La Paletera

515 S. Congress, 326-9399

5341-A Cameron, 374-0555

1100 Center Ridge #360, 670-2616

This franchise began in Corpus Christi as a fresh fruit and Popsicle stand that now has branches all over the state and beyond. While their specialty is still their frozen fruit paletas, they also carry a wide selection of fruit cups and fruit trays, from the simple to the amazingly elaborate. Their fruit cups and specials feature colorful names. Escamocha is a blend of tropical fruits topped with yogurt, granola, and honey. The Bionico ($4.59) is similar, but it is topped with a sweetened fresh cream instead. Snow fruit ($2.29 12oz.) is a mixture of chopped fruits atop snow-cone ice, flavored with either lime and chile or the snow-cone syrup of your choice. Among their drinks you can find aguas frescas, licuados, and fruity freezes, which are fresh-fruit slushies. La Paletera also carries corn cups, shrimp cocktails, hot dogs, tortas, and other snacks, although they vary at each independent location. end story

This article appears in June 30 • 2006.

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Mexico City native Claudia Alarcón has made Austin home since 1984. She worked her way through college in the local restaurant industry, graduating from the University of Texas in 1999. She has been a Chronicle contributor for 15 years and presents lectures and workshops on topics related to the foodways of Mexico, both locally and internationally.