Kakigōri is a shaved ice dessert made with ice and sweetened syrup but there are variations of shaved ice the world over. One day I’d love to try bingsu in Korea, halo-halo in the Philippines, gola in India and grattachecca in Rome.
You are such a wonderful writer. It has been such a pleasure to read your observations, and stances. I am in Denver, Colorado, and a friend of Dawn Walton. Reading this particular piece was like reading something I would have written - literally. What a joy. I simply need to tell you that if you have never read Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - you must! It is one of the best novels ever for lovers of writing, and reading great writing. I so hope you get to enjoy it someday. Many thanks.
I have sympathy for you regarding your husband's cable practices. There are multiple bins throughout our home crammed full of cables, some usable, some for devices that are no longer sold. My 3 sons always call me before buying a cable, since I usually have it and I'm essentially open 24 hours. With regard to books, in a previous home I had a wall with a built-in bookshelf that I filled. Many of those books were technical volumes that became obsolete within a few years. Now my library is all digital, so space is not an issue. Typically I hop between books, reading chapters at a time. I don't go back to re-read them, but when I reach the point when reading is about all I can do I'll probably revisit Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'm 74 right now, spry as they used to say, and hoping that day is a couple of decades further down the road.
My husband must be taking a note from your book - he will be like a personal RadioShack for our children! I often tease him that I expect him to build a robot or some other form of AI with all of the obsolete devices and wires we have on hand.
I started reading King years ago- probably in middle school- and still enjoy his work. I haven't gotten around to the Dark Tower Series - but will check it out. Spry is a good word! And yes, may that day be many decades in the future :-)
What an exquisite trip through summer variations of relief! Man, I can remember the handful of times that a) my grandmother gave me ice cream truck money and b) I actually caught the truck in time! Strawberry Shortcake bars were my favorite as a kid but gosh do I wish for a kakigōri now!
Heard cicadas for the first time in Italy this summer. They have a special species, they sing, and it wasn’t the sound I expected. Their pervasive sound becomes background and after awhile you don’t hear them. But it’s so fascinating that these insects spend 4-17 years (depending on the species) underground and only one summer they are free…flying. They will die come autumn so they are furiously singing for partners. Like your resplendent memories of summers from NY to Japan, I hope they are taking in every moment.
I’ve been trying soooo hard to remember the flavor that I used to like from the ice cream truck when I was a kid. I finally just googled it. It was the toasted almond bar. After that I loved chipwich ice cream sandwiches (or their equivalent). Actually I still love a good cookie ice cream sandwich. It’s It’s or Trander Joe’s or Koolhaus. Sigh now I want one.
You are right, there are so many different types of cicadas. I wonder what they sound like in Italy. (I’ll google and wonder no more lol) Until I moved here I thought they were all the 17 year sleeper types. But in Japan they are for sure an annual event.
Looking forward to enjoying kakigori with you one day Lolita!
This was wonderful to read...and as always I loved the added links. It reminded me of moving to New York as a child in the middle of winter. There were often very heavy snowfalls. My parents would scoop up beautiful clean freshly fallen snow piled high on the fire escape outside of our window. Scooped into very small cups or bowls they would drizzle sweet condensed milk with a little added vanilla extract. It was a winter treat for us. As children we loved it. It was all the more special because my parents would only make it the first hours when the snow was fluffy and newly fallen.
Loved this piece and love kakigori! Not a big fan of their syrup though. I bought a machine for my kids and we enjoy making it at home. I would also freeze juices so you would not need to had anything on it. Best $15 invested!
You know I’ve got to ask- have you tried kakigori with maple syrup? OMG you could do a late summer version with maple syrup and some kind of sweet red or Orange garnish to hint at the coming change of season!
What a great article, although I have never had either a kakigori or a frio frio as a kid. The closest experience I can think of to those treats for me were the 2 dollar Crush soda slushies, me and my friends would get from the corner store during our lunch breaks at high school. If I do visit Japan in the future, I will definitely try one, although I do admit the size of the kakigori looks like it could give me extreme brain freeze. Hopefully you haven't had that experience yourself.
