When Gary Sanon-Jules was growing up in Port-au-Prince, he and his classmates would stream out of school at 3 p.m. and run to the fresco tap-tap -- better known here as a snow-cone cart.
This past Friday, Gary wheeled out a fresco tap-tap in front of Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant, on Fifth Street in South Beach. It is something he's wanted to do for a long time. Under the hot sun, the longtime general manager was offering samples to passersby, shaving ice from a towel-covered block into paper cones, and dousing it with flavors of choice.
There are ten syrups to choose from, all made from organic rice syrup -- no fake aftertaste to these babies. Flavors include orange, pineapple, coconut, lemon-lime, black cherry, pomegranate, and anise. I sampled a pineapple-coconut combo that was absolutely refreshing. On Friday, the garnish was a fresh mint leaf, but next week, Tap Tap will offer the more traditional Haitian fresco garnish: peanuts.
The price for a cone is $2; the peanuts cost an extra buck. The cart is parked outside Tap Tap seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant
819 Fifth St., Miami Beach
305-672-2898
