Mangia Snow Cones

In the words of The Cars’ bass player, Benjamin Orr (no, it wasn’t Ric Ocasek), «I guess you’re just what I needed. I needed someone to feed [me].»
I had just been hiking at Bull Creek Greenbelt, and had stupidly forgotten to bring water with me. There was plenty of water at Bull Creek, but I wasn’t about to drink any of it. I was in desperate need of some sort of cold liquid sustenance. Even though I was really close to home, I started thinking about Christine A.‘s and Errol M.‘s reviews of this place. I hadn’t had a snow cone in about 75 years. Okay, it’s only been 5, but it feels like 75. I couldn’t remember the exact name of this place, so I emailed Errol to ask him exactly where in the intersection the snow cone place is located. When he told me it’s right next to Mangia Pizza, that’s when I grew some new brain cells and remembered the place was called Mangia Snow Cones. Duh.
The kid who served me was super nice and easy to chat with. He told me I could go inside Mangia to eat the cone if I wanted to, but I opted to dance in the rain in the parking lot while I orally violated my frozen confection. (Too much?)
I got a small wild cherry cone, and it wasn’t long before I was wishing I’d gotten a large. I contracted Frozen Mouth Syndrome several times during the experience, but that was quickly remedied by body heat.
When I started my hike at the greenbelt, I was hoping it would rain on me so I could cool off, but no such luck. Wouldn’t you know it started to rain *the very moment* I got my snow cone. Figures.
I don’t like Mangia’s pizza, but their snow cones are fab. Now I’m suffering from Red Teeth Syndrome.

Aw, some days I’m my own best audience: I probably spent about $ 10 in gas for a $ 2 snow cone and a $ 1 tip, because to wind up at Spicewood Springs and Mesa where Mangia Snow Cones is located, I start this journey at Spicewood Springs and 183 where Mr. Chen and Asia Café is. Now granted I’m a guy and an inch equals a mile but how long can this Spicewood Springs road really be? Okay, pretty damn long, apparently.
So is a Mangia Snow Cone worth a Monday afternoon road trip? Why, yes it is. Besides the pleasure of reading Christine A.‘s review, I’m a big advocate of young people earning a buck – if these guys are investing their summer running a business, I’ll be there buying their product. Incidentally, once I found them, they’re literally a stone’s throw away from my office, if I had used MoPac. Hey – is that the Torchy’s I keep reading about? It would make a great place for an ROTDC!
One more thing: What the heck is «Tiger’s Blood,» and what’s it supposed to taste like? I’m not sure I could describe what I was tasting. It was good though. Will it eventually come off my teeth?

Mangia Snow Cones is operated by three hardworking young men who are friends with and played lacrosse with my son (disclaimer). I stopped by today for a small Tiger’s Blood after being outside for over an hour. I was parched and the icy Tiger’s Blood was refreshing and delicious.
Currently, they are open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. but next Monday their hours will change to 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. because, as one of the guys told me, «The girls’ dance program gets out at 1:00 so we want to be here for that.» I’m not sure if this is purely to sell snow cones but it’s a smart move either way.
There are plans to move out by the trees and put in a picnic table but for now, find Mangia Snow Cones in front of the north door to Mangia Pizza. I plan to support these young entrepreneurs throughout the summer and hope you will too.