MONDAY,AUG.20,2001
OFFTHEHILL
THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN 11D
Taste-testing frenzy, the winners and losers of summertime refreshment
by Luke Wetzel Kansan staff writer
Jon Breeding stood outside Kwik Shop, 1714 W. 23rd St. poking at a gourmet ice beverage with a straw and sipping it intermittently. If you were to ask him, he would probably tell you to take your 87 cents elsewhere, but at the moment he was too busy grimacing.
"The flavor was an unconscionable french vanilla," said Breeding, Springfield, Mo., junior. "I'm a vanilla fan in most instances, but this flavor was the bane of all humanity."
Breeding was part of Lawrence Frozen Treat Test 2001, an ambitious quest to seek out brain freezes and flavorful frozen desserts in a town devoid of 7-11 Slurpees. Although purists may argue that other products are similarly "wannabes" masquerading as Slurpees, the three taste-testers found the gas stations of Lawrence awash with similar treats.
Multiple gas stations were hit on two separate ventures. New flavors were tried. Brain freezes were acquired. It was 90 degrees and sunny. All in all, it was not a bad day for frozen beverage experimentation.
Breeding proved his dedication to the project before the first slurp. On the way to Raja's Food Mart, 1000 W. 23rd St., he refused an offer of pretzel sticks.
"I want to keep my palate clean." he said.
At Raja's, which sells Chili Willis, Breeding decided the thrill was somehow lacking from the chill.
"It doesn't hold together well," he said, watching the color of the syrup disappear from the ice with each slurp. "The flavor is acceptable but perhaps too saccharine."
Next on his menu was an Alpine Blast Orange Dream at the Conoco Break Place on 24th and Iowa.
"A quality refreshment." Breeding said. "Flavor is orange but not quite acidic like orange soda-more creamy. And what a name."
History
Although the machines in today's gas stations look like neon fuel tanks for rocket ships, history suggests Romans enjoyed a good brain freeze, too. Romans would haul snow from mountain tops to the city, where syrup was added to make the world's first-recorded frozen dessert. Wooden planes were used to crush ice in later centuries, and hand-held ice shavers were invented in the late 1800s. Ernest Hanson invented the first motorized ice-block shaver in 1934, which quickly inspired other New Orleans vendors.
The modern frozen dessert further evolved in Kansas, when Omar Knedlik, the owner of a Coffeyville Dairy Queen, began putting soda in the freezer to sell to customers. The treat caught on so well that he dedicated five years to building a machine to create frozen carbonated beverages, which he dubbed Ices. By the mid 1960s, there were 300 Icee machines. Today, enough Ices are consumed each year to cover the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu.
Benji King, Overland Park senior and Kwik Shop employee, said Icees were one of the most popular things he sold in the summer.
"When I used to get them, the little bear was part of the attraction," King said. "The novelty aspect of it isn't the same when you're older."
The Testing Continues
Vivek Kurisunkal, New Delhi, India, senior, and Erika Ratzliff, Buhler junior, and began their testing at Tad's Tropical Sno, 939 Iowa St., where customers can choose from over 200 flavor combinations.
"You can call me an ice connoisseur," Ratzlaff said. "At the state fair, I would ask for just ice. Snow cone ice is the best kind of ice."
Kurisunkal claimed to have no American frozen dessert experience aside from an isolated snow cone encounter in the fall of 1999.
"In India we have sticks of fla
"You can call me an ice
connoisseur. At the state fair, I would ask for just ice. Snow cone ice is the best kind of
Erika Ratzlaff
Buhler junior
ice."
vored ice, but it's nothing like a popsicle," he said. "I didn't understand the concept of snow cones at first. I think there's a lot of syrup."
Ratzlaff liked her treat from Tad's.
"The consistency of the ice is really nice, but it melts fast," she said of her Sucker Punch. "It's kind of tart. I like it."
Breeding said that snow cones could be distracting in some instances.
"Probably too much to handle while driving." he said.
At the next stop, Ratzlaff had more fun pouring her Icee than she did drinking it.
"The whole ordeal of putting in there is fun," she said. "I don't think I ever finished one. You get really pumped up when you're about to get one, but then you never get through it. At least I don't."
Kurisunkai was even less partial to his Icee.
"I liked the other one much better," he said referring to Tad's. "This didn't have too many flavors. Secondly, I thought it was very runny and more liquiyd." Brain Frenzel
Later, things went downhill. The testers thought Polar Joe's claim to be the "smoothest, coolest frozen gourmet drink ever" turned out to be a false promise at Jayhawk Food Mart, 701 W 9th St.
"It's not gourmet, and I don't think I'd pick up guys if I was drinking it." Ratzlaff said. "It's like strawberry-flavored dentists'
With flavor quality determined, brain freeze testing was initiated. Kurisunkal slurped for 11 seconds before pulling away, nearly eclipsing Breeding's 12 seconds set earlier in the afternoon. Ratzlaff slurped for a modest 4.
toothpaste."
"I got a little bit of a headache, but I don't think I got the full glory," she said. "Stay away from Polar Joe."
Meanwhile, Kurisunkal stood by the side of the building with his head in his hands, trying unsuccessfully to shake the lingering pain.
"It pinches your brain," he said, wincing. "My jaw hurts, my head hurts. It's like a bad hangover. It sucks."
On the way to Juice Stop, a comment from Ratzlaff suggested she might have been affected by the brain freeze after all.
"I wonder how far your car can run on just Icee," she mused. "Like a meal"
After discovering Juice Stop was closed, Ratzlaff proposed making her own smoothies. A blended banana, cup of milk and 16 ounces of yogurt later, the deed was done.
"They're super healthy, a lot cheaper, and it's convenient because it's right at home," she said. "If you didn't wash the dishes, make smoothies and your house likes you again."
Breeding also had high words of praise for smoothies.
"Head and shoulders above the rest of the field," he said of his America's Cup smoothie, which he got at The Juice Stop. 812 Mass. St. "It's like a meal"
Ratzlahff encouraged trying different kinds of fruit with homemade smoothies. She said trips to get gas station refreshments also had a redeeming value.
"I think an occasional visit to get a Slurpee or Icee retains your innocence because it's such a fun and wholesome thing to do," she said.
Wextel can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kanans.com
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