Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles...A new item needs to be added to the list of Maria's favorite things: the Heiße Liebe. For the non-German or Austrian, this chilly treat translates to "hot love." Classic scoops of vanilla ice cream swim in a sweet steamy pool of hot berries, bordered by airy whipped cream and topped with a waffeletten (German chocolate wafer roll). As the heat radiating from the juicy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries slowly melts the vanilla cream, each bite brings a welcome pop of dueling sensations, which make a rare culinary pact to work together—warmth rolls down your throat filling your belly with a cozy buzz while you simultaneously experience the refreshing cool rush of the ice cream. Simply soaked in their own natural juices, the only thing supplementing the Bavarian berry sauce is a dash of sugar. Dip the crunchy wafer roll in the whipped cream and swirl it around in the melty leftovers for a second wave of sweetness. A traditional German dessert, don't be surprised if you suddenly feel the urge to yodel from the hilltops or break out into song, namely "Edelweiss," after a few bites of this hot love.   

The Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus, 3246 East Bay Dr., Holmes Beach, 941-778-1320