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Peaches are already coming to market. But does Mario's source its peaches locally? If not, the season might not matter, and Mario's may have peach whenever it feels like it. Last year, it was a disappointment, lots of hard, underripe peach bits even though market peaches were soft and ripe.

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Local Beet

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon....

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

I asked about the peach ice a few weeks ago and was told "not until August," but who knows?

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“We all have to stand before the kitchen gods.” Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar Aruni

Hi,

There were a few years where there was no peach lemonade. I am glad it has been present the last two years.

My sense the peaches have to reach a price point acceptable to them. If they can get peaches of suitable quality at a low enough price, they are in business.

I have noticed the lemonades this year are slushier than before. Often they would mound your lemonade, this year it has been more often level with rim. Even if it was mound, your just asking the lemonade to drip over the edges.

Last year, I became enamored with the Tutti Fruitti. It has become my favored combo, especially if I dig up a frozen grape.

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

What exactly is Tutti Frutti anyway?

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I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
There is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy Stomach
I can't go to Hollywood. I got biscuits to make. ~ Dwight Henry

Late-Nite Eats Database

Hi,

Tutti Fruiti typically has sliced apples, pears, oranges and grapes. The lemonade is flavored a bit differently, though to what I am not quite sure. I usually go for the medium with this selection because of the real estate the fruit takes up relative to lemonade. Other flavors without so many chunky bits, I often go small.

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

Tutti Frutti translates to fruit salad. The exact makeup varies by the season and availablilty of fruit.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

YES! My new favorite, too. I'd always based my decision on what I was in the mood for at the time, but the fruit cocktail one is now my all-the-time favorite...until the peach comes out, but even then, I may get one of each

Sometimes peach slices end up in the Tutti Frutti, too.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Hi,

Yeah, Tutti Fruitti is always full of surprises.

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

going tonight & getting a bucket of pineapple fruit salad.
tried it 2 weekends ago & it is great

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philw bbq cbj for kcbs &M.I.M. carolina pit masters

HI,

While May 1st is the official opening of Mario's Italian Ice. For the last two years, I have shown up on April 29th to find they are already open.

I will be there tomorrow afternoon, then again on Sunday and as often as possible all summer long.

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

Yep, just drove by & they are now open

HI,

I was there this evening for my first of the season. I will be there for the official season opener tomorrow, too!

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

Dropped in today for my first of the season Tutti Frutti, magic as always. Not complaining but just a note the small size has gone up from a 1.00 to a 1.50....still a great value in my book

I went yesterday after the Maxwell St. market and had lime. I thought I was eating it slowly enough, but apparently not. I was in intense physical pain, so that was my first and last attempt. At least until peach season.

_________________
I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
There is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy Stomach
I can't go to Hollywood. I got biscuits to make. ~ Dwight Henry

Late-Nite Eats Database

I enjoyed my first Mario's of the season a couple of days ago - a very pleasant Fruit Cocktail version. Only issue is that the gap between Medium and Large is a bit too much - I splurged for the Large, but barely finished it over a hour-long drive home. Next time I'm going to try just a straight apple ice, as they were pretty good.

I'm not at all pleased about the restaurant just east of them setting up a "loading zone" until 9pm and taking out three parking spaces. I found that there was more parking at 4:30pm facing eastbound across the street, in front of Al's.

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"You may not want to take its picture, but you really want to eat it." - Nigella Lawson

For years the double park on Taylor has been acceptable and tolerated by the multitude of local law enforcement in the area. Is this being enforced now?

Your "double park" is my "blocking the goddamn bike lane"

Which, in my experience, means you're correct, the police will not do one damn thing about it

To make this post marginally relevant, YES I am excited about Mario's and need to get down there asap

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Well I got drunk and I ate a chicken
I ate a chicken I found in my kitchen
Not just a leg and not just a wing
I'd like to let you know that I ate the whole damn thing

"intense physical pain" from having an Italian ice? Writing off a highly anticipated Chicago classic for the rest of the season? Not sure if you're being serious here or not, if not- you got me...

I dunno why, but I had some severe chest pains after that little thing. Plus I wasn't impressed by the lime.

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I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
There is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy Stomach
I can't go to Hollywood. I got biscuits to make. ~ Dwight Henry

Late-Nite Eats Database

If your kid is tempted by the snowball menu, steer him or her firmly toward the ice menu.
A root beer snowball on Sunday had a terrible off taste, as if some mold had gotten into the syrup.
The watermelon ice, on the other hand, was excellent.
Also, if you're there on Sunday, you can sit at one of the tables outside Al's across the street. Al's is closed on Sundays, and so the usual ban on noncustomers using their outdoor tables does not apply.

I think the lime is a commercial syrup-based flavor. Worth going again and trying one of the homemade flavors.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

Is peach a homemade flavor?

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I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
There is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy Stomach
I can't go to Hollywood. I got biscuits to make. ~ Dwight Henry

Late-Nite Eats Database

yeah, and lemon, cantaloupe, tutti frutti, and watermelon. maybe some more i'm forgetting?

the peach is the most variable of the bunch, and often has totally unripe peaches in it, sadly.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

Yes, but the peach can also be awesome, when right. Its sort of dependent on the fruits at the time of year.. last year I had 3 or 4 very ordinary peach-ices, but just once of twice it hit a high note (and was one of the best ices of the season).

I often ask the girl behind the counter for rec's - and they usually steer me right. I often stick with the Watermelon or the Cantaloupe.. early in the season, when both may not be great, I sometimes go with tutti-fruiti.. but then drift into Watermelon or Cantaloupe, often depending on that days recommendation. (Last Saturday, despite the earliness of the season, I was rec'd cantaloupe - and it was terrific).

c8w

Other flavors with real fruit include coconut, pineapple and pina colada, and the orange has fresh zest.

Newbies should note that all flavors start with the same lemon base and the additional flavoring and fruit is added on top of that.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

Just had my first Mario's of the season and man...was it good.

I've had probably a dozen lemonades over the past few years (I'm young, cut me a break - I'll get the count up) and they have always been really good.

But my eyes have been opened! I see the light! Pah-RAISE that lemonade shack!

The cantaloupe tonight was ON. The fruit was perfectly ripe and bright orange in color. The whole thing worked so well together, not too sweet, just enough lemonade and cantaloupe flavor (that balance has been a problem in the past) and it was the perfect antidote for an evening in the 90-degree heat.

I would have bought a second to put in the freezer for later, but that was my last $2.50 in cash I had!

Next time...that large bucket-size I've never actually seen someone get is calling my name.

I was just there on Sunday evening. That Italian lemonade has been rocking my world for the past 34 years. My favorite is and always has been Cantaloupe, with Lemon a close second. However, a couple of years ago I discovered Peach, and I just went berserk. Can't wait for Peach.

I think what makes Mario's unique is the lemon base plus the addition of fruits and that fruit flavoring. There is an Italian Ice vendor in my West Suburban neighborhood, rhymes with Tina's. Does not come close to Mario's--especially the cantaloupe. I love Mario's!

NOTE: The flavors are capitalized because they deserve respect.

HI,

Glad you love the place as much as many of us do!

I am hooked on the tutti fruiti, bonus if I get a frozen grape.

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