"Sno-ball season is designated by the gradual reopening of the many beloved stands devoted to the local specialty, usually sometime in March (or earlier, depending on the weather and when Mardi Gras falls). Easily confused with snow cones but different entirely in texture, the New Orleans version uses finely shaved, fluffy ice made from a specific machine. No trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to the James Beard Award-winning Hansen’s." - Clair Lorell, Eater Staff