Fresco (Haitian Shaved Ice)
Haitian shaved ice was and continues to be a widely adored and popular treat – particularly for kids on their way home from school on a hot summer afternoon.
At the end of the day, you could almost always count on someone selling Fresco from a small vehicle similar to an ice cream cart outside almost every school. There'd be a nearby line of kids, lined up like skittles, waiting for their turn!
Haitian shaved ice is made up of only two ingredients: ice and a thick, sweet syrup. The most common syrup is grenadine, but it can be served with any color or flavor of syrup.
When it was your turn, the vendor would usually ask what flavor you wanted after scooping the shaved ice into a cup. Little girls usually choose strawberry because the syrup will turn the Fresco a bright pink color, which is their favorite!
