A new Mexican popsicle shop opened in Peoria in time for peak ice cream season. But its signature offering isn’t on the menu yet.
The shop, Palarte, gets its name from the Spanish word for popsicle, “paleta.” But if you want Paletas from Palarte, you’ll have to wait.
“We were supposed to sell paletas in the first place. But our machine broke down a week before we opened,” Yesenia Vega said.
She and her husband Carlos own Palarte, which opened two weeks ago in the Metro Center.
“We’re trying to get it fixed. As soon as the paletas come, they’re going to be great,” Vega said.
Vega says until their machine gets fixed, they're selling homemade ice cream in traditional flavors, like avocado and cajeta, or Mexican caramel.
“Everything’s homemade, with passion and love, it’s really fresh, as fresh as you can get it,” Vega said.
They also have a greeter. Their six-year-old daughter Valentina sits by the door, smiling at customers. On this particular day, she was wearing a superhero costume, with a red cape.
“I want to eat all the ice cream!,” Valentina said.
Yesenia Vega says along with the frozen treats, the family wants to showcase the beauty of Mexican culture and arte -- another word implied in the name, Palarte.
The shop is brightly colored, with a hand-painted portrait of Frida Kahlo on the wall, across from the ice cream counter.
This isn’t the Vegas’ first venture in Mexican ice cream. They were previously partial owners of Las Delicias on West Main St., which is still in business.