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Free Rita’s Italian Ice / Cale’s Guide to Frozen Sugar Water

March 20, 2008 by Cale

Rita’s Italian Ice (or Rita’s Water Ice depending on where you live) has been opening stores like gangbusters in the DC/VA/MD area in the past year. They serve up both italian ice and custard, or the surprisingly effective combination of them both. I recently treated my Rita’s-virgin intern to the unfortunatly named mango/vanilla Blendini. What I consider to be the best item on the menu, this majestic treat consists of mango italian ice, vanilla custard, and Nilla (Nilla!!) wafer bits lightly swirled together. After consuming this he turned to me and said “This is the best thing that happened to me all summer”.

For the first day of Spring (today!) Rita’s is offerring a free 10 oz. cup of Italian Ice from approx noon-9pm.  Nearby locations listed below.

Here’s a little guide to the menu. 

Italian Ice – This is the only item Rita sold when they first opened.  It’s very smooth, not like that shit you buy in the frozen section of the grocery store.  It’s fantastic, and still holds up great on it’s own, even though they have introduced a number of new ways to eat it (see below).  Here is the flavor breakdown, some of these they call “Cream Ice” cause it has a slightly more ice cream texture to it, but whatever, it’s all the same:

The best flavor, hands down: Mango  

The classics: Lemonade, Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry 

Also really good: Passion Fruit, Pina Colada, Root Beer, Raspberry Lemonade, Kiwi-Strawberry, Cappuccino Cream, Fudge Brownie 

Not as good as you would think: Grape, Banana, Black Cherry, Cookies n Cream, Cookie Dough n Cream, Vanilla Chip

Better than you would think: Chocolate, Blueberry, Watermelon, Mint Chocolate Chip, Pistachio

I can’t remember the different between these, I think one is good and the other is mediocre: Banana Split Cream, Berry Banana Cream

Only good in small amounts: Green Apple, Coconut Cream

Fucking gross: Vanilla

Useless, cause mango is better: Tangerine, Orange Cream

Mystery combo fruit concoctions that I can’t really distinguish between, but they’re all pretty good: Wild Berry, Citrus Blast, Tropical Punch, Island Fusion, Twisted Melon

FLAVOR UPDATE: I just got back from getting my free ice and today they also introduced a new flavor, Birthday Cake Cream Ice! Unfortunately it is Shasta McNasty.  Almost as bad as Vanilla. Watch out!

There are also some sugar-free versions of the above flavors, but only assholes get those.

Custard: Rita’s then introduced custard into the menu, at first chocolate and vanilla, and then strawberry and cappuccino.  It’s really really good.  I mean, really really good, but, it’s the same assholes that get the sugar-free ice that get the custard plain.  The key is to mix it with the right italian ice flavor in one of these various forms:

Gelati: This is a layer of custard, followed by a layer of ice, with a swirl of custard on the top for good measure.  It’s heavenly, and the flavor combos are endless. This is the preferred method of eating: enjoy a little custard from the top by itself, then enjoy some of it combined with the ice, then eat a little ice plain once the custard is gone, then crazily stir the rest together into a frothy Jesus cum.  It was really the only reason to go to Rita’s until they recenlt added a slight upgrade model…

Blendini: Same as a Gelati but they add either Oreo or Nilla wafer bits and stir it up.  They don’t blend it, it’s more like a twist, so you get tracks of custard and tracks of ice.  It’s pretty special.  McFlurry doesn’t stand a chance.  Sometimes you’ll want that hard separation in the Gelati, but most of the time you’ll find yourself going for the Blendini.  Caveat: it’s embarrassing to order/say.  Apparently the initial marketing push involved a magician.  Cringe.

Misto: Melted custard, italian ice, blender.  You drink it with a straw.  Although I’ve found some who disagree with me, I think it should only be purchased if you’re on the go, the Gelati and Blendini are better.  Also, if you get a large sized one and drink the whole thing you’re just gross.

Ritaccino: This is a new treat just added a few weeks ago.  It’s good for a few bites then you want to throw up.  I’d stay away.  A deadly concoction of coffee and ice and custard. It’s too much. And it uses that vanilla italian ice as one of the ingredients and there is nothing good about that.

Ok, so get your free ice at these locations, or look for more here: http://www.ritasice.com/

1781 Florida Avenue Nw
WASHINGTON, DC 20009

3237A 14th Street NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20010

2318 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE NE
WASHINGTON, DC 20018

8900 Baltimore Avenue
COLLEGE PARK, MD 20740

2950-F Donnell Drive
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD 20747

9101 KINNEY PLACE
CLINTON, MD 20735

15430 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE
BURTONSVILLE, MD 20866

Firstfield Shopping Center 509 Quince Orchard Road
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20878

3233 SPARTAN ROAD
OLNEY, MD 20832

905F Herndon Parkway
HERNDON, VA 20170

3353 Corridor Marketplace Suite 100
LAUREL, MD 20724

3329 SUPERIOR LANE
BOWIE, MD 20715 USA

GERMANTOWN CENTER 12801 WISTERIA DRIVE
GERMANTOWN, MD 20874

Potomac Mills Mall 2700 Potomac Mills Circle
WOODBRIDGE, VA 22192

Columbia East Shopping Center 7351 Assateague Drive # 50 (Corner of Rts. 1 & 175)
JESSUP, MD 20794

2163 DEFENSE HWY. ROUTE 450
CROFTON, MD 21114

3312 LEONARDTOWN RD.
WALDORF, MD 20601

1111 ODENTON ROAD
ODENTON, MD 21113

HARPERS CHOICE VILLAGE CENTER 5485 HARPERS FARM ROAD, SUITE C
COLUMBIA, MD 21044

44050 Ashburn Village Shopping Center Suite #155
ASHBURN, VA 20147

All images from: http://www.ritasice.com/

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