Spiked Milkshakes and Ice Cream Cocktails

Pie is out. Crème Brulee is passé. And that chocolate molten lava brownie cake? Hasta la vista, baby.

There’s a new player in town and it comes with a little bit of heat. A little bit of edge. Enter the spiked milkshake and the ice cream cocktail. Yes, ladies, now two of our favorite things in life - sweets and spirits - have gotten married and they just made a baby.

At C-View (166 E. Superior), Executive Pastry Chef Toni Roberts is introducing her brand new C-House Shakes. They’re sweet, creamy and made to order. If you’re a chocoholic, opt for the Super Dark Chocolate Malt ($6) and add in a liqueur of your choice. I recommend adding a healthy dose of Kahlua or Starbucks Coffee Liqueur to your rich chocolate shake. Frangelico is a hazelnut liqueur that will complement the chocolate notes and will lend a layer of nutty texture to the shake. For an Italian twist, add Disaronno Amaretto, a liqueur flavored with herbs and fruits soaked in apricot kernel oil.

For those who prefer something a bit lighter, the Strawberry Lemon Shake ($6) is your ticket. Transform the fruity shake into a spirited sipper by adding a touch of limoncello or a splash of St. Germain elderflower liqueur. There are an abundance of light, organic liqueurs available that are fantastic complements to sweet, summer drinks. My new favorite line is Thatcher’s Organic Liqueurs, a collection that is distilled in Michigan and distributed throughout the Midwest. Another creative addition to the Strawberry Lemon Shake is a splash of VeeV, an acai liquor that has become the new “It” girl of the mixology world.

The milk shakes include your choice of two toppings – whipped cream, brownie crumble, butter pecan, malt powder and shaved milk chocolate. To add even more decadence, you can top on more ($2 additional) “Crushed Candy Bar Toppings” from the C-House dessert menu.

Tizi Melloul (531 N. Wells) has just turned ten and what better way to celebrate the anniversary than with a tasty treat. For an interesting take on a classic, cool sorbet, try the Spiked Sorbet, made with refreshing pomegranate sorbet drenched in Red Sangria and served in a wine glass with a splash of soda. And the Creamy Creation is an inventive spiked dessert that is made with your choice of ice cream (homemade mint chocolate chip, movie butter flavored popcorn or vanilla bean) and then is topped with a SVEDKA Vodka Citron, a splash of 7 UP and a hint of bitters. With a revamped menu that includes Mediterranean inspired small bites and refreshing summer cocktails, Tizi Mellloul is proving to be an under the radar River North gem. It’s a trifecta with their new Crescent Menu (which includes seasonal specialties like herb goat cheese stuffed peppers and bacon wrapped dates), $3 Martini Mondays and an outdoor summer patio where you can sip on Safi Sangria or vanilla-infused Ali Baba Lemonade.

When the work day is over and you’re ready to play, it can be tough to decide where to go for a sweet summer treat. After all, Chicago is home to some uber fabulous outdoor patios, lounges and restaurants. So where does one go when faced with a drink dilemma? A cocktail conundrum of sorts? To C-View and Tizi Melloul, of course.