Cool down with Sacramento's top icy treats

June 30, 12:31 AMSacramento Parenting ExaminerRowena Millado

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A snow cone from Osaka-Ya in Downtown is an ideal
way to cool down during Sacramento's dog day
summers.

Photo by Rowena T. Millado.

As the pleasant spring days in Sacramento turn quickly into sweltering summer ones, my preschooler reminded me that it would be a "good idea to get something cold on hot days." And boy is she right.

Sure we can find respite from the hot weather by dipping into the one of the rivers criss-crossing through Sacramento, walking into a well air-conditioned shopping mall or movie theater, or even strolling under the canopy of trees in Downtown. However, what is more satisfying than eating your way to a cool down.

Here is a list some of my family's favorite places to go to during Sacramento's dog day summers.

Usually, when the kids are screaming that its "too hot," we are all screaming for frozen yogurt. Many of our visits are at Big Spoon Yogurt (variety of locations throughout Sacramento, including a new one opening up on July 3 in Land Park). There are variety of rotating nonfat, low fat to no sugar added flavors and a dizzying topping bar with a vast array choices from fruit flavored syrups to chocolaty fudges, frozen fruits to chopped nuts, and from gummy worms to cereal. I love how we can control the portion and therefore control what we pay for.

We often toggle between Big Spoon Yogurt and Mochii Yogurt (1530 16th Street (at P Street) | (916) 441-2601). When we want to top our yogurt with soft, gooey mochi (a Japanese rice four dessert), we head on over to Mochii in Downtown. This small shop uses mochi made by a family that has been doing so for decades. And they serve original flavored frozen yogurt, the yummy tart kind.

But when the kids are actually screaming for ice cream and not frozen yogurt, we are headed to Gunther's Ice Cream Shop (2801 Franklin Blvd., Sac. | (916) 457-6646), a Sacramento landmark that has been serving up scoops since 1940. This old fashioned ice cream shop makes its ice cream daily and has a large variety of flavors, from butter pecan to fudge brownie to strawberry. New flavors are introduced during special times of the year, such as egg nog and pumpkin during the fall and winter holidays.

Pass up the regular Starbucks or Java City coffee drinks and try something a bit different. Our favorite drink spot is Tapioca Express (2069 Arena Blvd., #140 | (916) 574-9898 and 6905 Stockton Blvd., #250 | (916) 429-2598). They sell a variety of boba, or pearl, drinks that were made popular in Southeast Asia.

OK, so what's a boba, also known as bubble or pearl, that are found at the bottom of these drinks? Basically, these little bubbles are tapioca or cassava-based balls. Now these aren't the small tapioca variety that is found swimming in pudding, but are larger with a gummy-like texture. Now, the uninitiated should try adding boba when ordering for the first time. If you don't like it, you can order your next drink without it. Other add-ons include coconut and other jelly flavors.

There are many flavors to choose from and many aren't tea based. Although, when considering a tea drink, there's the ever popular milk tea and Thai tea (my favorite flavor). Other milk tea flavors include almond, oolong green, jasmine, honeydew, hazelnut, and the list goes on.

Kids tend to order from the icy/snow bubble (think Icees, but less syrupy flavored) menu filled with fruity concoctions, from mango, strawberry, litchi, cherry, green apple, blueberry and passion fruit. Some of these drinks are made with fresh fruit, like the avocado.

Tapioca Express also serves traditional tea and coffee (both hot and iced), juice, soda, flavored milk, yogurt frosts and shaved ice. There's also a small snack menu of cooked items, such as French fries, calamari rings, crispy tempura and crispy chicken. For the brave, try the crispy squid balls (which can be spicy).

The great thing about these drinks is not only the taste, but the packaging. Each drink is topped with a heat-sealed plastic lid. You can turn it upside down and your drink stays safely inside, of course until you poke it with your straw.

Sometimes, something syrupy sweet is the only thing that will satisfy us when the mercury rises past the 100 degree mark. That's when we crave for a snow cone at Osaka-Ya  (2215 10th St. | (916) 446-6857) in Midtown. This snowy treat is sold from an unassuming roll up window on 10th Street. If it wasn't for the line waiting outside, you may never know that it is there. There's a variety of customers, from kids, teens, parents, law enforcement, firefighters and everyone in between.

The prices are reasonable and let's face it, it's a snow cone. But what makes Osaka-Ya's snow cone special, is that the ice is so fine, it just melts it in your mouth. No large chips of ice to make this treat feel like eating crushed ice from your refrigerator's ice maker, but the kind that is like freshly fallen snow. They mound the ice oh-so-carefully, then pour syrupy sweet flavors of watermelon, strawberry, and root beer, among others, that cascade and penetrate the ice. To bring it up a notch, you can even ask for a scoop of ice cream to be buried underneath.

Although, it is Osaka Ya's policy to not mix syrups, you can still make your own customized flavors. For example, pair up vanilla ice cream with orange syrup for an Orange Creamcile or instead pair it with root beer syrup for a root beer float.

Then on the handwritten and sometimes typed menu taped on the window, you'll find kintoki. It's a snow cone, but hidden inside is a mound of azuki beans and topped with a sweet syrup (a little too sweet for my taste, but still good). Since I'm a fan of azuki beans, I like the drink. So if you are daring enough, try it.

Among the other items on Osaka Ya's sidewalk menu includes a limited variety of Gunther's ice creams, smoothies, and nachos (jalapenos are extra). The hours can vary, so visit Osaka-Ya for its current hours. While you are waiting for your snow cone, which on busy days can be up to 15 minutes, go inside the store and try one of their freshly made mochi, a rice flour Japanese treat that they have been making daily for more than 40 years (since the mid-1960s).

Now a word to the wise. Snow cones come in extra small to extra large. Unless you are sharing the your treat with three other people, refrain from buying the extra large. My brother, who can eat a 4x4 from In and Out, with animal fries and a Neapolitan shake, was defeated by the extra large snow cone. My usual extra small order is quite satisfying.

When I'm feeling a bit more adventurous and craving an adult gourmet treat, I have two destinations.

First, I would pick up a Parisian Macaroon ice cream sandwich from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates (1801 L St., Suite 60 | (916) 706-1738). Proprietress, Ginger Elizabeth, creates these amazing French macaroons in almond, chocolate, and coffee flavors. But for these ice cream sandwiches, they are exponentially huge in size, but also in flavor. They sell lemon, pistachio (my favorite and a recommended flavor from her husband who works behind the counter) and other seasonal flavors.

Other frozen treats include the almond rocher bar, s'more bar, the peanut butter banana bar, and the frozen hot chocolate parfait.

My second destination would be to pick up a hand-crafted popsicle from Aisu Pop at the Davis Farmer's Market (Central Park on 4th and C streets, Davis) on Saturdays.

These intensely flavored frozen treats are freshly made in small batches and the flavors are derived from the best of what the season has to offer. Although the menu changes seasonally, during the spring and summer, the menu can include Thai tea, strawberry coconut, mint Arnold Palmer, Meyer lemon ginger yogurt, kaffir limeade with avocado, apricot lavender and peaches & berries.

Currently, you can only get these popsicles at the Davis Farmer's Market's on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

If you have a favorite frozen dessert spot not mentioned here, share with us. Include your comments below.

You can follow me on Twitter @SacParent.

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