Tasty treat is twice as nice

New Dreamsicle frozen desserts by Tropilicious Ice Cream & Sorbet, a local company founded in 1995, are two treats in one: icy fruit-puree sorbet mixed with rich, cold vanilla ice cream. Flavors include Haupialani, lilikoi, lychee, mango, pineapple and two li hing options. Tropilicious general manager Lois Miyake described the li hing flavors as “an acquired taste” — rapidly acquired, I might add. All the thick, soft custard and light, tangy but not-too-sweet flavors are a perfect antidote to this summer’s heat.

Dreamsicles, as well as ice creams and dairy-free sorbets, are sold at the factory, 206 Mokauea St., in pints ($4.75) and 3-ounce cups ($1.75). A Tropilicous store is set to open on Kalihi Street later this month. Call 847-1750.

—Mindy Pennybacker

Furikake flavor bomb

Furikake makes everything better — especially potato chips. Kona Chips furikake-coated, kettle-cooked chips are the answer to my late-night munchie craving with a satisfying crunch and tons of flavor without being too salty. A 3.25-ounce bag runs $4.79 at select Longs Drugs stores. I found mine at Longs in Pearl City Gateway (across the street from Walmart), or order online at konachips.net.

—Donica Kaneshiro

Rollerball perfume suits folks on the go

Fragrance rollerballs are must-haves for my nomadic lifestyle (long story). They’re travel-friendly and provide targeted application — back of the neck, pulse points and behind earlobes — so no more gagging co-workers with overspray. They’re also less wasteful: The 0.3-ounce Versace Yellow Diamond tube I bought five months ago is still rolling. And if you’re a commitment-phobe, rollerballs let you test-drive Calvin Klein, Chloe, Estee Lauder and other luxury brands for a small investment of $15 to $25 each. Find a wide selection at Sephora and sephora.com, and check Macy’s for regular “buy 2, get 1 free” deals.

—Christie Wilson

Breadfruit gets sweet makeover

Two years ago John Cadman was doing research on ulu (breadfruit), and “the universe just lined up.” He says he learned how nutritious, delicious and underutilized this starchy fruit is. The Haiku resident, who had a career as a hotel sous-chef and school cafeteria manager, started whipping up healthy pies made from Maui-grown ulu, macadamia nuts from Waiehu, Haiku honey and almond milk. Soon he quit his job at Kamehameha Schools Maui to make pies full time.

Today Pono Pies boasts a line of flavors like lilikoi, Molokai sweet potato and haupia, and pumpkin — all made without sugar, flour or gluten, eggs or dairy. (Cadman also makes hummus using ulu.) Find his products at Whole Foods Markets ($5.99 per slice) and Down to Earth ($6.99). Visit ponopies.com.

—Catherine Toth Fox, Nuuanu

Browse best of Broadway

New York arts writer Eric Grode’s new coffee-table opus, “The Book of Broadway: The 150 Definitive Plays and Musicals” (Voyageur Press, $50), is riveting entertainment. The premise is provocative, the illustrations beautiful, and Grode’s coverage of each show makes it a concise introduction to Broadway history.

It’s no surprise all the big-budget contemporary musicals are included. What makes the book so interesting is that his list goes back to the 1850s and includes plays most Americans have never heard of. Readers might wonder why one show or another didn’t make the cut, but Grode makes a convincing case for each one that did.

—John Berger