Frozen Finds in the Fort

Soaring summer temperatures mean it’s time to turn to chilled treats to cool us off.

by

Enjoying an ice cream or slurping up a snow cone quickly before it melts is undoubtedly one of Fort Worth’s favorite summer pastimes. 

It’s no wonder that ice cream spots like Melt Ice Creams have lines out the door as temperatures surge. Summertime is prime time for this scoop shop that treats its eager audience to fresh and seasonal flavors that showcase Parker County peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. Ice cream has a close cousin in frozen custard (the only difference being the addition of egg yolk in frozen custard). And the best local place to devour one of these smooth, creamy creations is at Curly’s Frozen Custard, which also integrates fresh Parker County peaches into the treat.

Elsewhere on the frozen spectrum, we’ve got the snow cone. With its vivid colors and varying ice textures, the traditional snow cone consists of coarse ice, which provides the advantage of taking longer to melt. This makes it all the better to enjoy fun flavors like Tiger’s Blood. Places like Pelican’s SnoBalls specialize in a finer grain of ice that gives it an almost fluffy consistency. 

When I was young, I would spend summers in Coahuila, Mexico, with my grandparents. I have many fond memories of going to “raspa” or “yuki” stands where a block of ice was hand shaved with a small tool before adding delicious flavorings that included tamarind, lime, and cucumber. The origin of a raspado goes back to pre-Columbian times when Teotihuacanos near Mexico City would gather snow from the tops of volcanoes. Luckily, we don’t have to scale mountains or even go to Mexico to experience and explore traditional Mexican frozen goods like raspados. They are right here in Fort Worth. 

There’s a whole slew of shops throughout Fort Worth that sell Mexican style snacks (botanitas) and cold treats. You can find refined raspado flavors like guayaba or apricot at Alma’s Paleteria. They’ve gained popularity for their fresh paletas (Mexican-style popsicles), but each of their menu items is equally worthy of praise. 

If you pay any attention to food trends on social media, you’ll notice an uptick in a bright orange and red frozen drink known as the mangonada — you might also see it referred to as a chamango or chamoyada. This festive treat consists of ice mixed with fresh mangos and mango nectar for a slurry consistency that withstands the “melt” factor. Swirled throughout the drink is a bright red, spicy, and slightly sour chamoy sauce that results in a zingy, stimulating sip. Sometimes it’s served with a mango and chamoy paleta inside the cup. You can also top the drink off with diced mango drizzled in more sauce and candied tamarind wrapped around the straw. 

Kokitos on Camp Bowie serves a delicious version of the mangonada amongst their extensive menu. When speaking with the owner, Ruben Santos, I learned that extreme attention goes into each of their drinks. For example, he chooses a particular type of mango, the ataulfo, for their signature mango drinks that they only offered when in season. 

If spice isn’t your thing, try the piña colada at Kokitos. This over-the-top creation consists of a supremely satisfying frozen mixture of ice and pineapple placed inside a hollowed-out pineapple. As if a massive pineapple drink isn’t enough, it’s topped with whipped cream, orange wedges, cherries, coconut chunks, and a festive umbrella. 

The extreme concoctions don’t end there. At Michoacana Creamery, they serve a “sandia loca,” which means crazy watermelon, and it looks like a fruit salad that Willy Wonka would make. The most summer worthy of fruits is diced and placed back into its watermelon receptacle mixed with additional fruit and chamoy and given garnishes galore that include sugared candies and more fruit placed on skewers. 

This is the time to enjoy the remaining days of summer. Despite everything happening today, we can all seek small moments of delight with a crunchy bite of snow cone or a gratifying lick of ice cream.