#65 – SHAVED ICE at WOOLY’S ICE

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

After having a small taste of Wooly’s at last year’s Vendy Awards (they won the Best Dessert category), Wooly’s Ice took a hiatus during the colder months. I eagerly awaited through the winter until they re-appeared and the time was right for shaved ice. With temperatures approaching the triple digits, I’d most definitely say the time is right.

I’ve had Taiwanese shaved ice at Chinese restaurants, but it’s usually a very icy mess of unusual toppings. Last year’s list item from Ice Fire Land was a perfect example. Wooly’s has a bit of Hawaiian dessert culture thrown in.

They serve a product that is quite different and unlike anything seen in New York before (unless you were at the Vendys, of course). They use a special Hawaiian machine that shaves the blocks of flavored ice to a very fine snow so that the result is a texture somewhere between snow cone and ice cream. It has a slight icy consistency, but it melts away to a creamy airiness upon touch.

I didn’t go overboard with the toppings like Time Out suggested, but stuck with a modest two and some drizzles of their syrups on the original ice flavor (they also usually have green tea, strawberry, and mango). I wished the mangos were fresh, but instead they were softened in sugar. The mochi were fluffy and light, which was a change from the usual chewiness of the rice cakes. In the past, I found their signature leche sauce a little too cloying, but mixed with the strawberry syrup, it had the perfect balance of tart and sweetness.

This official tasting was my favorite from Wooly’s yet. I love the light airiness that prevents it from lingering in your mouth, like premium ice cream does, and there’s no chewing or crunching involved, as is the case with most snow cones. As the summer continues to heat up, I’m happy to know Wooly’s will help cool things down.

Would Wooly’s Ice’s Shaved Ice make my Top 100 of the year? I may stick with creamier ice cream or yogurt, but this is a unique variation of frozen treats so in the summer, I’m all about it. 8 out of 10.