sno-ballin’

people are serious about their sno-balls here…and i fit right in! i like to consider myself a sno-cone ball (if you live in nola you have to set your default setting to sno-ball, not sno-cone) connoisseur, if you will. my credentials, you ask? well, my very first job was at a sno-ball stand. that summer, i ate free sno-balls every single day. it was basically the best summer ever.
i did lots of experimenting with flavors, but once mr. fred, the owner, introduced me to “the triple,” it was all over. the triple is an off-the-menu flavor consisting of half ice cream flavor, half nectar flavor with cream (evaporated milk) on top…only the most loyal & experienced palettes knew about it. when someone ordered it, i’d give ‘em a wink like we were in a secret club.

sidebar: i was fired from that sno-ball stand for taking too much time off. yes, i needed job flexibility even at 15.

i feel like i recently proved my sno-ball credentials when I got a custom sno-ball door decoration made of my beloved flavor. my first month here in june, i kept noticing doors that had sno-balls on them. my original thought was “omg this must be the home of a sno-ball stand owner!” i never dreamt that one could parade their love of sno-balls like one does a wreath at christmas or a krewe flag at mardi gras. well, that’s how nola does it, and this sno-ball represents my LOCAL status!

this all leads into my nola sno-ball stand discoveries. i’ve gone to hansen’s (multiple times) and plum street snoballs so far. i plan on visiting sal’s next time i’m in metairie.

first things first. oh, hansen’s…how i love thee! softest ice EVER. and if you have the slightest knowledge of sno-balls, you know that the softness of the ice is KEY. like monumental. their flavors and textures of add-ons all happen to be close to perfect too. good thing this place is just about a mile down the road from me! i’m trying as many flavor combos as possible before summer ends!

the only con to hansen’s? you may have to wait in a long line, especially if it’s on a particularly hot, sunny day or holiday, BUT it’s definitely worth the wait my friend.

now onto plum street snoballs. i have to admit that after already falling hard for hansen’s, i was doubtful that they could top it. and unfortunately, they could not. i got my beloved triple flavor, and the ice just wasn’t as soft. it tasted ok, but i couldn’t concentrate that much because i was distracted by the giant plastic bag around the take-out box. i now know to order a larger size cup next time so that i don’t get handed a plastic baggie that makes me feel like i’m 10. although, i’m a little embarrassed to admit that i still managed to get sticky. maybe i need plastic gloves…

if you’re in the new orleans area for longer than a weekend or if you’re a local, here are the top 7 sno-ball businesses rated by eater NOLA that you can check out.