Capitol Hill is about to get a very chilly upgrade. Snow Crane, the Japanese-style ice cream project from chef Takeshi Nishikawa, is set to take over Little Pearl's takeout window for a six-week residency beginning Sunday, June 14. The walk-up setup will focus on a trimmed-down menu of scoops, floats, and traditional tea, all served at outdoor seating during morning hours. Expect small batches and rotating flavors that lean hard into Japanese ingredients and technique.
As reported by Washingtonian, Snow Crane will serve just two flavors at a time, swapping them out weekly. The opening lineup features kinako, a nutty roasted soybean flour ice cream topped with Okinawan black sugar, and a crown-melon scoop made with fruit from Shizuoka, finished with sea-salt whipped cream and shiso. The high-end scoops are priced at $10 to $12. Matcha from Uji will go for $9 hot or iced, a premium single-origin matcha will be $16, and sparkling mugicha is set at $8. The residency runs Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. out of Little Pearl's takeout window. Washingtonian also notes that Snow Crane will sell pints at Rice Market on 14th Street and will continue vending at the Gateway Farmers' Market in Mount Rainier.
Chef and craft
Takeshi Nishikawa, the former culinary director of Rose's Restaurant Group, founded Snow Crane to channel Japanese flavors into small-batch frozen desserts, according to Eater DC. He told Washingtonian, "It's literally just whisked matcha in a six ounce cup, like how it would be traditionally done," explaining that he wants the matcha served with as little embellishment as possible so its farm-level nuances can stand out.
Where to find pints and pop-ups
Snow Crane currently runs as a pop-up and private events brand, showing up at farmers markets and curated events around the DMV, per Snow Crane's website. The brand also sells pints through local specialty counters. The site notes that a permanent location is part of the plan, although there is no set timeline yet, so fans will need to keep an eye on Snow Crane's channels for weekly menus and pop-up announcements.
If you want to try Snow Crane's take on Japanese ice cream, plan a Sunday morning visit to Little Pearl starting June 14 while the six-week residency is in place. Expect small batches and limited quantities, so the earlier you show up, the better your chances of landing the rarer flavors.
