Blush Now Available "On the Go"

Fro-yo girl here. I'm excited that Blush just announced it is offering "Blush on the Go" also known as Blush on a cone. The size and portability are just right for a quick snack or treat and something about cones reminds me of summer. All I've got is a blurry picture for you now (sorry). The cones have arrived and are available at all Blush locations.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Supermarket Yogurt Review: Yoplait Delights

Fro-yo girl here. I tried Yoplait Delight (thought it the layers looked pretty). These lowfat yogurt parfaits come in a pack of 4 in the following flavors: Chocolate Raspberry, Triple Berry Creme, Creme Caramel, and Lemon Torte. I found them at Safeway (regular price $3.49, on sale for $2.79). Each serving is 100 calories.

* Triple Berry Creme: The vanilla yogurt on top was very creamy and sickeningly sweet. The berry blend (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry yogurt) was a bit tangy and creamy. Fortunately it wasn't as sweet as the vanilla yogurt. The layers taste better mixed together because the top layer is just too sweet. I didn't like how it tasted artificial.

2 out of 5 stars.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Future Fro-yo Shop Picture: Seasonal Becomes Polar Ice

Fro-yo girl here. Last December I posted a future fro-yo shop picture for Seasonal in downtown San Jose. At the time, it was supposed to be a self-serve fro-yo/gelato shop.

It's April now and they changed the banner. It now says Polar Ice. I wasn't able to look inside, so that's all I know for now.

Summer is just around the corner and I'm expecting more fro-yo shops to open - tis the season for fro-yo!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* POLAR ICE: On E San Salvador St. by S. 3rd St, San Jose, CA

Earth Day: Eco-Friendly Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. Yes, it's Earth Day 2010 and it seemed like the appropriate time to recognize Bay Area shops that are using compostable cups and/or spoons for fro-yo. I hope that this list is accurate - if I've left any place out, I apologize. Next year I might follow-up with a list of fro-yo shops that still use styrofoam cups (the wall of shame).

The 2010 List of Eco-Friendly Fro-yo in the Bay Area:
* Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt, Burlingame
* Beautifull (all locations)
* Chile Pies
* Cowabunga Creamery
* Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt
* Fraiche
* Green Cup Frozen Yogurt
* The Mix
* Sweet Jo's
* Xanath
* Yogizmo
* Yogurt Harmony
* Yogurtland
* Zuckersuss

And the most eco-friendly award goes to: Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt in Palo Alto. They use compostable cups and spoons and sell reusable fro-yo cups. The store decor features recycled materials. They're also the only all organic fro-yo shop.

Did you know that Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt is in the 2010 Green Zebra coupon book? Get yours today.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S. California Dr., Palo Alto, CA

My New Lunchtime Obsession

Fro-yo girl here. At first I was skeptical about combining warm steel-cut oatmeal with cold fro-yo, but it's a combination that really works. Now I find myself craving Fraiche's SF Chronicle Special ($5.95 + tax): steel cut oatmeal, your choice of five toppings, fresh or frozen yogurt (choose frozen!). The creamy organic fro-yo, fresh fruit toppings and oatmeal are all simple and natural. The oatmeal makes the snack substantive enough to have for lunch. The toppings insulate the fro-yo from the oatmeal and even if it does melt a bit, it still tastes great with oatmeal. Plus, you can get homemade mochi as a topping!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* FRAICHE: 1901 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA, 94115

People Love Fro-yo with Toppings

Fro-yo girl here. It's official - the poll results are in, people love fro-yo with toppings; 85% of respondents always or almost always get toppings with their fro-yo. Twenty two percent always get toppings compared to 5% that never get toppings. I'm not surprised because when I see people at fro-yo shops, they almost always get toppings. I usually get toppings too, unless I don't see any toppings that I like or I don't have enough cash on me to pay for toppings. In my opinion, fro-yo doesn't taste as good without mochi balls.

Take note, toppings matter. Good toppings can't save bad fro-yo, though bad toppings can ruin good fro-yo. There are so many types of potential fro-yo toppings out there though most shops offer the same toppings.

Next month we'll find out what type of toppings people like the best. Mochi balls are in the lead so far (go mochi!)

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

The Beauty of Rhubarb Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. I've been following Humphry Slocombe on Twitter for months now and every time the flavor update mentions yogurt, I feel like rushing right over (I can't help it, I love fro-yo). Yes, it's an ice cream shop but they do make scoopable fro-yo too (though not very often). I had to share this picture of their rhubarb fro-yo. Isn't it pretty? Love the color and the flavor too (quite tangy and sweet). I missed the plum fro-yo flavor.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE: 2790 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA

Future Fro-yo Shop Picture: Nubi Potrero Center SF

Fro-yo girl here. This picture was taken today. The coming soon sign is up and they're hiring (jobs@nubi.com). I couldn't peek inside because it's completely covered up.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* NUBI YOGURT: 2300 16th St. Ste 215, San Francisco, CA

Future Fro-yo Shop Pictures, Danville, CA

Fro-yo girl here. The Blackhawk area is finally seeing some fro-yo activity. Two new frozen yogurt stores appear to be close to opening. Self-serve chain Yogofina has 7 machines (14 flavors of fro-yo). The green and white tiles are in place and the place has been painted. It looks like construction has been completed and it could open any day now.




