The Frozen Treat Matrix
A guide to this summer’s can’t-miss cool-down necessities
BY AMY CAVANAUGH AND KARL KLOCKARS
June 8, 2021, 7:55 am
Housemade Root Beer Float With Bourbon Ice Cream
Daisies, 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square
Halo-Halo
This Filipino shaved-ice sundae typically comes loaded with colors and textures, and pastry chef Genie Kwon’s version is no exception. At Kasama (1001 N. Winchester Ave., East Ukrainian Village), she tweaks the flavor profile so it’s brighter and fresher: She swaps the ube ice cream for pandan and makes an icy honeydew granita. The base comes from close to home: It’s chef Tim Flores’s mother’s recipe for leche flan. Kwon finishes the dessert with toasted rice, seasonal fruits, dehydrated berries, and microgreens.
Kyoto Cold Brew Pop
Pretty Cool Ice Cream, 2353 N. California Ave., Logan Square
Stairway to Heaven (Jamaican Rum Raisin and Raspberry Cookies and Cream Ice Cream)
Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream, 46 E. 47th St., Bronzeville
Aperol Freeze
Recess, 838 W. Kinzie St., West Town
Saffron Chai Spice Plant-Based Gelato
Sacred Serve, sacredserve.com for locations
Amaro Shaved Ice With Meletti, Casoni, and Amaro Nonino
Ciccio Mio, 226 W. Kinzie St., River North
Beer and Cider Soft Serve
Local breweries are tapping a machine from Huntley-based WDS Dessert Stations to make soft serve beer and cider. At Mikerphone Brewing (121 Garlisch Dr., Elk Grove Village), World of Beer Imagination IPA is adorned with sprinkles and crushed graham crackers; at More Brewing Company (13980 Automall Dr., Huntley; 126 S. Villa Ave, Villa Park), Arketype stout is accented with coconut flakes; and at 2 Fools Cider, pictured (1665 Quincy Ave., Naperville), Wildberry cider comes on a cone. That cider one may sound kid friendly, but it’s just as boozy — and just as delicious — as its liquid counterpart.
Mango Paleta
La Michoacana Premium, 1855 S. Blue Island Ave., Pilsen; 5114 Museum Dr., Oak Lawn
Sneaky Bar (Frozen Housemade Snickers Bar)
Cupitol, 812 Grove St., Evanston; 455 E. Illinois St., Streeterville
Strawberry-Banana Dairy-Free Bar
Banato, 850 W. Superior St., River West
Sno-Ball
This towering mound of fluffy shaved ice flavored with a rainbow of syrups is a traditional New Orleans treat that NOLA native Brian Jupiter serves from a window at Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods (1415 N. Wood St., Wicker Park). Get it in flavors ranging from blue raspberry to green apple to Tiger’s Blood, a fruity strawberry-watermelon-coconut blend.
Wonder Years Shake (Blueberry Ice Cream With Marshmallows, Gummies, and Cotton Candy)
JoJo’s Shake Bar, 23 W. Hubbard St., Near North Side
Raspberry White Chocolate Crunch Emochi
Sushi-San, 63 W. Grand Ave., Near North Side
Gelato Cookie Sandwich With Caramel Drizzle and Fruity Pebbles
BomboBar, 832 W. Randolph St., West Loop
Asian-Inspired Soft Serve
The dairy desserts at Kurimu (1159 W. Taylor St., Little Italy) come in wild flavors like cereal milk and strawberry-watermelon swirl, get dispensed into colorful cones, and are decked out with toppings like heart-shaped marshmallows, gold leaf, and Pocky — all of which makes them perfect for your tween’s latest TikTok. Plus, with flavors like Earl Grey and black sesame, adults have options too.
