Saturday, April 28, 2012

Toppings Ratio Poll Results


Fro-yo girl here. I recently asked my readers whether they’d like to have just a few spoonfuls of toppings with their fro-yo or enough toppings for every bite of fro-yo. 

The results are in...and having enough toppings for every bite of fro-yo edged out having a few spoonfuls of toppings, 55% to 45%. I personally prefer having a lot more fro-yo than toppings but I do notice that others tend to load up on topping. I enjoy those bites of just fro-yo without toppings. Toppings can enhance the cup of fro-yo but they also add/change the flavor.

The ideal cup of fro-yo appears to have 2 flavors of fro-yo, with 3 toppings and enough toppings for every bite of fro-yo.

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

Monday, April 23, 2012

Ben & Jerry’s Greek Fro-yo Review



Fro-yo girl here. Ben & Jerry’s had frozen yogurt before they introduced their new Greek Frozen Yogurt line, but the difference is that the Greek line has a stronger yogurt taste. The earlier frozen yogurt flavors were basically lower fat versions of their ice cream flavors like Cherry Garcia. 

The new Greek Frozen Yogurt line comes in four flavors, pint size: Peanut butter banana, Strawberry shortcake, Raspberry fudge chunk, Blueberry vanilla graham. RFC and PBB also come in tiny single serving sizes (cute). I found the line at Safeway where a pint was $3.49 (introductory price) and $4.49 regular price.


* BLUEBERRY VANILLA GRAHAM: Blueberry and vanilla yogurt swirls with graham crackers. The graham cracker pieces are very sweet and soft. I liked the flavor of the vanilla frozen yogurt (creamy, not too sweet, yogurty taste) and blueberry frozen yogurt (lightly tangy). The hint of honey was also nice. The texture was like ice cream, creamy and easily scooped. 4 out of 5 stars.


* RASPBERRY FUDGE CHUNK: Raspberry Greek frozen yogurt with fudge chunks. The fudge chunk flavor dominates the light raspberry flavor, although you can taste the raspberry. I liked the texture - not too dense, creamy, easily scooped. It has a mild tanginess that I found pleasant. The fudge chips were like crunchy chocolate chips. The aftertaste was slightly bitter. I would prefer a stronger raspberry flavor and a milder chocolate flavor. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Friday, April 20, 2012

Happy (Fro-yo) Earth Day 2012



Fro-yo girl here. Earth Day is almost here (April 22). While shopping at Whole Foods, I noticed that Preserve toothbrushes ($2.99 each) are made out of recycled yogurt cups. They’re also totally eco-friendly and made in the USA. The toothbrush can be recycled after use and even comes in a pre-addressed mailer. 

The bristles are new nylon and come in three levels of firmness: Ultra Soft, Soft and Medium. The brushes come in five colors. You can even get a toothbrush subscription and have a new brush sent to you or someone else every three months. 


Their green food storage bowls are cute and look perfect for fro-yo and yogurt.

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

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Fresh & Easy Black Cherry Frozen Dairy Dessert Review




Fro-yo girl here. Introduced earlier this year, Fresh & Easy’s new line of frozen dairy desserts is part of their more nutritious Eatwell line. The frozen dairy desserts come in four flavors.

Flavors:
* Black cherry
* Orange pineapple
* Strawberry banana
* Mixed berry

One quart is $3.99.

I tried black cherry, which is described as “tantalizing chunks of tart black cherries, whirled with nonfat milk and live yogurt cultures into a creamy, tangy treat.” I guess it’s not frozen yogurt even though it was live yogurt cultures. The main ingredients are cultured nonfat milk and a black cherry juice blend.

The texture is odd. It’s not creamy or icy but instead is more chewy and chalky. The dessert has a tartness but doesn’t taste like natural yogurt. It tastes more like some bad diet ice cream and it has a bitter aftertaste. At least it’s non-fat. 

1.5 out of 5 stars.

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

Friday, April 13, 2012

My New Favorite Topping: Double Chocolate Granola Clusters




Fro-yo girl here. I like trying out different types of granola on my fro-yo and I found one that I absolutely adore:
Fresh & Easy’s Double Chocolate Granola Clusters

What I look for in granola as a fro-yo topping:
* Not too sweet
* Extra crunchy
* Flavor/taste - has to be good and complementary to fro-yo

Fresh & Easy’s Double Chocolate Granola Clusters contains big, extra crunchy clusters of cocoa covered whole rolled oats granola and tiny chocolate chunks. It’s not that sweet and not overpoweringly chocolatey. Somehow it tastes better with fro-yo than by itself. It’s definitely less sweet than the typical cereal. The flavor reminds me of Oreo cookies but even better and crunchier. 

The granola comes in 12 ounce sealed clear resealable pouches ($2.98). One serving (2/3 cup) is 250 calories and 9 grams of fat.

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

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Future Fro-yo Shop: Red Mango Emeryville





Fro-yo girl here. I was surprised to hear that Red Mango is coming back to the Bay Area. Emeryville is finally getting its first fro-yo shop! 

Red Mango isn’t listed in the Bay Street Shopping Center directory yet and the sign isn’t on the space yet. They’re taking over the old Coldstone Creamery space near Pizza My Heart and Teacake Bake Shop. I peeked inside and could see that they were already working on the inside. It’s a larger space, so perhaps it will be self-serve? Update: Yes, it is self-serve.

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

* RED MANGO EMERYVILLE: Bay Street Emeryville, 5616 Bay St., Space 5609, Emeryville, CA

Saturday, April 7, 2012

My Favorite Commercial: Discover Card Cashback Mentions Fro-yo



Fro-yo girl here. You have to watch closely to see it (don’t blink) but fro-yo is mentioned and shown (looks like a vanilla/chocolate swirl with Fruity Pebbles) in the Discover Card 5% cashback commercial. It flashes by so quickly that I often only hear fro-yo and don’t see the fro-yo. But you can watch it as many times as you like on YouTube. 

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

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Happy Easter Fro-yo Style



Fro-yo girl here. Happy Easter fro-yo fans! Are you celebrating Easter with fro-yo? Easter is one of my favorite holidays as it’s a time for dyed eggs and Easter candy. My favorite Easter candies would also pair well with fro-yo.

1. Cadbury Mini Eggs: I look forward to their return every year. Love that crisp thin sugar shell and the chocolate center. These are so good with vanilla, mint, and chocolate fro-yo. They’re kinda like chocolate chips but better.
2. Whoppers Robin Eggs: My second favorite Easter candy has a satisfying light crunchy malted center and thick chocolate coating. Sure Whoppers are available year round but they’re prettiest this time of year in robin eggs form.

Honey Hill Farms introduced Malted Candy Easter Egg fro-yo this year, in time for Easter. I haven’t found it in my area yet but hope to try it one day.

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

Monday, April 2, 2012

500 Fro-yo Reviews and Counting



Fro-yo girl here. I’ve reached another milestone: 500 fro-yo reviews posted on Yelp. I reached 400 fro-yo reviews back in February 2011 and 300 reviews in May 2010. My 500th review was for Yogurtland Wallingford in Seattle, WA. I love how it’s next to a teriyaki restaurant. It’s so Seattle.

At this rate I’ll reach 1000 reviews in five years. Hope that I make it! I’ll have to visit more fro-yo places outside of the Bay Area to reach the goal.

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