Shivering Sam's Snowballs, Gretna

Domes of vivid fuchsia, blue, and chartreuse arc up out of their white cups, their icy texture a treat for the eyes as well as for the taste buds. Shivering Sam's Snowballs are available in more than 50 flavors, ranging from the traditional (banana, cantaloupe, and coconut) to the completely unexpected (nectar, tiger blood, and dill pickle). But regardless of which you choose, every icy dollop can be customized to hide a generous scoop of ice cream at its core. Other optional add-ons include condensed milk and chocolate syrup, but buried ice cream, according to Sam's staffers, is the hallmark of a truly New Orleans-style snow cone.

They're just as proud of the local elements informing their second menu item: tamales. The newest addition to the Sam's portfolio, these cheesy crowd-pleasers offer a warm, savory alternative to the sweet chill of shaved ice. And they, too, are made New Orleans-style, in part because you can blow into them and play perfect zydeco music.