Jalapeño-flavored snow cone debuts

SANTA FE Would you eat a jalapeño-flavored snow cone?

Roy Johnson was so sure people would be willing to try a snow cone infused with the “essence of jalapeñoness” that he built a contraption designed to suck the flavor out of a jalapeño and turn it into a syrup that could be poured into a snow cone.

The Jalapeñonator device will be the center of attention today as Johnson shoots a publicity video.

He’s encouraging people to be part of the video shoot that will debut when his Snohut Snoball business celebrates its 25th anniversary in a couple of weeks. The actors in the video won’t be paid Screen Actors Guild wages, but they will be offered free snow cones.

In reality, the Jalapeñonator is a gimmick Johnson came up with after his son suggested a habanero-flavored snow cone as a way to drum up attention for the company’s anniversary.

The 80-inch device will be delivered during a video shoot this morning. Johnson is lining up local actors to play the security force for the device. Others will be in a marching band of Kazoo players.

Anyone wanting to be an extra in the background and caught on camera trying the jalapeño-flavored snow cone is welcome, Johnson said. The video will debut on YouTube on July 10, which is the Snohut’s silver anniversary.

He said the business he and his wife opened to make extra cash that their salaries as teachers didn’t provide has been a labor of love. His sons, now 32 and 36, worked there as teenagers, as did about 50 other Santa Fe youngsters who have since proven to be successful in other endeavors.

Many of those former employees will be part of the July 10 anniversary bash, Johnson said.

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At A Glance

WHAT: Snohut Snoball Jalapeñonator video shoot

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. today

WHERE: Snohut Snoball, 13105 state Highway 6, in Santa Fe

LOOKING FOR EXTRAS: Locals wanting to be in the video as background extras will be offered water and free snow cones. Anyone participating in the video must have a signed model release. A parent or guardian must sign the model release form for anyone younger than 18.