Thank you Fahim. Slushies definitely fall into the shaved ice dessert category in my book! By the spoonful vs by the gulpful may be the difference between brain freeze and bliss but sometimes brain freeze is exactly the ticket - especially in high school 😊 Which was your favorite Crush flavor?
For me it's cream soda, My friends by contrast mixed their slushies with cherry dr pepper and pepsi. The workers at the corner store would tell them to pick one flavour rather than mixing and matching.
The Kakigori sounds like it is something I'd definitely love! I used to get fluffy shaved snow at a random place in Arizona that claimed it was Hawaiian shaved snow cones and I have yet to eat anything like it in NYC. The kakigori sounds exactly like it 🤤.
I fell in love with shave ice in Hawaii! And the purveyors are very clear it is "shave" ice and not "shaved" ice. And then I learned that Japanese immigrants who came to work the plantations in the 1800s brought their knowledge of kakigori with them to Hawaii. Japanese kakigori then being the origin of shave ice in Hawaii.
Chihiro of Chihiro's Newsletter (https://naranomatcha.substack.com/p/whats-your-summer-food) is also a writer based in NYC and she also just wrote about kakigori and included a list of Kakigori places in NYC - you should check it out and her newsletter too! I am positive you'd like it!
I actually started following her based on your recommendation! She's awesome and I did bookmark that particular newsletter for some yummy shave ice 🍨😎.
Visiting Toraya for kakigōri with you and Ian will always be one of our favourite Tokyo memories!
Mine too! We will have to do it again!!!! 🍧
❤️❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉❤️😉🤪❤️❤️😉❤️😉🎶😉🎶😉🎶😉🥴❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🍕🤭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍🤟
Yeah! Halloween! My favorite holiday. I met Mick at a HW party in Woodlawn.hehheh...
I want to hear that story! Miss you Veronica! ❤️
You are such a wonderful writer. It has been such a pleasure to read your observations, and stances. I am in Denver, Colorado, and a friend of Dawn Walton. Reading this particular piece was like reading something I would have written - literally. What a joy. I simply need to tell you that if you have never read Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - you must! It is one of the best novels ever for lovers of writing, and reading great writing. I so hope you get to enjoy it someday. Many thanks.
Traci your comment made me so happy to read this morning. Thank you! Do you write as well? I’d love to read your work!
I will definitely pick up The Storied Life. Thank you for the recommendation.
And on a completely separate note, isn’t Dawn the absolute best?!!!! ☺️
I have sympathy for you regarding your husband's cable practices. There are multiple bins throughout our home crammed full of cables, some usable, some for devices that are no longer sold. My 3 sons always call me before buying a cable, since I usually have it and I'm essentially open 24 hours. With regard to books, in a previous home I had a wall with a built-in bookshelf that I filled. Many of those books were technical volumes that became obsolete within a few years. Now my library is all digital, so space is not an issue. Typically I hop between books, reading chapters at a time. I don't go back to re-read them, but when I reach the point when reading is about all I can do I'll probably revisit Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I'm 74 right now, spry as they used to say, and hoping that day is a couple of decades further down the road.
My husband must be taking a note from your book - he will be like a personal RadioShack for our children! I often tease him that I expect him to build a robot or some other form of AI with all of the obsolete devices and wires we have on hand.
I started reading King years ago- probably in middle school- and still enjoy his work. I haven't gotten around to the Dark Tower Series - but will check it out. Spry is a good word! And yes, may that day be many decades in the future :-)
I'm not sure why I am leaving a comment on this piece instead of the book piece...but i will say, purple sweet potato items should be sold everywhere!
You and I are in 100% agreement Ona!
Yum! Your favorite looks amazing! I'm a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream and maraschino cherries kinda gal...
Veronica, I want you to know that I will never, not ever, say no to a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. Never. 🍨
It's a date-next time we're together!
xo
What an exquisite trip through summer variations of relief! Man, I can remember the handful of times that a) my grandmother gave me ice cream truck money and b) I actually caught the truck in time! Strawberry Shortcake bars were my favorite as a kid but gosh do I wish for a kakigōri now!
