New restaurant with shaved snow desserts opens first Treasure Coast location

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers

What's the name of the new restaurant in Fort Pierce?

Vampire Penguin

Where is Vampire Penguin? What was there before?

  • 2405 S. U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; in the Sabal Palm Plaza

  • between Thais Tatted Mermaid and former Jugos Mama, just north of Publix

  • location previously was a self-service laundry

Who owns Vampire Penguin?

Brothers Leo and Paolo Angelo San Luis started the business in California, opening the first Vampire Penguin location in Sacramento on Halloween in 2013, according to its website. They grew up in the Philippines, and their favorite treat was ice candy, or their version of Otter Pops. They moved to the U.S. in 2000 and learned about snow cones, Hawaiian shaved ice and Taiwanese shaved ice. They came up with their own creation of shaved snow by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.

Since the first location, the business has expanded throughout California and to Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. The Florida locations include Apopka, Bradenton, Ellenton, Sarasota, Sebring, Seminole and St. Petersburg, as well as Fort Pierce and Brandon as the most recently opened. All stores are independently owned.

Brothers-in-law Jigar and Harshit Patel opened the Fort Pierce location of Vampire Penguin, the first on the Treasure Coast, after the latter went to one in Richmond, Virginia. After Jigar Patel moved two years ago from Pennsylvania to Port St. Lucie, the two brothers-in-law decided they wanted to open their own location. They worked for six months on building out the 900-foot-space, now decorated with artwork by Jigar Patel and his hand-painted murals on the walls.

Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.
Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.

What is Vampire Penguin?

The San Luis brothers chose to have a penguin in the name because of the animal’s association with ice. The combination of a penguin with a vampire reflects how their shaved snow is out of this world and is something that shouldn’t exist or be possible. They also were inspired by their love of horror movies, vampire movies, dark cartoons, Batman and penguins.

According to its website: "Vampire Penguin is a penguin who lives in the North Pole. And even though there aren't any other penguins in the North Pole, Vampire Penguin lives there because he is a Vampire. His large and lingering best friend is a walrus who also thinks he is a vampire, but he is not; he is just a walrus. Vampire Penguin is also in love with a strong and beautiful polar bear name Paula Bear. Stylishly eerie, Vampire Penguin rules the polar skies. But behind his nonchalant eyes, Vampire Penguin truly misses his penguin family (and) longs to be with them. Hence, he conjures delicious shaved snow magic to bring friends and families together.”

Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.
Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.

What kind of food does Vampire Penguin serve?

Shaved snow is light and fluffy but still decadent. It has less sugar, fat and calories compared to ice cream or frozen yogurt. It’s gluten-free, minus a few exceptions, and it has vegan and sugar-free options.

It’s a fusion of traditional and modern desserts. For example, the “Halo Halo” is a modern take on the traditional Filipino dessert with taro (root vegetable) snow, sweet beans, jackfruit, ube (purple yam) paste, flan and condensed milk.

What's on Vampire Penguin's menu?

The classic menu features a regular shaved ice for $8 and a large shaved ice for $10. Conjure your own regular shaved ice with one topping for $7 or large shaved ice with one topping for $9. Extra toppings are 75 cents each, and deluxe toppings are $1 each.

  • Strawberry Cheesecake: strawberry and vanilla snow, graham crackers, strawberries, condensed milk, strawberry sauce, white chocolate

  • Sweet Tooth: cotton candy snow, graham crackers, marshmallows, topped with whipped cream sprinkles

  • Snow Thaiger: Thai tea snow, crushed Oreos, condensed milk

  • Dulce de Leche: vanilla snow, bananas, whipped cream, flan, caramel syrup

  • Polar Affogatto: coffee and vanilla Snow, brownie bites, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and dusted with cocoa powder

  • Smoreos: cookies and cream Snow, graham crackers, marshmallow, chocolate sauce

  • Tuxedo: chocolate shaved snow, sliced almonds, strawberries, chocolate sauce

  • Orange Dreamscapade: orange snow, vanilla cream center, whipped cream

  • Mexican Candy: mango snow, watermelon, chamoy, caramel syrup, Tajin

  • Halo Halo: taro snow, sweet beans, jackfruit, ube paste, flan, condensed milk

  • Peanut Butter Cup: peanut butter chocolate snow, topped with crushed Reese’s chips and chocolate sauce

Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.
Vampire Penguin in Fort Pierce serves shaved snow, which was created by combining the fine texture of Hawaiian ice with the creaminess of Taiwanese ice, all with the feel of an American snow cone.

When did Vampire Penguin open?

May 12, 2024

What are Vampire Penguin's hours?

Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday

What are Vampire Penguin's phone number, website and social media?

772-919-9810, website, Facebook, Instagram

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: New restaurant Vampire Penguin Fort Pierce serves shaved snow desserts

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