Choice Morsel: Ice Cold Sweets

Filipino halo halo at Inay's Asian Pacific Cuisine on Beacon Hill

For generations across Asia, young and old have found refuge from the summer heat in the form of elaborate shaved-ice concoctions. In China, Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines, icy treats — sweet, wet and bracingly cold — quite literally refresh the body (and the spirit too!).

These summer coolers are not terribly well-known here in the U.S., and that’s an oversight it is time to correct. You can find shaved ice specialties from all of these countries right here in Seattle:

Direct from the Philippines, by way of Inay’s Asian Pacific Cuisine on Beacon Hill (2503 Beacon Ave. S.), comes halo-halo, the country’s icy sweet that includes so much more than shaved ice: taro ice cream, flan, jello, sweetened red and white beans, bananas, jackfruit, coconut meat and condensed milk.

Halo-halo means “mix-mix” in Tagalog, which is exactly what you’re supposed to do with this perfectly coifed bowl of ice. Yes, stir it all together until it becomes a slushy mess and dig in with a friend. A single bowl is enormous and easily serves two if not three people, especially if you’ve indulged in some of Inay’s pancit and chicken adobo.

Do you have a favorite haunt for shaved ice? Let me know, and I’ll share some more of my favorites with you!

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