A Summertime Tradition

If there is one certainty about the long days of summer in New Orleans, it's going to be hot. Really hot. Among the numerous remedies locals have come up to battle this heat, I think there is no one more beloved than the snoball. Now, without a doubt there are snoball shops and stands located everywhere, from gas station parking lots to an unoccupied side of a shotgun double. There's no trouble finding one, but if you want a truly unique experience that goes beyond syrup on crushed ice, do yourself a favor and make the drive out to Hansen's. Hansen's is truly in a class of its own. Back in the late 1930's they created a machine that shaves the ice, which makes their snoballs fluffy and almost creamy. On top of that, they make all of their own flavors and you can really taste the difference. This place has been family owned and operated since they created that ice-shaving masterpiece, and from the minute you walk in that screen door you feel like you belong there. Now, you Old Metairie folks (not saying you're old, talking about this particular area of Metairie) may be saying Hansen's doesn't have anything on Sal's over on Metairie Rd. I think you may have a good argument because I remember having many a good snoball at Sal's, save the fact that those wooden spoons they put in the snoball give my mouth the heebie geebies. And they are family run and have old tree stumps to sit on, etc. But if you want to defend that one, I'll let you do so on your own post. Right now I'm savoring my mint lemonade creation from Hansen's. Happy Snoballing!