12 steps

Since the last post, I thought I had kicked the habit. The summer has come to a close (un-officially); white is no longer the fashion; kids are back at school, pre season football has started , fall fashions & colors are posted on every magazine and catalogue  and although the barometer is still hitting ninety, summer swirls of pastels dotted with tiny fruits and berries, seem a distant memory.  

Until, I walk out of the office and before my eyes (a mirage??) a new Fro Yo store. How can I pass this up - will I make the world a better place by letting people know there is a new kid on the block; will this be a breeding ground for political action and conversation? Is choosing flavors like choosing running mates?? All irrational excuses for qualifying my fix.

Blue Mango on Sunset @ Hammond. 8 different flavors; a counter full of toppings. All spanking new and FREE yogurt from 4-5p (Of course I missed happy hour).  My coffee flavored helping was fully satisfying and more importantly, to me, I fell off the wagon and back on the train

SPA DI LA

A week at a spa can temper or intensify any cravings you might have. Some people played Bingo for a sliver of Mexican chocolate; some needed a border crossing for a fix and some forbidden vine. Didn't think it would happen, but Fro Yo took a back seat to the joys of tasting and eating foods that did not come in cartons and change form; fruits that you didn't need frosty treats under to appreciate; and a bounty of organic vegetables  that were as spectacular as the landscape. 

So now is the test.  Will my daily fix be compromised by natures candies, or will the constant barrage of new FroYo franchises swirl me back to reality... Stay tuned

Brain Freeze and Self help

The lazy days of summer have stalled my creative urges to write, but it hasn't dulled my taste buds. As the weather has turned soupy and humid, what better refresher than a little fro yo for the mind and body. Yogurtland has finally opened on La Brea and 3rd. I have not been there yet, although I hear the self serve, pay by the oz. is a swirling delight - especially for kids. Close to Ralphs and Trader Joe's - maybe a couple of ounces of  fro yo can ease the pain of looking for parking at Trader Joe's while you prepare for battle with a round of  bumber-carts through the aisles. I'm sure people will be in there weighing and measuring and computing their calories while figuring out how a couple more pushups could get them a few more ounces!

The same idea (with much easier access) has opened on Pico across from Roscoe's (chicken and waffles with a fro yo chaser to wash it down!) For those of you that venture into the Pico corridor between La Brea and Fairfax, the neighborhood is changing dramatically.  Bloom, Sky's Tacos, The Home Grown store, bike and boarder stores have moved in, home real estate has exploded,Villaragosa has made a commitment to improve the area.  Try as they might,  the automotive and hardwood industry still far outnumber the emerging entrepreneurs and families, but its a start.

Newberry Hill Yogurt  is a no frills self serve spot. They serve Frozen Yogurt, Italian ices and smoothies. They have a couple of machines - doing a variety of flavors and a bar of toppings to heap on top. There is no designer furniture or mood lighting. No computerized print outs for service. No lycees, mochis or kiwis.. no fancy cups or spoons. This is all about the product and they take pride in what they do. You can taste flavors, you can mix, you can swirl - you can explore your creative side. 

Is it the best frozen treats I have had? Honestly no, but,the beauty here is you feel like you are making a difference. This is not a franchise. This is a neighborhood spot - like Roscoe's or CJs or the barber shop near Bloom,  you can stop in, cool down and know that a little Fro Yo can go a long way.

Sweet chemical Digression

Sometimes you just need a fix of  yesterdays what used to be good for you, low calorie, chemical tested, flavor enhanced non-fat frozen Yogurt. Carbo-lite, tasty delight, sugar free and the likes  - mmmmm good. Here we are treated to flavors (and colors) that make you travel the globe: Milky way,  Belgian Chocolate, French Vanilla, Cappuccino, Oreo, Pistachio, peach, strawberry, peanut butter and more.  So why did we give this up in first place?  Our taste buds are battling with our brains and our guilt is winning out.  Is all natural "original" really better ? Or is it only better after the chocolate chips, oreos and peanuts..

