Fusco's Water Ice

Don't think of driving past this little green stand on the left hand side of Union Street when the Italian flag flies outside. That's the signal that this Wilmington institution is open for business. Fusco's has been serving up its traditional water ice for as long as I can remember and nothing says the summer has arrived until I've had one. Hand-ladled from a vat of freezing ice, there are only two flavors here: cherry and lemon. But to be honest, I've only had the lemon. I love it because it tastes natural, sweet and sour all at once, spiked with chunks of real lemon. I've tried other water ice stands, and they all tasted fake to me. Mango? I love mangos but the mango water ice never did it for me. Blueberry? Not even. Unless I see some real blueberry skins floating in it, it's unnatural plastic-encased freezer pop for me. Someone should try making more real fruit water ices in Wilmington. But until then, nothing will do except a lemon ice from the little stand on Union.