There’s almost nothing as comforting or refreshing as a dish of ice cream, and Slidell residents now have a new place to find their favorite treat.

Blizzard Beach Ice Cream Shop celebrated its grand opening Wednesday afternoon at 2040 E. Gause Blvd. Owner Christy Jolicoeur spent most of her teenage and young adult years working in ice cream shops in her native Ohio, and after she left her job at an engineering firm last year she began to toy with the idea of opening her own shop.

“We really needed something on this side of I-10,” she said. “I wanted to give families a new, fun place to take their kids.”

City of Slidell officials helped the Jolicoeur family celebrate the grand opening of Blizzard Beach Ice Cream Shop Wednesday afternoon. Pictured are, from left: Brandon Jolicoeur, Michelle Diaz, Slidell City Councilman Ray Canada, Christy Jolicoeur, Mike Jolicoeur, Slidell Assistant Chief of Staff Tara Ingraham-Hunter, Kathy Busco, Sabrina Hetzler and Nick Jolicoeur. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

Jolicoeur offers a wide range of flavors of the frozen treat, from ‘Nanner Pudding, complete with bits of vanilla wafers, to Makin’ Whoopie, a dark chocolate confection mixed with chunks of devil’s food cake and marshmallow swirl. In addition, several sugar-free flavors are on the menu, as is a soy-based dessert, for those on lactose-free diets.

A high protein ice cream is also available. Low in fat and calories, it provides eight grams of protein in a four-ounce serving. There are also sundaes, as well as gourmet pies and cheesecakes.

For the serious aficionados, there’s the Sundae Challenge. Featuring nine scoops of ice cream or 20 ounces of soft serve, four bananas, two brownies, four cookies, and virtually every topping available, the monster dessert is great for those who like a little competition with their ice cream.

“It’s four people, one sundae, and you have one hour to eat it,” said Jolicoeur. “If your team finishes it within the hour, you get to name the sundae.”

Winners get a customized decorative license plate with their name and picture on it, and the ingredients are increased for the next challenge. A group of Northshore High School students has already won the first challenge, with only eight scoops and 19 ounces of soft serve. Former Saints’ quarterback Bobby Hebert and WWL sportscaster Deke Bellavia attempted it, but didn’t make the cut. An autographed picture of their effort hangs on the wall.

A smaller version of the sundae, the Coma, is served in a big purple bucket.

Jolicoeur hopes to one day to franchise the shop. As one customer enjoyed a creamy shake, she asked the proprietress if she planned to offer birthday cakes.

“We’re working on it,” said Jolicoeur. “But right now we’ve got a Birthday Cake ice cream flavor!”