Eat Athens: This snow cone shop offers 100 ways to beat the summer heat
As temperatures climb into the 90s and the heat advisories start rolling in, it'd be nice if ice cream trucks and popsicle stands showed up in our neighborhoods to help balance things out. If you're fortunate enough to encounter a Kona Ice truck this summer, it probably means you're already outside, but it's comforting to know that Athens has a brick-and-mortar oasis with an open invitation.
Located at 510 Baxter St., Pelican's SnoBalls is a great option for foot traffic near the University of Georgia campus, a light dessert after visiting one of several excellent nearby restaurants, or just a place where you can drive up and run out of your car's air conditioning to eat something sweet and cold while sitting in more air conditioning.
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The most important thing to understand is the difference between a snoball and a snow cone. Where snow cones are thick, crunchy and don't tend to hold on to syrup flavors very well, snoballs are shaved ice, known for a thick and fluffy texture that absorbs the flavors and is a preferable base for a variety of combinations.
Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Michael and Collins Cromie, Pelican's SnoBalls opened in 2018 in the building that previously housed Beat the Bookstore. The Cromies successfully re-created the experience of walking up to a snoball stand without the hassle of trying to find one or having to stand in line while the sun scorches your neck.
Similar to Andy's Custard and Bruster's, orders are taken at the counter and hand-delivered through another window with the kitchen in partial view of the customers. For guests who opt to stay inside and enjoy their treats, there's a dining area with a moderate amount of seating. There are a few benches outside for those who would like a bit more space.
The ultimate selling point for Pelican's over similar places is the staggering amount of options available on a daily basis. Among the 100 varieties of syrups are classics like sour apple, tiger's blood and cherry cola, but that range extends to unusual choices such as dill pickle, egg custard and carrot cake. A staff-recommended mix of fireball and candy apple proved to be an outstanding combination.
Vanilla, chocolate or orange cream can be added to any of the snoball flavors, and Pelican's offers gluten-free, sugar-free and kosher options upon request. Toppings like chocolate syrup, marshmallow and whipped cream are a given, but sweetened condensed milk and sour spray are selections not often seen in most shaved ice or snow cone trucks. Peanut-flavored "pup cups" are available for pets, but no one would tell if you decided to take a bite.
The Pelican's SnoBalls chain was founded in 2001 by then-13-year-old Ansley Johnson and named for the Louisiana state bird. There were more than 80 locations across the United States by the time the Johnson family sold the company in 2017, and that number has since grown to more than 200 franchises. The Baxter Street location is the only one in Athens, and the next closest is in Winder.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Eat Athens: Pelican's SnoBalls serves up 100 flavors of cool
