A Snowball’s Chance

Snowcones, snow­balls, shaved ice, piragua, or kakigori.…whatever you call them, this frozen treat has come a far stretch from your basic  red, white, or blue fla­vors found at the local county fair.  Located in pock­ets around the United States that will hope­fully spread to a neigh­bor­hood near you, side­walk  snow­cone carts are offer­ing gourmet fla­vors that will have you sali­vat­ing. Originating in Japan and intro­duced to us at the Texas State Fair almost 100 years ago, the gourmet snow­cone took roots in New Orleans and remained there until recently. 

In Kansas City, MO check out Fresher Than Fresh Snowcones in their fab­u­lous 1957 Shasta Trailer! Flavors include:

 -Lemon Prickly Pear
–Blackberry Lavender
–Watermelon Basil
–Lime Mint
–Espresso Mexican Cane Sugar
–Ginger Rose

Nashville, TN has at least three snow­cone carts run by New Orleans trans­plants. The Jolly Rogue offers fla­vors such as an Orange Julius, Frog In A Blender, and the Pink Flamingo. Fleur de Lis Flavors located in the Nashville Farmer’s Market offers grape and straw­berry cheese­cake cones. The Snowball Stand in Hillsboro Village also offers straw­berry cheese­cake cones and has a per­fect 100 point health rat­ing. When was the last time you saw that?

Closer to our home in the Cincinnati area, Thunderbird Snow Cones is a cart in the West Chester Farmer’s Market and is avail­able for a vari­ety of events as well (it’s nice to be portable).  Current fla­vors include: banana, blue­berry (both of these are low sugar), blue bub­ble gum, cherry, dreamsy­cle, grape (sugar free), lemon­ade, lime, orange, pink bub­ble gum, polar punch, ras­berry, straw­berry (sugar free), tiger’s blood and trop­ics.  The owner Leslie Nelson has ordered organic amaretto and but­ter­scotch fla­vors for test­ing. If all goes well with these, then more fla­vors such as anise and but­ter­cream may come onboard  in the future. We salute her!

There are carts in San Diego, St. Louis, and Baltimore as well.

With the econ­omy still on shaky ground, the snow­cone has emerged as a cheap eat. So do us a favor and indulge on these treats, share, and please some­one roll a cart next to our store.…please!?!

Michael Spurrier. HighStreet. Cincinnati