Taste

Cool Las Vegas Valley treats to get you through the dog days of summer

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Somisomi’s taiyaki cones
Illustration: Wade Vandervort

Sul & Beans

Sul & Beans

At Shanghai Plaza in Chinatown you’ll find Sul & Beans, which specializes in Korean bingsoo. For the uninitiated, bingsoo is a bowl of shaved ice topped with various ingredients like condensed milk, fruit and cornflakes. Here you’ll find heaping bowls with sweet red beans and fresh fruit like watermelon, in flavors such as taro, green tea and chocolate. But stretch your imagination—and your palate—and try unfamiliar flavor profiles, at least in treat form, like Earl Grey and black sesame. You might be pleased to discover that dessert need not be cloyingly sweet. 4284 Spring Mountain Road #D103, 702-473-9629.

Black Tap’s Dole Whip Cocktails

Black Tap

Black Tap

There was a time when Dole Whip—that creamy soft-serve pineapple swirl of perfection—was only available at Disneyland. In fact, its rarity conferred upon it cultlike status, and the lines at the concession stands were legendary. About three years ago, the dairy-free dessert started appearing outside the Magic Kingdom. In town, you can find the adult version at Black Tap in the Venetian, in the form of two cocktails: the Raspberry Lime Margarita, made with Casamigos Blanco, Aperol, lime juice, makrut lime and raspberry Dole Whip; and the Mimosa, with Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Absolut Vodka, blood orange and orange Dole Whip. Guess there’s a new happiest place on Earth. 702-414-2337, blacktap.com.

Somisomi

It’s literally impossible to resist the adorable taiyaki waffle cone that houses Somisomi’s soft serve ice cream. Taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake, is commonly filled with red bean paste. (Other filling options include Nutella, custard and taro.) Then pick a soft-serve flavor—milk, matcha, milk tea, Oreo, horchata or ube (the ubiquitous purple yam from the Philippines), or a weekly-special swirl—to add to your sweet-fish creation. The taiyakis are made on the spot, and they come out nice and warm. In fact, they’re so good on their own that you should take some to-go (minus the soft serve) to eat later. 4284 Spring Mountain Road #D104, 702-473-9628.

Paradise City Creamery

Paradise City Creamery

Paradise City Creamery

At Paradise City Creamery, the ice cream is as sinful as it is sweet. “We aim to create engaging and curious experiences that encourage people to be the pleasure they wish to see in the world,” says founder Valerie Stunning. While the adults-only treats have risqué monikers like the World’s Oldest Professional and Birthday Sex, there’s also a virtuous bent: All treats are 100% plant-based and gluten-free. Sure, you might blush a bit when you order, but cooling you down is exactly what these creamy concoctions are made for. Join the invite list at paradisecitycreamery.com for pop-up details, 702-780-9153.

Mora Iced Creamery

Mora Iced Creamery

Mora Iced Creamery

Downtown Summerlin frozen treat hot spots Gelato Messina and Cream were delicious, but they didn’t last. Now the outdoor mall has the intensely flavored—yet lower in fat and cholesterol—offerings of Mora, which focuses on fresh ingredients and storing its ice creams and sorbets individually at ideal temperatures. That means you won’t browse a glass case full of colorful options, but you might maximize your enjoyment thanks to the unique methodology. Mora is a place where purists can enjoy their favorites, but you can also get sundaes and shakes or experiment with fantastic flavors like Mexican chocolate, blackberry, lemon bar, cheesecake with brownies and Irish coffee. Downtown Summerlin, 702-660-4380. Also at Town Square.

Tags: Food
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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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