Milkshakes that might have all the answers

Milkshakes are the answer to many of life’s problems. I discovered this in high school when I worked the ice cream counter at Walgreen’s Restaurant.

Hungry, hot, sad or bruised? A milkshake was the cure for all.

Walgreen’s boasts on its website of having invented the malted milkshake in 1922. According to its site, “customers stood three and four deep around the soda fountain to buy the “double-rich chocolate malted milk.” Double rich? Harumph. I know the Walgreen’s recipe: two scoops of vanilla ice cream, a tablespoon of malt, a generous pump of chocolate syrup and a half cup of milk (eye-balled, not measured). When friends came in, they got real “double-rich” shakes, which I made with chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.

But on to present day and the amazing milkshakes being offered by Houston chefs.

Petite Sweets just this month began offering frozen custard milkshakes ($6.50) blended with pastry chef Susan Molzan’s signature mini cupcakes. Your choice of mini-cupcake mix-ins include, among others, red velvet, double chocolate and bacon jam.

The Chocolate Rocky Road milkshake ($6.50) made with Fat Cat Creamery ice cream is a menu staple at Good Dog Hot Dog in the Heights. Washington Avenue upstart Grafitti’s at Union Street offers peanut butter and Key lime pie shakes, but its best concoction is the banana pudding shake ($4.95).

Want something edgier? Doc’s Motorworks just introduced two liquor-spiked milkshakes: Salted Bourbon Caramel Shake and a Peaches & Cream Vodka Shake. Both are priced at $7.99. Not far from the Montrose bar is Little Big’s, where the White Russian Milkshake ($4.62) is a favorite.

All of the aforementioned are good, but if you want one great drink, then you must head to Bernie’s Burger Bus Cafe in Bellaire. That’s where you’ll find chef Justin Turner’s Salted Caramel Apple Pie milkshake.

It’s mind-blowing good. The sweet and salty caramel is swirled generously through house-made ice cream studded with bits of cinnamon-seasoned apples and topped with freshly whipped cream. There’s even a streusel crumble on the top.

Bernie’s provides industrial- sized straws to accommodate the terrifically textured shake.

Bernie’s Salted Caramel Apple Pie milkshake ($7) is so large and rich that it can be shared. And how sweet is that?

Bernie’s Burger Bus, which launched as a mobile kitchen in 2010, recently announced it will open another brick-and-mortar cafe at La Centerra in Katy in the fall.