Rita's Ice Custard Putting frozen childhood dreams in your mouth

Everyone wants to resurrect their childhood, but it isn't easy turning your back on the adult world of limitless fantasy, reckless self-indulgence, and knowing what sex is. Taking a wholesome, heat-beating plunge, the guys behind Rita's Ice Custard.

Brought to Texas by two general contractors who loved the Northeastern frozen-treats chain as kids in Philly, the Austin Rita's is a two-story dessert destination carved into an old high-ceiling warehouse with bright, colorful walls, a checkered floor, and extremely green energy usage, sadly not defined as Snoop Dogg on an elliptical. The swelter-defiance starts with Italian ices made daily from fresh organic fruit like watermelon, mango, kiwi, and strawberry, plus sweeter flavorings like cotton candy, sweet tea, and Swedish Fish; then there's slightly thicker Cream Ice in flavors like mint chocolate chip and coconut cream, and finally brain-freeze-thick Frozen Custard in classic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry -- flavors as proudly American as Janet Neapolitano. Things get interesting when the bases are mixed together, resulting in custard-topped Italian Ice Gelati, custard/ice blended Misto, cafe- or mocha- enhanced Misto called "Rittacino", and Blendini, which combines any flavor of ice/custard with Oreos, pretzels, or Nilla Wafers, a cookie that will turn you into a big fat zero.

Since Rita's isn't yet equipped to carry all 40+ options listed on their website at once, they take requests for daily flavors via Facebook -- perpetuating the adult fantasy that people besides your self are interested in indulging you.