arguably the most pivotal mayoral election in the history of the city — and in our 75-year history,” Rosen said. “We are inviting the candidates to come together and break bread – and cheesecake – and discuss issues that are important to all New York City residents.

“Junior’s is the people’s restaurant. It’s very New York. It’s the people’s forum — the ‘Cheesecake Convention.’ ”

Rosen said he’s confident the major candidates in the race will show up at the iconic Flatbush Avenue Extension eatery. The restaurant has two other locations in Times Square, one in Connecticut and another in Las Vegas, as well as a bakery outlet in New Jersey.

Junior’s in Brooklyn has long been a meeting place for politicians and judges.

“Junior’s has always been the place that every candidate has to show up to meet and greet every day New Yorkers,” Rosen said. “So, by participating in this Cheesecake Convention, they will be demonstrating in a very public way that they truly care about the heart and pulse of downtown Brooklyn and all of New York City.”

Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who was raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and was once a competitive eater, said he for one is eager to participate.

“I used to go to Junior’s all the time. One slice of cheesecake at Junior’s was a meal,” he said.

“We should have a cheesecake-eating contest afterwards. How long will it take for each of us to eat one slice of cheesecake? Zohran [Mamdani] may be ahead in the polls, but I have the advantage in competitive eating.”

Sliwa said it would be a political mistake for any candidate to skip a Junior’s mayoral forum, the most popular eatery in the most populous and voter-rich borough.

Rosen previously flirted with running for mayor himself, complaining about the direction of the city. In the end, the businessman didn’t jump in the race but still wants a piece of the action by hosting the mayoral forum.

Two official mayoral debates are scheduled for Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.