SUMMER STORIES -- The battle of the Balboa bananas

Noaki Schwartz

BALBOA ISLAND -- Talk to any resident or visitor taking a summer

stroll down Marine Avenue and they’ll tell you the island’s most

important contribution to the world is the Balboa Bar.

However, what many don’t know is that according to local ice cream

lore, the Balboa Peninsula is responsible for inventing frozen bananas.

The frozen, chocolaty treat apparently was invented at the peninsula’s

Fun Zone in the late 1930s. The legend goes like this:

In an effort to spread the popularity of this unique method of

salvaging browning fruit, someone brought a few bananas over to the

island.

This is where it gets a bit murky.

Two ice cream shops, literally within throwing distance of each other,

both claim the status of carrying the “original frozen banana.”

Possibly the result of a messy divorce, Sugar ‘n Spice claims to have

“Mom’s Original Frozen Banana” and the opposing shop claims to have,

well, “Dad’s Original Frozen Banana.”

Both also have towering banana billboards atop otherwise

discrete-looking shops and a steady stream of customers walking away with

calorie-laden desserts.

Determining which is better, though, is a tough one.

The recipe is simple enough -- frozen banana dipped in chocolate and

an assorted selection of sprinkles. There do appear to be subtle

differences, however, according to banana connoisseurs.

Sugar ‘n Spice -- with chocolate-covered peanuts, almonds and even

Heath bars -- offers a wider selection of sprinkles.

“We double dip,” owner Helen Connolly said with a triumphant nod.

Still, Dad’s -- which apparently was once a bakery -- holds its own

with a wider selection of doughnuts, cookies and drinks to accompany the

frozen banana.

Figuring out which is the original is a little easier.

Mom, celebrating her 55th year, appears to be a bit older than Dad,

who opened shop 15 years later. Mystery solved.

The battle doesn’t end here, however. Oh no.

The neighboring ice cream shops also claim to have the best Balboa

Bars -- essentially a brick of vanilla ice cream, dipped in chocolate and

rolled in an assorted selection of sprinkles.

Down the street, Wilma’s Patio also serves Balboa Bars and frozen

bananas, but keeps a safe distance from the fracas at the end of Marine

Avenue.

Again, it’s a bit tricky deciding which is better. A few more kinds of

sprinkles and some extra chocolate appear to be the main difference.

“It’s all about the same,” longtime ice cream patron Tina Sweet said

with a smile.