The Frozen Treat Matrix
A guide to this summer’s can’t-miss cool-down necessities
BY AMY CAVANAUGH AND KARL KLOCKARS
June 8, 2021, 7:55 am
Housemade Root Beer Float With Bourbon Ice Cream
Daisies, 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square
Halo-Halo
This Filipino shaved-ice sundae typically comes loaded with colors and textures, and pastry chef Genie Kwon’s version is no exception. At Kasama (1001 N. Winchester Ave., East Ukrainian Village), she tweaks the flavor profile so it’s brighter and fresher: She swaps the ube ice cream for pandan and makes an icy honeydew granita. The base comes from close to home: It’s chef Tim Flores’s mother’s recipe for leche flan. Kwon finishes the dessert with toasted rice, seasonal fruits, dehydrated berries, and microgreens.
Kyoto Cold Brew Pop
Pretty Cool Ice Cream, 2353 N. California Ave., Logan Square
Stairway to Heaven (Jamaican Rum Raisin and Raspberry Cookies and Cream Ice Cream)
Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream, 46 E. 47th St., Bronzeville
Aperol Freeze
Recess, 838 W. Kinzie St., West Town
Saffron Chai Spice Plant-Based Gelato
Sacred Serve, sacredserve.com for locations
Amaro Shaved Ice With Meletti, Casoni, and Amaro Nonino
Ciccio Mio, 226 W. Kinzie St., River North
Beer and Cider Soft Serve
Local breweries are tapping a machine from Huntley-based WDS Dessert Stations to make soft serve beer and cider. At Mikerphone Brewing (121 Garlisch Dr., Elk Grove Village), World of Beer Imagination IPA is adorned with sprinkles and crushed graham crackers; at More Brewing Company (13980 Automall Dr., Huntley; 126 S. Villa Ave, Villa Park), Arketype stout is accented with coconut flakes; and at 2 Fools Cider, pictured (1665 Quincy Ave., Naperville), Wildberry cider comes on a cone. That cider one may sound kid friendly, but it’s just as boozy — and just as delicious — as its liquid counterpart.
Mango Paleta
La Michoacana Premium, 1855 S. Blue Island Ave., Pilsen; 5114 Museum Dr., Oak Lawn
Sneaky Bar (Frozen Housemade Snickers Bar)
Cupitol, 812 Grove St., Evanston; 455 E. Illinois St., Streeterville
Strawberry-Banana Dairy-Free Bar
Banato, 850 W. Superior St., River West
Sno-Ball
This towering mound of fluffy shaved ice flavored with a rainbow of syrups is a traditional New Orleans treat that NOLA native Brian Jupiter serves from a window at Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods (1415 N. Wood St., Wicker Park). Get it in flavors ranging from blue raspberry to green apple to Tiger’s Blood, a fruity strawberry-watermelon-coconut blend.
Wonder Years Shake (Blueberry Ice Cream With Marshmallows, Gummies, and Cotton Candy)
JoJo’s Shake Bar, 23 W. Hubbard St., Near North Side
Raspberry White Chocolate Crunch Emochi
Sushi-San, 63 W. Grand Ave., Near North Side
Gelato Cookie Sandwich With Caramel Drizzle and Fruity Pebbles
BomboBar, 832 W. Randolph St., West Loop
Asian-Inspired Soft Serve
The dairy desserts at Kurimu (1159 W. Taylor St., Little Italy) come in wild flavors like cereal milk and strawberry-watermelon swirl, get dispensed into colorful cones, and are decked out with toppings like heart-shaped marshmallows, gold leaf, and Pocky — all of which makes them perfect for your tween’s latest TikTok. Plus, with flavors like Earl Grey and black sesame, adults have options too.
Photography: (Shawn Michelle’s) Nataki Muhammad; (Daisies) Emily Williams; (Pretty Cool) Courtesy of Pretty Cool; (Kasama) Kristen Mendiola; (Recess) Courtesy of Recess; (Sacred Serve) Courtesy of Sacred Serve; (2 Fools Cider) Courtesy of 2 Fools Cider; (Ciccio Mio) Courtesy of Ciccio Mio; (Cupitol) Victoria Kent; (Banato) Carl Sugihara Photography; (La Michoacana Premium) Evelyn Govea; (Ina Mae Tavern) Heather Talbert; (Kurimu) Courtesy of Kurimu; (Sushi-san) Zoe Rain; (Bombobar) Lindsey Simon; (JoJo’s) Marlane Photography
