Local Shakes

Blend Me An Angel

by Kaitlyn Foti

So good it should be illegal, Ants Pants' Violet Crumble taps the chocolate-covered Aussie honeycomb bar to lend its crunch to their now-legendary milk shake with caramel and real whipped cream. Damn foreign candy bars, coming in and putting all our good American sweets out of a job.

For a double dose of 'round-the-way flavor, the area's favorite retro diner mini-chain works Northeast Philly-made Peanut Chews into its famous shake and malt menu. This treat combines the candy with crushed peanuts, peanut butter, caramel flavoring and vanilla ice cream. Like Peanut Chews? Like milk shakes? Why aren't you here yet?

The milk shake selection at the Pop Shop is longer and more perplexing than most William Faulkner novels. Though there's so much to choose from, try the Apple Pie Deluxe Bakery Shop Shake. With vanilla ice cream, green apple syrup, cinnamon and wet walnuts, it's as American as ... you know.

Falooda is India's version of a milk shake: Here, it's made with rose-flavored cream, vanilla ice cream, basil seeds ... and noodles. Miles away from your typical malt, its delicate floral taste is completely unexpected.

Sometimes, you gotta go with the classic. Cut out the strange accoutrement for the simple, creamy pleasures of a 24-ounce shake using vanilla soft-serve ice cream. The prices here taste good, too: A large will set you back just $4.25.