Ribbons of ice cream wind around a metal spatula in a mesmerizing and nearly hypnotic pattern. It’s an intricate, labor-intensive process–and Instagram’s newest obsession.

Originally sold by street vendors in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, rolled ice cream has taken over social media as the newest foodie craze throughout America. To make it, a flavored milk is poured over a frozen grill. As the ice cream cools and hardens, different ingredients are chopped in. The ice cream is spread into a thin layer over the grill and coaxed into quarter-sized ringlets by a metal spatula. The curls of ice cream are then packed into cups and topped with your typical ice cream pairings, such as chocolate sauces, fruits, cookies, and candies. The whole process is entrancing.

Sota Hot and Cold, a restaurant on University Avenue in Saint Paul in a portion of what used to be Mai Village, opened just this summer and is one of the select few opportunities to find Thai rolled ice cream in the Twin Cities. Their establishment is small, with one booth, and a couple of tall tables, and two grills. To order your rolled ice cream, you can either begin with a base flavor— vanilla, chocolate, and such— and add the toppings you’d like, or you can choose one of their signature combinations, such as “Espresso Express,” “Crazy Coconut,” or “Campfire Cooler,” a smores-like combination of toppings. Aside from their rolled ice cream, they offer a menu of coffees and teas.

I chose “Nutty Nom Nom” as my signature dish: a combination of vanilla base, almonds, cashews and peanuts, milk chocolate, and whipped cream. The ice cream itself is considerably denser than your typical ice cream; it’s frozen all the way through and almost solid. The texture is tougher, and it doesn’t melt quickly. The flavor is less sweet than normal ice cream and lets the toppings establish most of the character of the desert. Because the nuts were chopped into the ice cream on the grill, they taste fresher and are crunchier than if they were allowed to sit in the ice cream for a long time.

As the days grow colder, hold on to a little of your summer with a twist on your typical frozen treat.

You can also find Thai rolled ice cream in the Twin Cities at Wonders Ice Cream and Loulou Sweet and Savory.