New Orleans’ way to beat the heat
In New Orleans, where “sno-ball” shops are as common as pizza parlors in New York, there is only one that is considered holy ground. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz opened in 1939, and each year, before they reopen for the new season in May, the shop updates their hand-painted sign with the number of years they’ve been in business.
Master machinist Ernest Hansen built and patented an ice-shaving machine that creates a fine powder unmatched by any other in existence. His wife, Mary, a gourmet Italian cook, developed Hansen’s own line of syrups to pour over the powdered ice. In addition to the common lemon, root beer, or wild cherry, you can order more exotic flavors like satsuma, ginger-cayenne, or cream of wedding cake—or mix and match several kinds. Hansen’s is forever concocting new flavors, such as lavender-honey, added in 2014. For sugar overload, a Sno-Bliz may be stuffed with soft-serve ice cream or topped with marshmallow, whipped cream, or sweetened condensed milk.
Info
Address 4801 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, +1 504.891.9788, www.snobliz.com | Hours May–Oct, Tue–Sun 1pm–7pm| Tip Peek behind the counter to see the old cigar box used as the cash register for generations and the vintage flavored-syrup bottles, which are actually old sterilized vodka and Jack Daniels bottles collected every year during the off-season from a cousin who drank a lot.
Today, the family-owned shop is run by the diminutive and sweet-as-her-syrups Ashley Hansen. As Ernest and Mary’s granddaughter, she’s been making Sno-Bliz cups since she was 12 years old. In 2014, Ashley flew to New York to receive the "America’s Classic" award from the James Beard Foundation.
If you go to Hansen’s, be prepared to wait in line. Whether there are three or the more typical 30 people standing in front of you, you’ll watch and wait as each one engages in friendly chitchat and swaps baby pictures. And that’s kind of the point. It’s a neighborhood hangout. The interior has changed very little in 75 years. The walls are lined with yellowed Polaroids and old newspaper clippings. Amid the nostalgic clutter is the sign: “There are no shortcuts to quality.” That motto applies to both the Sno-Bliz you’re waiting to order and the conversations you should be having in the meantime.
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