For me, I needed a fix of faux, rich Chocolate with some cappuccino by its side.  This is the swirl of envy. You walk down the street and people actually comment "that looks good" . Do they hope that you will give them a taste? Forget it. This one is all mine..

Berri nice to meet you

Everybody is doing berry (ironically except Pink "Berry"). One that keeps me coming back is KiwiBear. This used to be KiwiBerri - did the "Berry" copyright police silence them as this was too close to Pinkberry and KiwiBear was the next best thing with out having to go through the expense of changing all the letters in the masthead? 

This is in a strip mall on LaCinega and 3rd. It is generally empty - no lines and no computer generated tickets with your name spelled wrong, easy in and out parking. The decor is reminiscent of the "P"  - modern, space age plastic (easy to hose down). They carry 4 flavors which include Bluberri (yes spelled this way) which is actually yummi (couldn't help myself on the "i". )

It actually has a taste of berry past the first bite - it is richer and a than many of the other fruits flavored yogurts I have tried and a bit sweeter. Toppings are a good match on this one, but can hold up solo. They also have Strawberry ( and original and Mango)

There is nothing to compare to a bowl of fresh berries - especially this time of year - but if you are needing replace your Blueberry "Y", with a Blueberri "I", this is a good bet.

Name dropping...

"Don't judge a book by it's cover" - traditional wisdom - nice ideal. But this is 2008 and first impressions are everything. We are bombarded with choices in everything we do. Advertisers spend millions trying to woo your dollars. Marketers get millions, trying to make sense of how to spend the advertisers money. With degrees of success, consumers spend additional capital feeding the machine and their bellies. With these Fro Yo stores popping up every half mile, how do you choose. Do you become a brand loyalist or are you the adventurist type the might just buy into the gimmick and absurdity..(that's me). Or is celebrity endorsement your closer? 

Trends live and die fast. You need a concept, a name, an identity that sets you apart from the rest. So lets start with the name

I'm sure someone paid good money to test market these names as well as create logos, color palettes, decor, etc, but honestly who came up with the names for some of these??

Kiwi Bear (previously KiwiBerry)- plush toy or Australian mascot??

SnoLA - is this for all the East Coast and Midwestern transplants that are missing winter (or maybe this is the rehab set looking for a legal fix)

Milano Freezer - There is nothing Italian going on here other than selling gelato (not to mention their yogurt and gelato is Kosher!)

Red Mango - Exotic Fruit? Expired fruit - I have no clue

Cantaloop  - Fun to say if nothing else especially if you linger of the "loooooop" 

Green Apple - Sour fruit (no thanks)

YogiYo - Catchy and sentimental (Yaba daba doo!!!)

Fiore - Italian for Flower (and yes I did look it up!) 

Pinkberry - sounding really good about now.

this is to name a few...

What about McBerry or McYogurt? Isn't McDonalds closing in on the designer food market with their new coffees?

I choose based on location and taste. Name dropping is for wannabes!

Freezer Burn and Saving Gas

So what do you do with the leftover yogurt or when you  don't want to leave the house to get a fix.

Some of the stores - Pinkberry among others, will pack the frozen yogurt of your choice to go, complete with an ice pack (you can always use that later for sudden injuries or a cocktail, depending on the day).  Other stores pop the top on and you hope to beat traffic before the the molecules start breaking down and you are reminded this is a mix that actually bubbles...

Personally, when I get home, I find the darkest, coldest crevice of the freezer and put the large (the only time I indulge) in there for safe keeping.

I know you all have done this as well. And all frozen yogurt is NOT alike when it comes to re-freezing.  

Firstly - forget the toppings. Toppings don't freeze well. For example, frosty (not frosted) captain crunch or Granola is plain old soggy and nasty. 

Secondly, the frozen yogurt that has more creamy flavor (more fat?) tends to freeze better. Others, (like RED MANGO - which will be addressed later) you will need a chisel for from freezer to table.

