Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream Keeps the Party Going Under New Ownership
Plus, the Dubai chocolate craze grows in Columbus, with creative riffs on the viral dessert.
New Mardi Gras Owners Keep Tradition (and Flavor) Alive
By Bethia Woolf
While it’s true that Ohioans happily eat ice cream year-round, there’s definitely a season for icy treats. This spring and summer, when the urge for ice cream hits, consider seeking out Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream on Hard Road in Far Northwest Columbus.
Mardi Gras has been a beloved neighborhood institution for many decades. For the past 25 years, it has also gained recognition as a destination for unusual Indian and tropical flavors, such as sitafal (custard apple), kaju draksh (cashew and raisin) and malai kulfi (a sweet cream cardamom ice cream).
When longtime owner Mita Shah announced her retirement last year, there were concerns whether Mardi Gras would remain the same. The good news: It hasn’t changed much under new ownership.
The story of Mita Shah and Mardi Gras dates back to the late 1990s. Shah, a home cook who loved experimenting with flavors, created a mango ice cream recipe that she shared with Mardi Gras’ then-owner, Jim Shaw. The flavor quickly became a customer favorite. Shaw asked her if she’d like to work for him. Shah replied that she’d rather buy the business when he was ready to sell—and not long after, she did.
Shah ran the store with help from her husband, Dilip, and their two sons. The Shah family kept the original name of the shop but changed many of the traditional homemade recipes and added their own creations, building a repertoire of more than 200 flavors.
Today, Mardi Gras is in good hands with the new owners. One of the owners I spoke to, Ragin Patel, says they plan to continue featuring the Indian flavors the shop is known for, but—like Mita Shah—he can’t resist experimenting with new ideas. During a recent visit, Patel invited me to sample a Dubai chocolate flavor he's developing, inspired by the shop’s popular pistachio ice cream, as well as khajoor, a new date-flavored ice cream.
As a longtime Mardi Gras customer who moved to Columbus 17 years ago, Patel says that every major celebration in his adult life has included ice cream from the shop—his engagement, marriage and his son’s first birthday among them. He says one of his family favorites is anjeer (fig) ice cream.
The shop’s beloved photo gallery wall remains, and the new owners are working on ways to preserve the memories while updating the décor. Patel says he loves it when families come in and grandparents show their grandchildren old photos on the wall.
There are a few changes already—new menu boards plus new drinks and milkshakes—but overall, the shop retains its familiar charm. There’s still a willingness to offer samples and explanations about lesser-known flavors like chickoo (sapodilla) and jamun (Indian plum).
Mardi Gras offers 45 flavors at any given time, keeping bestsellers available (except during the shop’s typical winter break) and rotating in seasonal selections. Ice creams are all made in-store and are egg-free. The result is a creamy texture that’s slightly less dense than traditional American ice cream.
While classic American flavors like chocolate and vanilla are available at the shop, the top two sellers are inspired by Indian flavors. They include rajbhog, which translates to “royal feast” and features a saffron base with dried fruits, and kesar pista, which is also saffron-based but with almonds, pistachios and cardamom.
Here are a few other notable flavors to try:
Ginger: A customer favorite, with heat from the ginger balanced by indulgent creaminess. It pairs well with kesar pista.
Thandai: Based on a popular South Asian drink known for its cooling properties, this flavor includes nuts, seeds and spices such as cardamom, fennel, saffron and rose. It has a subtle bitterness.
Guava: Many Indian customers enjoy guava ice cream with chili and salt, reflecting the traditional way fresh guavas are eaten in India. Mardi Gras keeps chili and salt behind the counter for this reason.
Paan: Inspired by the mild stimulant made from betel leaves and often used as a digestif, this flavor is hard to describe but uniquely memorable.
Faluda kulfi: Based on another South Asian drink, this bright pink rose-flavored ice cream includes basil seeds and vermicelli.
Find It:
Mardi Gras Homemade Ice Cream
1947 Hard Road
Hours: noon-9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
The Dubai Dessert Craze Grows in Columbus
By Bethia Woolf
What began with a chocolate bar in Dubai has grown into a full-on flavor movement. The original “Can’t Get Knafeh of It” chocolate bar, created by Sarah Hamouda of FIXDessert Chocolatier, first caught fire in 2021—but its lasting influence is now reshaping dessert menus across the globe, including in Columbus.
We first reported on the Dubai chocolate bar at Al Aqsa Sweets last summer, and since then Dubai chocolate has taken the city by storm. First it was the bars, then Dubai chocolate strawberry cups and now local businesses are going all-in on the trend. The results are getting more creative by the day.
This global trend is having an unexpected consequence: a pistachio shortage. A recent Financial Times article, aptly titled “Dubai Chocolate Sparks Pistachio Shortage as TikTokers Go Nuts,” details how the sudden global demand—fueled by viral videos—has driven pistachio prices to five-year highs. In Columbus, local businesses have mentioned to me that pistachio prices have increased sharply, but there seems to be no shortage of pistachios locally—yet!
A City-Wide Flavor Obsession
What do crepes, doughnuts, ice cream and even bubble tea have in common in 2025? They’re all being reimagined through the lens of Dubai chocolate, a flavor profile built around pistachio cream and chocolate with crunchy texture from kadayif (finely shredded pastry).
Columbus has become a microcosm of the trend. Here are some recent examples, I’ve seen around Central Ohio:
Juice Time, which opened in April in Hilliard, has the widest selection of Dubai chocolate items, with sundaes, crepes, brownies, milkshakes and more.
Dublin’s Tulip Cafe has launched a pistachio-heavy Dubai chocolate cheesecake, and Westerville’s Shibam Coffee offers a decadent Dubai chocolate cake.
Enchantea on Bethel Road has dropped a whole series of Dubai chocolate-inspired drinks, with four beverages featuring their housemade pistachio paste, ground for four hours. The series includes coffee, tea and matcha drinks.
DK Diner has been serving a filled doughnut with layers of pistachio paste, rich dark chocolate and a crunchy pistachio topping. Unsurprisingly, it’s been selling out early (some reports say by 8 a.m.) and has been getting rave reviews.
Cha Sha & Coffee, the Pakistani Cafe on Bethel Road, introduced a waffle sundae stacked high with knafeh crumbs, strawberries and chocolate-pistachio drizzle.
Have you joined in on the Dubai chocolate trend or is it just for the TikTok crowd? Let us know in the comments what new items you’ve tried or seen around town.