Summer has officially arrived, and with it the drive for frozen treats to get us through the L.A. heat. While Intelligentsia's baristas will continue pulling single origin espresso shots, and Kogi's taqueristas will be stuffing tortillas with Korean short ribs, Milkettes at MILK on Beverly will be busy shaving ice with a raspador (metal ice shaver). Bret Thompson's popular ice cream parlor/bakeshop/cafe is known for its devine dairy, but this summer they're getting back to basics. On weekends this summer, MILK is offering up freshly shaved ice adorned with homemade toppings such as coconut, mango, espresso, dulce de leche, mojito, tamarind-chile, lemon and strawberry. The fancy snow-cones go for $3.00 each (additional flavors $.50).

Thompson, who is from Chatsworth and likes to troll East L.A. and San Gabriel Valley shops for raspados and inspiration, says he couldn't wait to put an espresso-condensed-milk ice on his summer menu. The shaved ices will be available Saturdays and Sundays, from 12-6 p.m., probably through August. “While the weather holds up,” say the folks at MILK. And in the future, your shaved ice and milkshakes won't melt on the drive to the the beach. A second MILK, at the Malibu Lumber Yard, has a tentative opening date of Fall 2010.

MILK, 7290 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (323) 939-6455. www.themilkshop.com.

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