- By Amanda L. Reynolds -
Bahama Buck’s
201 Holleman Dr. E 979.696.9000
Monday - Thursday 11 AM - 10 PM Friday - Saturday 11 AM - 11 PM Sunday 2 PM - 8 PM
Price - $ Cuisine - Sno Cones + Parking - Private Lot Patio - Yes Atmosphere - Casual Noise Level - Medium
$ ($5 - 10) ramen noodle budget $$ ($10-15) part-time job $$$ ($15-20) hard-earned cash $$$$ (Over $20) mommy and daddy are in town
Bahama Bucks Puts BCS on Ice In Texas, we’re fortunate to experience summer at least five months out of the year (some would argue that’s less fortunate for us). The longer summer season usually means higher temperatures for longer periods, less rain, and gratuitous sweating (which no one likes). But the bright side is that it means snow cone season lasts longer, too! This summer, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming back a once-familiar face in BCS, Bahama Bucks. Previously located in Bryan, Bucks re-opened in midJuly in the Hobby Lobby shopping center on Texas Avenue in College Station. In just its opening month, our local Bahama Bucks took the title for the highest sales in the Bahama Bucks’ franchise. But don’t be put off by the line outside the door or the drive-thru line that wraps around the building. The “avalanche crew” can turn out an impressive number of snow cones rapidly, which makes the lines fast-moving and not so hard to bear. If you decide to brave the triple-digit heat and walk inside the store, the beauty of Bucks is that there actually is an inside with air-conditioning! You don’t have to wait in the sweltering heat to order your snow cone. Once inside, the faint smell of sugar hits your nose. As you approach the counter, a wall of syrups in every color and flavor catches your eye. (Note: Bahama Bucks is not for those who have trouble making decisions.) With over 100 flavors, the choices can be overwhelming. Luckily, for those of us who have trouble making decisions, Bucks offers a
pg 12 | maroonweekly.com | 08.21.13
flavor of the day, which is a custom blend of a few of their myriad flavors. Since Buck’s was originally started in Lubbock, you’ll see a Red Raider blend on their menu. But they’ve balanced it out and played homage to Aggieland with a Hullabaloo blend. White coconut on one side and a mix of strawberry and sour strawberry on the opposite side create the maroon and white. The mixing of both strawberry and sour strawberry may initially seem a little odd, but the sour flavors on their own can be very overpowering. It’s the kind of sour that immediately causes your mouth to pucker and your face to contort. The strawberry tames it while still maintaining a little of that sour kick. The magical part of Bahama Bucks snow cones is that they’ve mastered the art of shaved ice. They utilize a machine with an extremely sharp razor that shaves a large block of ice into small flecks to create “sno.” The sno is light, fluffy and literally melts in your mouth. It’s not the type of snow cone that clumps and has arbitrary large bits of ice to crack your teeth. To compliment their perfectly shaved ice, Bucks and their avalanche crew have also mastered the perfect application of syrup. We’ve visited multiple times and have yet to have a snow cone which doesn’t have enough syrup--because, let’s be honest, nothing is more disappointing than finding a chunk of ice with no syrup on it. And for those who aren’t snow cone purists, Bahama Bucks will also add ice cream to your snow cone or even blend fruit with syrup for a smoothie.