Happy Fro-yo Easter 2013

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Easter, fro-yo fans! Let Easter inspire your cup of fro-yo today. I spotted my favorite Easter egg candy, Cadbury Mini Eggs at Easy Breezy Frozen Yogurt. They also had marshmallow peeps. Cute!

Cadbury Creme Eggs have been spotted at various Menchie's locations.

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

* EASY BREEZY FROZEN YOGURT: 4028 24th St., San Francisco, CA

YoCup Rincon Center Closes

Fro-yo girl here. YoCup Rincon Center has closed its doors for good. It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend. YoCup, you will be missed.

YoCup first opened at the Rincon Center in March 2008, adding a second location on Market Street in August 2008. The Rincon Center location was always the better one. Their original tart was nearly perfect. I gave YoCup Rincon Center five stars in May 2008.

YoCup was a special place with exceptional customer service, interesting toppings (e.g., carrot, dried prunes) and really excellent tart fro-yo. I remember that the fro-yo took a long time to melt. Over the years they added sweet fro-yo flavors and mini cupcakes. I used to meet Diane P. here for fro-yo dates. It was her favorite place.

The ownership changed in October 2012 and the shop wasn’t the same after that. The fro-yo was much worse. The shop signs are gone but the counters are still inside.

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

* YOCUP FROZEN YOGURT: 101 Spear St. Ste. A10, San Francisco, CA 94105

Pinkberry Greek Yogurt National Launch

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry is transforming itself from a frozen yogurt chain to a handcrafted yogurt bar chain with the impending nationwide April launch of Pinkberrygreek, a non-frozen Greek yogurt offering along with new toppings. Pinkberrygreek is already available in some locations. It was launched in the Bay Area around March 11. It’s a major addition to their menu, so I had many questions.

• What’s new on the menu? First the entire menu has been updated into four groupings: frozen, parfait, blends (smoothies and shakes) and greek. The greek yogurt comes in five suggested pairings. The same plain, no sugar added Greek yogurt is the base of all the creations. The suggested creations are: Strawberry mango, Chocolate berry, Kiwi strawberry, Tomato basil, and Sunflower cucumber. I think Greek parfaits, Greek smoothie, frozen shakes (strawberry pomegranate and chocolate banana) are also new.
• Are there new toppings for pinkberrygreek? Yes. I spotted grape tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, sunflower seed bites, dark chocolate granola, balsamic vinegar, cinnamon honey, organic vanilla agave nectar, strawberry puree, organic chili powder, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.
• Can I create my own pinkberrygreek creation? Yes you can. They recommend choosing three fruits, 1 crunchy topping and 1 sauce. You can select any topping they have, not just the new ones that came out with pinkberrygreek.
• How much is pinkberrygreek? Does it come in different sizes? It comes in one size that’s $4.95. You get 5 ounces of Greek yogurt with toppings.
• What does pinkberrygreek taste like plain? Like sour, plain, thick, creamy yogurt. It’s very thick.
• Is pinkberrygreek non-fat? Yes it is.
• Have the store hours changed? No, at least not at the location that I visited. I like having yogurt parfaits in the morning so I thought the hours might have changed. They’re positioning pinkberrygreek as more of an afternoon snack though.
• Will I get a stamp on my Pinkcard for buying pinkberrygreek? Yes

The pinkberrygreek flavor was fine but didn’t stand out compared to other Greek yogurt that I’ve had. It’s a nice, filling snack but I wish I had more toppings and less yogurt. With frozen yogurt, one doesn’t need sauce or even toppings to make it taste better. With Greek yogurt, the toppings and the amount of them are more important. The ratios were off for me. I would have preferred to add my own toppings and sauces (yes, in this case I would prefer self-serve). I also like having layers of crunch vs. just having all the crunchy toppings on top. I don’t need an expert swirler to make it look nice. I like a lot more crunch with my yogurt.  

I forgot to ask how pinkberrygreek parfaits differ from pinkberrygreek creations.

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

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

St. Patrick’s Day Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. Here’s my St. Patrick’s Day inspired cup of fro-yo: Lucky Mint Creme fro-yo with green M&Ms, green gummy bears, green Fruity Pebbles and birthday cake bites with a green spoon from Yogurtland. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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

Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Yogurt Crunch is Great with Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. I’m loving the combination of the new Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Yogurt Crunch with fro-yo. The whole grain cereal flakes are thin and crunchy. The Greek yogurt coated clusters are creamy and crunchy with a strong yogurt flavor. The cereal is really crunchy and not too sweet, therefore making an excellent fro-yo or yogurt topping.

I found Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Yogurt Crunch at Fresh & Easy for $2.50 for a 15.5 oz box.

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

New Flavor Alert: Cucumber Froyo at Easy Breezy

Fro-yo girl here. Noe Valley’s charming neighborhood fro-yo shop, Easy Breezy, has been quietly creating some of the best fro-yo flavors. This week they introduced organic cucumber fro-yo and it is DELICIOUS. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it exceeded my expectations.

