Cool Treats to Beat the Heat
When did humans first discover the joy of frozen desserts? Some researchers trace the origins back to references to people in China eating a mixture of milk and rice frozen in the snow around 200 BCE. Other sources indicate that Alexander the Great enjoyed snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar, while Marco Polo returned to Italy from the Far East with a recipe that closely resembled sherbet. Around 1660 it appears that ice cream became available to the general public, but up until 1800, it was mostly enjoyed by the upper class. The invention of insulated ice houses around 1800 was a game-changer and led to widespread availability.
The American soda fountain shop started around 1875, along with the invention of the ice cream soda. The ice cream sundae came about because of religious criticism for eating "sinfully" rich ice cream sodas on Sundays – soda shops left out the carbonated water and the ice cream "Sunday" was born (the name was later changed to sundae).
Although there’s no definitive way of knowing where or how ice cream originated, we know for a fact that this popular treat has continued to evolve beyond its humble beginnings. If you’re ready to set off on an adventure to discover new spins on traditional frozen treats, here are some we found to start you on your quest for cool relief from the heat.
Aloha Waffle Bar
Made-to-order bubble waffles and a splash of modern Hawaiian culture
725 Skymarks Drive (River City Marketplace), Jacksonville, alohawafflebar.com, @alohawafflebar
Owners Melissa and Anthony Endrina have been drinking boba tea since the early 2000’s when they lived in Hawaii. When they moved from Hawaii to Jacksonville in 2014, they had trouble finding it. “We wanted to open a Asian/Hawaiian inspired tea and dessert bar because we missed that feeling of aloha once we moved here,” says Melissa. Anthony is third generation Hawaiian and the menu draws on that background as well as their time living in Oahu. On a trip to Korea, they saw bubble waffles for the first time. Also known as egg waffles, egg puffs and puffles, bubble waffles are a popular street food snack that originated in Hong Kong in the 1950s. “Since Hawaiian culture is heavily influenced by Asian food, we decided to add bubble waffles to our menu. It took me almost eight months to recreate and get the perfect consistency for that bubble waffle,” says Melissa.
Icecapade Frozen Treats
A frozen dessert delicatessen serving artisanal ice pops handcrafted from fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices
1833 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, icecapadefrozentreats.com, @icecapadefrozentreats
Owners Dionne and Joseph L. Wellington love sweets, especially during late night movie sessions. “After a while, we realized we were packing on some pounds. So, we needed to figure out a way to eat healthy treats while enjoying our movies and we opted to create dairy free frozen desserts,” says Dionne. They used Dionne's grandmother’s recipes to start their business. Combining artisanal ice pops with Italian water ice was based on Dionne’s childhood memory. Italian ice, similar to sorbet and snow cones, is different from sherbet because the water ice doesn’t contain dairy or egg ingredients. Look for the Bacchanal, with mango, mint and rum Italian ice.
Peace Pies
Ice cream sandwiches with a layer of pie filling
8 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, peacepieworld.com, @peacepiestaugustine
Peace Pies arrived in St. Augustine by way of a fortuitous mashup. “It was Thanksgiving 2010 in Woodstock, New York,” says Maryrose Klause. “My family made a ‘Pecan Pie Lasagna’ for dessert when we realized that we had forgotten to buy a pie crust for my dad’s delicious homemade pecan pie filling. The lasagna was a giant tray of ice cream sandwiches, and when we ate it, it was so amazing we called it ‘a slice of serenity’. We immediately named it a ‘Peace Pie,’ trademarked the name and started selling them every weekend all summer long at any farmers’ market we could find for five years.” At that point the family opened its first stores up north; Maryrose opened the St. Augustine shop in 2017. Standard flavors include cookie dough, pecan pie and salted caramel apple.
Fizzies & Fare at Sweet Pete’s Candy
Ice cream scoops, sundaes, floats, shakes, banana splits and Crazy Shakes
400 N. Hogan Street, Jacksonville, sweetpetescandy.com, @sweetpetescandy
Sweet Pete’s, the largest candy store in the Southeast, expanded the menu options at its downtown Jacksonville shop in 2021 with the opening of fast-casual dining experience Fizzies & Fare. One frozen treat that has grown in popularity since its introduction is the over-the-top Crazy Milkshake. Served in tall mugs and loaded with toppings galore, year-round flavors include Unicorn Dreamin’, Boom Chocka Locka, Cookie Crush and Strawberry Feels. Over the Rainbow Crazy Shake, the summer seasonal flavor, is an orange pineapple milkshake adorned with frosting, Skittles, strawberry drizzle, whipped cream clouds, rainbow sour belt, rainbow sprinkles, a lollipop sun and a pinwheel.
