Williams Plum Street Snowball in New Orleans

Landmark Offers Treats That Go Beyond Traditional Snow Cones

Sep 20, 2009

Williams Plum Street Snowball has provided sweet summer treats in New Orleans for nearly 70 years - just don't call them snow cones.

Visitors to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, will find an exhibit on the history of snowballs in New Orleans. Not satisfied with the traditional chunky ice and syrup of a snow cone, enterprising businessmen in the city took matters into their own hands. The results included innovations such as a machine that would transform ice into the soft texture of snow as well as the birth of the “pour spouts” so ubiquitous in bars today. Add in a particularly eclectic variety of flavorings, and the uniquely New Orleans “snowball” was born.

It was during this era, in the 1930s, that Williams Plum Street Snowball opened. Today, decades later, Plum Street Snowball remains a culinary institution in New Orleans. Whether customers visit the shop, happen across their booth at a local festival, or hire them for private events, Plum Street Snowball provides a sweet treat that is unique to the Big Easy.

The Plum Street Experience

Upon stepping through the “enter” door at Plum Street (coming in through the exit door is not recommended, as the line moves quickly), two things are immediately obvious. The first is that there will not be a great deal of time to make up one’s mind, despite the many choices on the menu. The second is that customers should really put away their cell phones before entering: a sign provides unambiguous warning that customers will be skipped over in line for talking on the phone — or for even wearing a Bluetooth headset in line.

The warning does not mean that the staff at Plum Street are unfriendly; rather, they simply realize that they will need the customer’s full attention until they are served. In fact, the employees are just as happy to help customers through the ordering process as they are efficient at keeping the line moving. And as intimidating as all the choices are, only two decisions really need to be made: pick a size and pick a flavor. The staff will handle the rest.

What Makes Plum Street Special

In addition to a lighter, softer texture, “snowballs” in New Orleans are traditionally set apart by more exotic flavors than the standard grape, cherry, and lime of snow cones. In this aspect, Plum Street does not disappoint. Those looking for a flavor as tame as orange or raspberry will not be disappointed. But for the more adventurous, a whole new spectrum of flavor awaits. Whether your favorite is chocolate, almond, spearmint, root beer, cinnamon, or any of a host of other extraordinary flavors, there is a choice to please any palate.

Another sign of an authentic New Orleans snowball shop is the availability of “cream” flavors, made with both flavoring syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Plum Street offers a variety of cream options as well, including lavender vanilla orchid cream and bananas foster cream. With the cream flavors, the shop once again takes an extra step beyond tradition: Plum Street makes its own sweetened condensed milk in house. This gives their cream flavors an extra layer of richness not found in shops that use a commercially-manufactured brand of milk.

Things to Know Before Going

One final quirk sets Plum Street apart from the other snowball shops in the Crescent City. Of the several sizes available, some come in a traditional cup, while others come in Chinese food takeout pails. Both are served with a straw and a spoon for eating. The takeout pails are obviously more prone to leaks; customers opting for the pail are warned to make good use of their straws to help avoid leaks.

Plum Street is currently open Sunday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from noon until 8:00 p.m. Be aware that hours do change seasonally; a sign inside teasingly warns customers that the business is open when the owners feel like it, but generally during posted hours. Customers should also keep in mind that Plum Street is a cash-only business; however, there are plenty of banks and ATMs in the surrounding neighborhood of Carrollton for those who need to make a stop.

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The copyright of the article Williams Plum Street Snowball in New Orleans in North American Culinary Travel is owned by Laney Traylor. Permission to republish Williams Plum Street Snowball in New Orleans in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.