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Mario's Had Peach!

They may have it again by Friday, or not till next week.

This has been a public service announcement.

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I took the train into Chicago this evening. Part of me really wanted to drive to allow a Mario's detour. This news banishes any regret I did not take the car.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
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Mario's had peach yesterday.

Peach is gone for the season and Mario's will be closing for the year Sept. 14. Summer is nearly over.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Yes Dropped by there on Saturday and asked for the peach.. and was told they had run out the day before, and likely wouldnt be getting it again this year.

I ended up having the cantaloupe and watermelon - and they were both actually quite outstanding. The cantaloupe has been pretty good most of the year and was this time too.. the watermelon has been iffy at times, but it was outstanding this weekend, really ripe and sweet watermelons I suppose. Must try and hit them up at least once more this summer.

c8w

I did the same exact thing. Went on Saturday, no peach...got cantaloupe instead, hubby got watermelon with my gentle nudging because I knew I'd steal it from him.

So.. help wanted. Looking for a Mario's replacement

During the summer, when Iam down south most weekends (near Hyde Park, around 55th Street), after a long hot day I always pull off the highway at Taylor on my way north, and get Mario's (tutti-fruti early in the season, watermelon, cantaloupe, peach when its available as the summer unfolds) . Except now, of course, Mario's is closed for the season.. and I still have a couple more weekend days planned down south with nowhere to go.

So, whats a good spot to get something cold and refreshing on my way home? A fruit ice like Mario's, a great malted-shake maybe... anything of that sort would fit the bill. Preferably close to the I-94, preferably north of 55th street (or not too far south)... and anywhere as far north as about Evanston.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

c8w

First thought that came to mind was Scooter's. They're seasonal as well and I'm not sure when they close.

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-Mary

Mario's had peach today! Visited around 5:30 this evening, and there was a sign advertising peach, along with a warning that it's here for a "limited engagement". Plenty of peach chunks in mine, and they were perfectly ripe - sweet and a little tart all at the same time.

Read this about an hr ago and just got back. Lots of fruit, although some not as ripe as others. Still, flavor was excellent. For me, summer in Chicago is officially here.

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"In pursuit of joys untasted"
from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

Damn you. We made it there at 11:30 and they were out. Hopefully they have more later this weekend.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

Ah, good memories of going to Mario's on a hot summer night. I've been getting the lemon ice since I was ten years old. I had the watermelon flavor once. Perhaps I'll venture outside my comfort zone and try the peach next time. Or maybe I'll just get lemon again

You just missed it then. Billy said they were down to their last gallon (until today sometime) when I was there about 11:15 pm.

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"In pursuit of joys untasted"
from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

HI,

Last night around 11 PM, there were no lines and plenty of peach Italian ice. The fruit in my cup was skin-on and fully ripened. The sad part of peach, it is akin to the Bud Billiken Parade, in reminding me summer is drifting away. Roughly three weeks before Mario's is closed for the season.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Until yesterday, I'd been on a 7 day streak of Mario's peach. I think I need to have it twice today to catch up.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

I stopped by around 4 today and got myself a helping of peach. One of my favorites I must say.

Also made a stop at Mario's for some peach this afternoon. The gf and I tried 5 different flavors, but peach stole the show. Here's a rundown:

Peach: Peach skins, full peach slices, this one packed the most fruit flavor. Delicious.

Strawberry: A mild strawberry flavor. We were a little surprised at the lack of seeds or any identifying pieces. Perhaps not made with fresh fruit?

Tutti Frutti: We guessed that this was all of the spare pieces of fruit thrown together. The most notable presence were the slices of pear. I would come back for this, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

Coconut: I am a huge coco-nut, and I loved this. I thought the shredded coconut paired well with a slight lemon flavor. It was the only one that I ended up eating too fast and brain-freezing as a result. That's gotta be a good sign. I'm eager to come back for the pina colada.

Chocolate: After our initial four, we decided to be bold and try this oddball flavor. It was... interesting. Think a Tootsie Roll mixed with lemon. I didn't hate it, but it definitely ranked at the bottom for me. Mario's is all about the fruit.

All flavors came with at least one slice of lemon mixed in. This trip combined with a churro from MSM made for a very successful afternoon.

geno55,

The base for all the flavors is Italian lemonade.

My favorite this summer has been the fruit cocktail or tutti fruit. It is a bonus day when I get one or more grapes.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Not to take anything away from Mario's specialties, but for flavors that taste like the fruit without a lemonade base, both Miko's and Anthony's do excellent ices with all kinds of fresh fruits.

Miko's Italian Ice
2234 N. Sacramento Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 645-9664

Anthony's Italian Ice
anthonysitalianice.com
3442 N Southport Ave,
Chicago
(773) 868-4237

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I doubt it uses fresh fruit. My understanding is that the fresh fruit varieties are limited to the lemon, watermelon, cantaloupe, tutti fruti and peach.

Are they seasonal operations or open all year round?

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Miko's also has an outpost on Damen, just N. of Churchill (well S. of Armitage) and it is definitely a seasonal operation.

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Leek
SAVING ONE DOG MAY NOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT IT CHANGES THE WORLD FOR THAT ONE DOG.
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Coconut, pineapple and pina colada, too.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Anthony's is seasonal, too.

=R=

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I heard, but am not 100% positive, that that one is closed.

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Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
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Their website lists Damen as a location. I called them up, and they said that the Damen location is open today Noon-10p.

If I recall correctly, at the Damen location, you walk down from the sidewalk to a sunken courtyard and order the ice from a garden apartment window.

Miko's Italian Ice
1846 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 645-9664



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edc

When I have walked by the Miko's on Damen in the evening I have often seen it open. There was a for-sale sign on the building for a while, which might have caused confusion.

_________________
Leek
SAVING ONE DOG MAY NOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT IT CHANGES THE WORLD FOR THAT ONE DOG.
American Brittany Rescue always needs foster homes. Please think about helping that one dog.
http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org

I would check out Annette's, my 2nd favorite Italian ice joint in the city. They have a huge number of flavors (almost too many) and everything is made in-house.

It shares a space with Metropolis Rotisseria (never been), so don't get confused!

It is also seasonal, but they are open for a much longer period of time. I clearly remember a few years ago that they were still open in mid-October. They also re-open fairly early into spring.

My current favorite is a combo of black cherry and lime.


Annette's Homemade Italian Ice
2009 N. Bissell
Chicago, IL 60614
http://metropolisrotisseria.tripod.com/

Freddy's always has a huge variety of fresh fruit/berry ice, but no one ever seems to talk about it. Not a favorite?

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I have to get gelato when I go to Freddy's, so I've only had the ice a couple times. That said, the few times I've had Freddy's ice I haven't been terribly impressed. Not very fruity.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.