TASTING TABLE LA
Enjoy this story from our archive, originally sent to TT members on 1/4/2012.
Snow Days
Asian-style shaved ice hits the Westside and West Valley
No longer is cutting-edge, Asian-inspired shaved ice a treat limited to the San Gabriel Valley.
Entrepreneurs have taken their icy flavors west and are now shaving to order in Canoga Park's Westfield Topanga mall and off of Sawtelle in West L.A.
Mark Manguera, who cofounded Kogi and Chego with Roy Choi, recently debuted Snow Monkey, wrapping mall columns with playful cartoon primates and featuring three ice-shaving machines that resemble mechanized igloos. Flavors of the icy shavings include subtly sweet mango-lychee and spice-tinged chipotle-mango ($3 to $7). Optimal toppings include chewy mochi, crunchy fortune-cookie shards and popping boba. 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park; 818-888-8092 or snowmonkeyice.com
Over the hill, childhood friends Alex Liu, Alex Yu and Evan Leu launched Blockheads Shavery Co. along Sawtelle's Japan-centric corridor, featuring a boxy penguin logo that could easily pass for an Angry Bird. Fluffy ribbons of "snow cream" come in base flavors like mango and strawberry ($3.50 to $5). Animal Crackers, blueberries and brownie bites (50 cents each) can be scattered on top. Blockheads also developed "favorite combos" ($4.50 to $6), which include a harmonious bowl of nutty black-sesame snow cream with glutinous rice cakes, crumbled Oreos and coconut purée (pictured). 11311 Mississippi Ave., West L.A.; 310-445-8725 or blockheadsla.com
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