Heard cicadas for the first time in Italy this summer. They have a special species, they sing, and it wasn’t the sound I expected. Their pervasive sound becomes background and after awhile you don’t hear them. But it’s so fascinating that these insects spend 4-17 years (depending on the species) underground and only one summer they are free…flying. They will die come autumn so they are furiously singing for partners. Like your resplendent memories of summers from NY to Japan, I hope they are taking in every moment.
I’ve been trying soooo hard to remember the flavor that I used to like from the ice cream truck when I was a kid. I finally just googled it. It was the toasted almond bar. After that I loved chipwich ice cream sandwiches (or their equivalent). Actually I still love a good cookie ice cream sandwich. It’s It’s or Trander Joe’s or Koolhaus. Sigh now I want one.
You are right, there are so many different types of cicadas. I wonder what they sound like in Italy. (I’ll google and wonder no more lol) Until I moved here I thought they were all the 17 year sleeper types. But in Japan they are for sure an annual event.
Looking forward to enjoying kakigori with you one day Lolita!
This was wonderful to read...and as always I loved the added links. It reminded me of moving to New York as a child in the middle of winter. There were often very heavy snowfalls. My parents would scoop up beautiful clean freshly fallen snow piled high on the fire escape outside of our window. Scooped into very small cups or bowls they would drizzle sweet condensed milk with a little added vanilla extract. It was a winter treat for us. As children we loved it. It was all the more special because my parents would only make it the first hours when the snow was fluffy and newly fallen.
What a beautiful memory. Next time I see you please tell me more! Freshly fallen snow wins for sure in the category of icy perfection.
I’m glad you like the links! It’s so hard not to post everything! Grateful for the medium that we can share so much in a single document!
Good idea!! Will definitely try it!!
Please report back!
Loved this piece and love kakigori! Not a big fan of their syrup though. I bought a machine for my kids and we enjoy making it at home. I would also freeze juices so you would not need to had anything on it. Best $15 invested!
You know I’ve got to ask- have you tried kakigori with maple syrup? OMG you could do a late summer version with maple syrup and some kind of sweet red or Orange garnish to hint at the coming change of season!
What a great article, although I have never had either a kakigori or a frio frio as a kid. The closest experience I can think of to those treats for me were the 2 dollar Crush soda slushies, me and my friends would get from the corner store during our lunch breaks at high school. If I do visit Japan in the future, I will definitely try one, although I do admit the size of the kakigori looks like it could give me extreme brain freeze. Hopefully you haven't had that experience yourself.
Thank you Fahim. Slushies definitely fall into the shaved ice dessert category in my book! By the spoonful vs by the gulpful may be the difference between brain freeze and bliss but sometimes brain freeze is exactly the ticket - especially in high school 😊 Which was your favorite Crush flavor?
For me it's cream soda, My friends by contrast mixed their slushies with cherry dr pepper and pepsi. The workers at the corner store would tell them to pick one flavour rather than mixing and matching.
Thanks Fahim, now I really want a slushie lol or a cream soda at the very least.
The Kakigori sounds like it is something I'd definitely love! I used to get fluffy shaved snow at a random place in Arizona that claimed it was Hawaiian shaved snow cones and I have yet to eat anything like it in NYC. The kakigori sounds exactly like it 🤤.
I fell in love with shave ice in Hawaii! And the purveyors are very clear it is "shave" ice and not "shaved" ice. And then I learned that Japanese immigrants who came to work the plantations in the 1800s brought their knowledge of kakigori with them to Hawaii. Japanese kakigori then being the origin of shave ice in Hawaii.
Chihiro of Chihiro's Newsletter (https://naranomatcha.substack.com/p/whats-your-summer-food) is also a writer based in NYC and she also just wrote about kakigori and included a list of Kakigori places in NYC - you should check it out and her newsletter too! I am positive you'd like it!
I actually started following her based on your recommendation! She's awesome and I did bookmark that particular newsletter for some yummy shave ice 🍨😎.
It’s Hot!🫠
Sou desu, sou desu!
Oh I love this for so many reasons!!!! Mostly because you introduced me to Kakigori!!!!
Thanks Ruchika! But now I want to try shaved ice in every country!
My favorite summer treat was always zaru soba. There’s something so satisfying about the flavors!
Ooh yes, cold soba is yum! I also really like the bamboo trays and bamboo baskets that it
is sometimes served on in restaurants.