Sweet Street

“Sweet Street” just got even tastier with a new homemade ice cream and treat shop.

Frio opened in August, and joins Whisk and Arrow, Wilmar Chocolate, and Simple Simon Bakery on Wisconsin Avenue, now the sweetest street in town.

Hugo makes the ice cream at Frio and it is creamy, inventive and delicious. I enjoyed a S’mores churro sundae, while my taste-testing young friend ordered a pink taco shell filled with Oreo Cookie Ice Cream and topped with Oreos.

As I ate every single bite of my sundae (except for the one churro I reluctantly shared with my friend), I chatted with Hugo and thanked him for setting up shop in my neck of the woods.

He talked about his love for Wisconsin and his desire to share a taste of his own hometown with the friendly people of Appleton. He said Frio is very much a family-run operation.

“I make the ice cream,” he said. “and my wife Jessica, who is very handy, did all of the renovations.”

Jessica’s entire tool set is pink, which amused the building inspectors when they met with Hugo to approve the work. Jessica’s mother helped stencil the floors, and Hugo’s dad came from Mexico over the summer to help get the shop ready to open.

Though Hugo’s ice cream is the star of the show, the menu also offers savory options and I am looking forward to sampling the Papas Caseras (Homemade potato chips with lime juice and salsa) next time I stop by.

“Most of every person’s favorite memories come with ice cream,” Hugo write on the Frio website. “Riding with grandpa on the side of the truck, Sunday after mass with the family, the first date, your first kiss, the look on your kids’ face while they eat ice cream and smile. You can’t put a price on that.”

We found the prices at Frio to be very reasonable and we really enjoyed our mid-winter stop in a place that felt like summer.