re: TulaneLSU's Top 10 snoballs

Such an awesome post, but no plum street?

Bro, you’ve got the ice quality at Sunny’s rated higher than Sal’s? Are you mad? Sunny’s is damn nearly just a block of ice with syrup

If I wasn’t so lazy in retirement, I’d start my own snow cone business

So your #1 is bc they have a no alcohol sign and a bible psalm. What a hack.

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When the Biloxi and Mississippi historians can produce primary source material showing that Barq's root beer was invented in Biloxi, then I will agree with you. But right now, the history for the argument is little more than tradition. That tradition is not even consistent on when C. Barq invented the root beer in Biloxi. Some argue 1898, other 1900, and still others 1901. Source material would settle this internal squabble.

What we do know is that Charles Barq and his brother had a house and a bottling company in the French Quarter in 1890. At the same time, the French Quarter was a hotbed for chemists and pharmacists, each concocting their own elixirs and solutions to sell as pharmaceuticals. I believe the creative spirits of New Orleans gave Charles the famous recipe while he was in New Orleans (he lived in both cities at that time). If the Biloxi theory is ever proven, it still does not detract from the central role Barq's plays in New Orleans culture, for whether it was invented in Biloxi or New Orleans, that bottled root beer has accompanied millions upon millions of poorboys, something for which we have definitive proof for a New Orleans origin, just like the snoball, despite what Baltimore tries to claim.

Yours,
TulaneLSU

P.S. Mardi Gras was first celebrated near Venice, LA a century before Mobile's first Mardi Gras.

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Friend,

It was not omitted from my master list -- Plum St. received a score of 24/50, as described in the OP and the reasoning was attached in my response.

As for being a "Jefferson Parish centric list," I can only say that the top three snoballs and four of the top ten were from Orleans Parish. Considering that Jefferson Parish has 10% higher population than Orleans Parish as well as the notion that Jefferson is a better repository for what is generally considered authentic working class New Orleans culture, of which snoballs sit firmly a part, it is no surprise that Jefferson Parish has, on the whole, more and better snoball stands than Orleans Parish.

Did you want a closed-minded Uptowner's view on snoballs? Or an outsider's idealized view of what New Orleans is? If so, yes, I could give you the classic Top 10 from Yelp or TripAdvisor or an adventurous New Yorker who wants to prove he knows New Orleans better than a New Orleanian:

10. Imperial Woodpecker
9. SnoWizard Snoball Shoppe
8. Nola Snow
7. SNO-LA
6. Bubby's (which was ranked #11 on my list)
5. Sal's
4. Robear's
3. Pandora's
2. Plum St.
1. Hansen's

However, I came into this pilgrimage with an open mind, as open as can be from one who has eaten many of these snoballs before re-embarking. I scored them as I saw fit, using strict criteria.

Once I delved into the snoball's history, learning how interwoven it is with Italian New Orleans, I am not surprised to find a preponderance of Top 10 stands in Jefferson. Why? Because Jefferson is where more native New Orleanians live. Moreover, Jefferson has a larger Italian population and more and significantly better Italian restaurants than Orleans.

Yours,
TulaneLSU

Friend,

I have, but I have not yet finished that leaf's introduction, and I hope, or depending on how you look at it, fear, that the leaf becomes an autumnal shower of leaves.

Yours,
TulaneLSU



P.S. Uncle picked up a treat for me today after I asked him to get some strawberry Italian ice from Brocato's. I was quite upset that the picture I had of the Brocato's Italian ice, which I used in the original post included a wrist with a ghastly tattoo. I have edited the post to delete that picture, instead, including an unblemished photograph of Brocato's Italian ice and gelato options.



While there, Uncle purchased some biscotti, which I have grown to like over the years. Pro tip regarding Brocato's biscotti: when in the store, always buy the refrigerated biscotti. 16 oz is $9.85. You can also purchase the biscotti prepackaged in plastic, but it is $9.85 for 14 oz and the product is not as fresh. Perhaps the best reason to buy the fresh variety is for one of the Brocato girls, one of which I was an eclair's length from asking on a date in 2009, to box it for you. The Brocato girls, when filling pastry boxes, are far more elegant in filling bakery boxes than the guy Christopher Moltisanti shoots for slowly filling his box of cannoli, sfogliatella, and Napoleons.



There is hardly a box in the world I prefer getting more than a Brocato's box. That neatly tied gift is a gift worthy of any occasion -- birthday, Christmas, Front Day, wedding, funeral, anniversary. It works for everything. All the great Italian bakeries along the East Coast box their goodies in similar boxes with twine, just as Brocato's does.



It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And Front Day is just a week away, if the meteorologists are correct! Please come join us!

Friend,

Thank you for providing this list. With the summer quickly fading, I long to hang on to the little bit of heat that lingers in our great city. Before the winter cold shut down these hometown staples I aim to try each and every one in the order your provided. Perhaps in the same day, though I may need to skip breakfast.

With the utmost sincerity, you are a fantastic New Orleanian and a treasure to Tigerdroppings. Be sure to keep us informed of this year’s plan for Christmas Caroling. I eagerly await the season.

Best,

Skinner

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Who the hell does an essay like that for fun without having a gun to their head.

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New here?

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Front Day

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My favorite day of the year. Fast approaching. I can’t wait.