Tomorrow is the first official day of spring. This means that the weather will soon start to get warmer, summer farmers market season isn't far away and, most importantly, Rita's Water Ice locations will be giving away free small cups of water ice all day tomorrow. For those of you lucky people who live in direct proximity to a Rita's, make a point of heading over there tomorrow to pick some up (my favorite flavor is mango). For those of you not in the know (had I not spent many of my childhood summers in Philadelphia, I would have been oblivious to the existence of water ice) water ice is a half sorbet/half shaved ice concoction that is infused with fruit flavors (some places make chocolate water ice, but that seems wrong to me). It is yummy, cools you off on hot summer days and, if you eat a cup of cherry or strawberry flavored water ice, leaves your mouth a shocking red color.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-19-2008 @ 9:23PM
ESC said...
Meh. PHILLY people insist on calling it "water ice," but every good Pittsburgher knows it's actually ITALIAN ice.
ANNNND for those of us stranded far from the home of our birth, Rita's has expanded down the east coast. There's one in Atlanta in the midtown plaza! Mmmmm...I needs a Rita's fix!
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3-20-2008 @ 2:32PM
Mike said...
I do miss Rita's like crazy. Out in the LA area, there is a very small chain run by some guys from Philly that is on that level, called Buon Gusto. It takes me right back home.
BTW, water ice is really a form of sorbet, not at all like shaved ice. It's generally sweeter, more prone to use (but not necessarily) artificial flavors and is kept at a warmer temp. But it's made the same way. Shaved ice is frozen water with syrup drizzled on top.
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3-20-2008 @ 6:09PM
helen said...
MMmmm. Rita's. I love the black cherry with the little bits with vanilla custard. I wish they would come north to the Boston area.
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