Sick Of Mr. Softee? Cool Off With These Unique Treats

Sometimes on a hot summer day, nothing hits the spot quite like a good ice cream cone.  If you're craving something new this summer, you should know that some vendors are taking it to the next level.  These shops are some of our favorites. They are sure to offer something yummy that will break the heat, and not the bank, served up in a new and unique package.

Rice to Riches

This is the Baskin-Robbins of Rice Pudding. With every flavor imaginable, and hilariously sarcastic signs to guide you on your way through the store,  Rice to Riches offers "Rice pudding that finally doesn't suck."  Rice to Riches has more than 20 flavors of rice pudding, complete with toppings and sauces you can load on until you can't fit any more in the bowl.  Not only does the pudding get rave reviews, but the atmosphere in the shop is relaxed yet futuristic.  Not a rice pudding fan? Neither was I until Rice to Riches. Vanilla and Caramel are perfect for purists, and for all my wild ones, Sex, Drugs, and Rocky Road is the flavor for you.

Delicioso Coco Helado

Delicioso Coco Helado is another favorite. Nothing more than a street-vendor cart with green and white umbrellas, Delicioso Coco Helado doesn't look like much. But don't be fooled, despite the "helado" in the name, this is NOT ice cream.  Described as somewhere between sorbet and Italian shaved ice, the delicious fruit flavored stuff is served in a squish-able Dixie cup with no spoon. If that's not convenient then what is? Fun, cheap, convenient, and yummy, everything about this little stand is mucho delicioso!

Pop-Bar

Pop-Bar is a small shop in Greenwich Village that serves exclusively sorbet and gelato... on a stick. These home-made, gourmet frozen treats are about eight steps above the bomb-pops you ate as a kid.  Popsicles are made fresh daily by Pop-Bar's "Popologists" in the "PopLab" for all to see. You can also add "Poppings" aka popsicle toppings, such as brownie bits, nuts, and biscotti crumbles. Pick your poppings, then choose a signature dip to seal it all together. But Pop-Bar doesn't stop at popsicles, they now offer hot chocolate on a stick. You are served a glass of frothy hot milk and some sort of chocolate cube on a stick to mix it with. We don't know how it works, but it we know its delicious. But be cautious, bold letters on the website announce: WARNING: Pop-Bar consumption may result in addictive behavior.

The Shaved Ice Shop

Rave reviews call The Shaved Ice Shop "as addictive as crack". A stand at the Hester Street Fair, this hot spot offers up a quirky combination of shaved ice, fruit, a drizzle of condensed milk (we know it sounds weird), and a scoop of ice cream or sorbet on top.  All the materials used at The Shaved Ice Shop are bio-degradable and eco-friendly, and the workers are super friendly and accommodating.  The odd combination of ingredients and flavors originated in Taiwan, but trust me, you'll be just as glad as we are that it made it's way over to the Hester Street Fair.  A little bizarre but totally worth a try!

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