By Ellen Fox
January 15 2004
So, hip-hop artist Kelis thinks her milkshake's better than ours? That's a
pretty bold statement, considering this town's got more variety than you can
shake a stick at. Here's where you too can get a creamy mouthful. (Note: Like
Kelis, these places have to charge.)
Zephyr Cafe
This art-deco ice cream shop and restaurant features 10 flavors, including the
favorite 16-ounce Peanut Butter Strut ($3.99), made with peanut butter, milk, a
squirt of vanilla syrup and high-butterfat French vanilla ice cream. Want a
blend that's not on the menu? Zephyr can do that, too.
Half & Half
This snack shop under the Blue Line's Damen stop can whip up endless shake
flavor-combos--like white chocolate and strawberry--thanks to more than a dozen
bottles of Monin syrup. We think the 20-ounce S'more ($3.50) is the most
tempting, with its blend of marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate syrup and
vanilla ice cream.
MK
Pastry chef Mindy Segal adds a bit of whimsy to the dessert menu at this
tenaciously trendy restaurant with her cake and shake ($9). A triangular slice
of layered chocolate cake (that's chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, milk
chocolate mousse and fudge buttercream) is accompanied by a tiny beer mug filled
with malted milkshake and two straws.
Irazu
At this Bucktown joint, they make their shakes the Costa Rican (and low-fat)
way: no ice cream! Take your pick from 12 fruit flavors--like parcha (passion
fruit) or mora (blackberry)--or try their famed oatmeal shake ($2.50), a secret
blend of ground oatmeal, ice, milk, cinnamon and who knows what else?
Deluxe Diner
No matter what the hour, when you need a fix, this all-night retro diner
delivers. Standbys include strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ($2.99), but you
can also get crunchier flavors like Oreo and Butterfinger ($3.29).The biggest
seller is strawberry-banana, a blend of frozen strawberries, fresh bananas,
French vanilla ice cream and milk, served in a 15-ounce glass. Just the thing to
go with your breakfast skillet, eh?
Tierra Caliente
Overdid it on the hot sauce? A coconut shake ($1.75, $3.35) takes the caliente
away at this Mexican spot. The frosty mixture of shredded coconut, milk, ice,
sugar and vanilla syrup is topped with cinnamon.
Thomas' Restaurant
This spacious South Side diner serves up a trio of simple, inexpensive shakes
made the old fashioned way. The 12-ounce vanilla ($1.99) is the favorite, made
with vanilla ice cream, vanilla extract and milk. Sometimes simple is best.
Ellen Fox is a metromix special contributor.