Across the street in the gorgeous Blackhawk Shopping Plaza, the Tuttimelon signs are up. There's a coming soon sign on the corner of the plaza and a sign inside the lobby, by the door to Tuttimelon. The swanky shopping plaza looks like something from SoCal with its fountains and steps - not your typical shopping plaza. Tuttimelon is right next to Crunch Fitness and across the street from Century Theaters.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* TUTTIMELON: Blackhawk Shopping Plaza, 3454 Blackhawk Rd, Danville, CA
* YOGOFINA: 11000 Crow Canyon Rd, Danville, CA

Fro-yo Shop Property Available in Paso Robles, CA

Fro-yo girl here. I stopped in Paso Robles for gas and what did I spy? A closed fro-yo shop (a sad sight). Looks like Hot Spot Frozen Yogurt was old school, full serve (just a guess, there wasn't much left inside). Interested? Call (805) 962-6700.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* HOT SPOT FROZEN YOGURT: 159 Niblick Rd, Paso Robles, CA

Good Fro-yo Toppings

Fro-yo girl here. For Easter, I had some Cadbury Mini Eggs and also sour gummi bunnies. The sour gummi bunnies were quite chewy, to the point that I don't think that they'd make good fro-yo toppings. What do I look for when it comes to fro-yo toppings?

1. Adds texture. I like something with a bit of crunch or chewiness. Mochi balls are my favorite. On the crunchy side, nothing beats granola. But it has to be the right texture. If it's chewy, it shouldn't take too much effort to chew. I don't like slimy or soft toppings. Fruit must be firm and fresh.
2. Not too sweet. With tart fro-yo, I don't like adding candy or anything too sweet.
3. Complementary or neutral flavor. Toppings should enhance, not compete, with the flavor of the fro-yo. I don't want anything to mask the flavor of the fro-yo too much. Mochi balls go well with sweet and tart fro-yo because they don't have that much flavor.
4. Size. The toppings shouldn't be too large - I like to have mostly fro-yo and a bit of toppings and every spoonful should include fro-yo.
5. Temperature. I don't want warm toppings because I hate melted fro-yo.

What toppings would I like to see more of? Crushed peppermint, chocolate covered honeycomb, mini meringues, Cracker Jacks, Choco Flakes, and crispy, thin cookies (not too sweet). What toppings would you like to see?

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Happy Easter, Froyoholics!

Fro-yo girl here. Don't forget to eat your fro-yo today. Here's an inspirational picture for you: creamy vanilla fro-yo with mochi and Cadbury Mini Eggs. Mini Eggs are my favorite Easter candy. Yum.


You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Ventura: Fro-yo Mission Completed

Fro-yo girl here. I'm fairly sure that I have now tried every fro-yo shop in Ventura, CA. There are/were 8 such shops. Yogurberry had a kiosk inside Pacific View Mall but it has since closed. The location is still listed on www.yogurberry.com even though it closed months ago. Is Yogurberry still around? They don't update their website. The Castro St. Mountain View location is still on their website too even though it never opened. I'm not sure what's going on with Fro-yo & Joe in East Ventura. It was more of a coffeehouse than a fro-yo shop. I've called a couple of times but no one answers the phone.

Wild Cherry, Green Forest and U Yogurt are all local homegrown fro-yo shops located near the Ventura College area. Wild Cherry and U Yogurt are self-serve shops that only offer fro-yo. Green Forest has a wider menu (shaved ice, ice cream, smoothies, boba drinks) and is also an internet cafe. I know people who are fans of all three and they are better than Chill and Tutti Frutti.

Chill, a self-serve fro-yo/coffee shop is the only fro-yo shop in downtown Ventura, which is seemingly a good location but the fro-yo is just awful. I'd rather go to the Ben & Jerry's there by the movie theater. Then there's Tutti Frutti which is on a not very attractive stretch of Main St. with older businesses. It looks and tastes like other Tutti Frutti locations (i.e., nothing special).



I wonder if another place will open up soon. The Pacific View Mall is usually busy (young/teenage crowd); maybe another fro-yo shop can be successful there...though Mc Connell's is practically at the mall (but not inside the mall). I didn't like Mc Connell's fro-yo but I did enjoy their excellent ice cream.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* TUTTI FRUTTI: 2646 East Main St., Ventura, CA
* MC CONNELL'S: 3241 East Main St., Ventura, CA
* U YOGURT: 5722 Telephone Rd #13, Ventura, CA
* GREEN FOREST: 5936 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA
* WILD CHERRY: 5100 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA
* CHILL: 27 S Chestnut, Ventura, CA
* YOGURBERRY: 3301 East Main St. #K331, Ventura, CA
* FRO-YO & JOE: 1129 Petit Ave, Ventura, CA