The dog days of summer are here. When temperatures approach 100 degrees, humidity spikes and you feel those beads of sweat begin to form on your forehead, you’re no doubt scrambling for ways to beat the heat. Whether it’s a caffeine fix, something sweet to eat or an after-work cocktail, here are some cold, refreshing treats that will give you some reprieve from those direct rays.
No Fair Funnel Cake
Maybe the State Fair just can’t come soon enough for you. Until then, Cold Stone Creamery has the No Fair Funnel Cake ($4.99). One of four new plated desserts that are baked on site at the ice cream chain, this one starts with a funnel cake topped with ice cream (your choice of flavor), fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Other new desserts include the Churro Caramel Crave, Brownie a la Cold Stone and Chocolate Lava Meltdown. You also won’t want to miss the ice cream flavor of the month for August, strawberry basil, which marries two of the best flavors of the growing season, or this month’s featured sorbet–mojito. Cold Stone’s line of sweet and creamy frozen yogurts – blueberry pomegranate and black cherry – are satisfying but sensible if you’re watching calories, starting at just 80 calories for a small serving. Finally, if you have holiday weekend plans or any birthday parties on the calendar, look into the frozen cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches – both of them come in portable packs that are perfect for hitting the road. 7765 Main St.; 763.494.9161
Raspberry Sorbet
Chef Arnaud de Rambures always looks forward to the season when he can get sweet, ripe local fruit to incorporate into the homemade sorbets at his bakery, Chez Arnaud. This time of year, you’ll be sure to find flavors like raspberry, strawberry and lemon, but even when quality domestic fruits aren’t available, he imports fruit purees like passion fruit from a supplier in France. He also has a favorite English cream that, when incorporated into his ice cream recipe, results in a rich and creamy chocolate ice cream that you’ll instantly crave. Sorbets and ice creams are sold in a waffle cone for $2.65. French limonades, made with sparkling water and flavored syrup (more like a soft drink than traditional lemonade), will hit the spot if you’re thirsty. They’re offered in mint, strawberry, grapefruit or lemon flavors($3.85). 13332 Bass Lake Rd.; 763.568.7756
Strawberry Lemonade
Need a cool place to catch a break from the sun for a few minutes? Order up a strawberry lemonade ($3.89) at Panera Bread and take a seat. It’s a thirst quencher that can be enjoyed with a summer salad or sandwich, or all on its own. All of Panera’s frozen drinks are blended to order, and the strawberry lemonade strikes an exquisite balance between sweet and tart, using real strawberry puree and lemonade, with no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavorings. If you prefer, try the plain frozen lemonade, which is just as good ($3.39). 7778 Main St. N.; 763.416.0436
Java MuddSlide
You need a coffee buzz with panache—not just an iced coffee—but something with sugar and ice and everything nice. If that’s the case, you’ll do well by the Java MuddSlide at Mountain Mudd Espresso, made with coffee, milk, ice and your pick of flavors (vanilla and hazelnut are popular). There’s no shortage of caffeine-free treats at this family-owned franchise, either. You’ll also find a line of fruit blends that’s new to the menu this year – creamy fruit drinks like black cherry or orange cream that fall somewhere between a smoothie and a shake. (Drinks range from $3.50–$5.25.) Owner Mary Ellen Everhart, who runs two Mountain Mudd locations with the help of her twenty-something children (in Maple Grove and New Hope), also added ice cream to the menu last year, available in a cone, dish or as a sundae with your choice of toppings. 9712 63rd Ave. N.; 763.533.9683
Creamsicle
The Studio at Rush Creek Coffee Bar
This coffee shop runs a little under the radar, so you might not have even noticed the low profile sign in the building just behind the Walmart on County Road 30. Inside, you’ll find a gallery full of students’ art in the art studio and on consignment, along with a quiet, comfortable space for sipping coffee drinks, reading a book, or attending the local book or knitting club. For drinks, the blended ones are tops, like the Creamsicle, made with orange juice, orange syrup, vanilla and ice, and the Chagall, made with or without coffee, with milk, Ghiradelli chocolate, Irish cream and mint syrups ($3.15–$4.15). Even Mountain Dew has its place here, in the Red, White and Dew, made with Mountain Dew, cream, raspberry and vanilla syrups, and served over ice ($2.50–$2.90). 9481 Garland Ln. N.; 763.315.3001
Colossal Brownie Sundae
Got a pack of greedy sweet tooths on your hands? Buca di Beppo has a solution. The Colossal Brownie Sundae feeds six, made with decadent chunks of freshly baked brownies, layered with six scoops of vanilla bean and chocolate gelato, and topped with caramel and chocolate sauces, plenty of whipped cream and a cherry ($12.45). You can also get the gelato by the scoop ($1.99). If you’re thinking potable over pastry, order up one of the specialty cocktails. Both the Italian margarita (made with Sauza tequila, DiSaronno amaretto, Cointreau, orange juice and sour, $7.75) and the peach bellini (made with sparkling wine, peach schnapps and peach puree, $7.50) can be ordered frozen. Buca has also brought back its Italian wine service of late, which means the house made white or red sangria is available by the 1-liter carafe, as are the house wines. 12650 Elm Creek Blvd.; 763.494.3466
Snow Cone
Just to be clear, this isn’t the kind of snow cone you want to be offering your kids. This rendition is what you might call the “grown-up” kind, a drink over shaved ice, made with watermelon pucker, Sprite, Malibu rum, Three Olive cherry vodka, blue curacao, and pomegranate syrup, layered with red on the bottom and blue on top and served in a poco grande glass ($6.50). More traditional frozen drinks include the Perfect Patron margarita or Lynchburg lemonade made with Jack Daniels, triple sec and lemonade. Part restaurant, part bar and part video/interactive game room, Dave and Buster’s is known for a festive crowd and offers a large patio with live music. 11780 Fountains Way; 763.493.9815
Mixed Berry Smoothie
Things just got a little healthier at Potbelly. The sandwich chain is now serving smoothies and shakes made with real fruit instead of juice. The mixed berry smoothie is a refreshing blend of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, low fat yogurt and milk ($3.10). All of the shakes and smoothies are made to order so it’s easy to customize them by asking for more fruit or adding banana. The chocolate brownie cookie and the lower calorie chocolate cherry granola cookie are also new to the menu. 12409 Elm Creek Blvd A28; 763.424.3193
