This summer, try the Cholado at Little Cali in Bethlehem. “Our Cholado is our bestseller,” says owner Heidy Murillo, who calls it an iconic beverage from her native Cali, Colombia. She says the same is true for their Salpicon, a new seasonal offering, which can be made with vanilla ice cream making it a SalpiHelado. “It is impossible to walk the streets of Cali without running into a vendor selling these refreshing drinks,” says Murillo, calling them heaven in a cup and the perfect thing to quench one’s thirst on an especially hot day.
“Growing up in Cali, Colombia, street food vendors were a part of our daily lives,” she says. “We looked forward to having a treat with friends and relatives in the evening at our favorite stands.” When Murillo moved to the United States, she missed the flavors she grew up with and decided to bring a bit of Cali to the Valley to share.
In Cali, Murillo says the Cholado and Salpicon are made using a lot of tropical fruits like lulo, maracuya, sour sop and papaya, but here, she makes both with seasonal fresh fruit, natural fruit syrup and sweetened condensed milk. If you’re feeling hungry, Murillo recommends ordering either with a buttery cheese arepa.
This summer, Little Cali will introduce more street food goodness in the form of shrimp ceviche valluno and mango biche popsicles.
1806 Stefko Blvd., Bethlehem | 610.419.4060 | little-cali.business.site
Published as "Drink This" in the August 2022 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