I guess you can take it out and let it "breathe" although this is not a fine wine and usually, all I need is a spoonful to hit the spot,  but if you leave it out to soften, it starts to become watery and melts faster than my spoon can keep up with. (We should discuss containers sometime -- Styrofoam v.s. cardboard cups). So like the quart of ice cream that generally is frozen solid, I carefully "carve" away at the amorphic block (with whatever utensil happens to be on the counter), till I get my fill for the moment, knowing that I need to leave some for later.

Now, I'm sure Pinkberry has considered pre- packing their goods and selling at supermarkets but scientific testing is proving challenging.

I know, none of this is changing the world, and my time (and money) might be better spent looking for work or trying to turn FRO YO into alternative fuel, but with the economy the way it is and the price of gas, you have to consider your options and make your large swirl last.....

Icy, italian what?

Sorbetto - what is this "icy, italian, cool" treat.  Splish, splash all over town. Full page newspaper advertising, clings,  Countdown to "sorbetto" in stores across the country. Was there a run on the stores July 15th??? This is not the new iphone or new Stephenie Meyer book   This is the marketing brainchild to fully capitalize on the Fro Yo craze (as well as not let Coffee Bean sip up any market share) and most interesting is that it is a partnership with Pinkberry. Well, if Pinkberry were a public company it's investors would be making a fortune...not sure how this plays out for Starbucks.

So the local Barista is now your neighborhood italian Icee salesman. (not to mention they are also becoming chefs while they heat up your breakfast sandwich!)

Back to the "Sorbetto" - not even a listing yet on Wikipedia -- I would get the marketing guys on this. 

Are you ready to give up your caffeine high for a sugar rush and brain freeze?

I tried the Pinkberry flavored slushie -- first sip is sweet, sweet and sweeter. Smells like original Pinkberry, but loaded with not so subtle hints of mango, berry or fruit salad.  

Then there is the citrus ice (that is the 7-11 icee looking stuff in the machine). This is the brain freeze addition. You can order it on your own - if you really get off on that kind of thing) or you can top your Pinkberry slushie with it (which actually cuts the sweetness).  Now they only have one size - 10 oz.  Is anything larger a danger to your mind and body? Does anyone remember the Twinkie murders???

Personally, by the time you figure out what the right combination of the two are, or you are a glutton for temporal pain, you are better served either going to 7-11 and getting your Big Gulp Cherry Slushie or stopping at your local Pinkberry for the real thing.

Todays miss

Polar Monkey - LaCienega and 3rd. 

This location has been a myriad of different restaurants - none which have met any success. So now if becomes a sandwich/frozen yogurt spot.

I think I startled the guy when I came in as it seems there had not been many customers before me.

Anyway - I order the original (choices were Banana or original). Hate to say, it was very icy, with not much flavor. After the first bite, which was a bit numbing, the rest was tasteless.  Not sure where this "mix" originates - and if there is a proprietary recipe for any of these, but this one for me is a complete pass.  No licking the spoon!

helloyogiyo

Pinkberry clones

Each day another Frozen Yogurt clone is popping up on Los Angeles to capitalize on the original  Pinkberry Craze.  Personally, I like the stuff, but imitation is not proving to be a form of flattery. There are "Pinkberry" imposters - some better (creamier)  some worse (icy and tasteless) - but the only way to find out is to taste them. 

This is not about calorie counts or health attributes or claims. It is frozen yogurt and if you think this is "good for you", I would think again. It's a little like salad with ranch dressing - it may start off as a moderate, seeimgly healthy snack, but when you are done with your 3 toppings - including captain crunch, oreos and chips, you gotta be kidding....

So, I have now turned my daily craving into the search for the best, the worst and the in between. The taste, the texture, the toppings, the flavors and more.

And now, Starbucks has jumped on the bandwagon with a partnership with Pinkberry.  So stay tuned as I navigate the swirling, icy world of fro yo before it melts away as just another food craze

This week's favorite: Yogi Yo; culver city.  Pink Grapefruit.  Great flavor. Reminds me of the half  a grapefruit that I was forced to eat as a kid  that I covered in a mountain of sugar. Sweet and tart. Not so sure this flavor affords to many toppings other than fruit - but you be the judge