The cucumber flavor is distinctive but not overpowering. It’s lightly sweetened, extra refreshing and super fresh/natural tasting. Plus you can still taste the natural yogurt flavor and enjoy the creamy, light texture. If you like the flavor of cucumber, it’s a must try.

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

* EASY BREEZY FROZEN YOGURT: 4028 24th St., San Francisco, CA

Chobani Bite Review

Fro-yo girl here. Chobani introduced Chobani Bite in January 2013. The flavors (different than typical yogurt flavors) caught my eye and the packaging is adorable. Each Bite is 3.5 ounces, perfect for a light snack. Sold in packs of four at a suggested retail price of $2.99, Chobani Bite is an all natural Greek yogurt product available in four flavors:

* Fig with Orange Zest
* Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips
* Caramel with Pineapple
* Coffee with Dark Chocolate Chips

I first tried Coffee with Dark Chocolate Chips. The non-fat yogurt was creamy, thick, and smooth. The coffee yogurt has mild, not overly bitter, distinctive tangy coffee flavor. There weren’t that many chocolate chips. The chips are small, flat rectangular pieces of chocolate. The yogurt is more tangy than sweet. The chocolate pieces have strong, bitter dark chocolate flavor that enhances coffee flavor and add a little crunch but are pretty bitter. I like to add a nutty granola for crunch and sweetness.

The Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips flavor has the same tiny, flat dark chocolate bits. The raspberry yogurt is quite tart, which I really like. It tastes more natural.

I hope they'll add more flavors in the future, including Madagascar Vanilla.

I found Chobani Bite at Target for $2.99.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

* TARGET: 133 Serramonte Center, Daly City

Yogurtland’s New Flavor Quest Fro-yo Flavors

Fro-yo girl here. I tried the four new Flavor Quest flavors today and they’re all very good. I was also happy to see the new Flavor Quest cups. 

* Polynesian vanilla (Polynesia): It tasted a lot like their Madgascar Vanilla flavor to me, but with a milder vanilla flavor. The consistency was smooth and thick, yum.
* Tiramisu (Italy): I like this tiramisu flavored fro-yo better than the real thing, because it’s less sweet and the more mellow. I love the mellowed out flavors of espresso and vanilla with the sweetness of ladyfinger cookies.
* Bananas foster (New Orleans): I HATE bananas passionately but I gave this flavor a try. The banana flavor is noticeable but it’s not strong. I enjoyed the notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
* Maqui berry tart (Patagonia): I’ve never had maqui berry, a superfruit that grows in Southern Chile, so I’m not sure that I tasted it in the fro-yo. I did taste the blackberry and black currant flavors. While quite tangy, this flavor also has a very sweet finish. The fruit flavors dominated the flavor of the natural yogurt. The texture isn’t as creamy as the non-tart flavors.

To participate in the Flavor Quest, download the Yogurtland mobile app and scan the QR code of the Flavor Quest flavor signs (there’s a limit of one scan per day). After 5 scans, you’ll get 5 free ounces of fro-yo, after 10, 10 free ounces. 

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

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland's Flavor Quest Starts Today!

Fro-yo girl here. I just watched the Yogurtland Flavor Quest YouTube video this morning and I'm beyond excited about their new Flavor Quest Promotion. 1 Globe, 3 Months, 10 flavors. The Flavor Quest started today and lasts till May 26th. The first four globally inspired fro-yo flavors are in already in Yogurtland stores.

To get started, download the free Yogurtland mobile app and use it to scan QR codes for the 10 new fro-yo flavors. Earn 5 ounces of free fro-yo by scanning the QR codes of five new flavors and 10 ounces for scanning all 10 flavors. 

I can't wait to try Spiced Chai, Creme Brulee, and Black Sesame Vanilla. 

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

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Here's the Yogurtland press release with more details about the Flavor Quest, including the new globally inspired flavors:

(IRVINE, CA) March 4, 2013 – Ever wondered what Maqui Berry tasted like but can’t afford a trip to Patagonia? Or wanted to try authentic Polynesian vanilla? Yogurtland has an app for that. Today Yogurtland introduces Flavor Quest, a global celebration of flavors coming to a spoon near you. Complementing the bounty of new yogurt flavors, Yogurtland is also introducing a Smartphone app with a Flavor Finder function that allows guests to find the flavors they crave at a Yogurtland nearby.

“You won’t need a passport to take your taste buds around the world. With Flavor Quest, Yogurtland is bringing the world’s best flavors to your spoon,” said Charlotte Lucich, director of marketing at Yogurtland. “Our chief flavorologist led his team on a quest around the globe to find the finest ingredients for our passionate flavor-seeking fans. And now with our new mobile app and Flavor Finder, our fans can quickly find which Yogurtland is serving the new flavors and their familiar favorites.”

Yogurtland’s continual search to find the world’s best flavors and honest ingredients has taken the company’s flavorologist to the forest of Patagonia, the spice markets of India, to Japan to experience the ancient traditions of black sesame and to New Orleans, the birthplace of Bananas Foster.  This search has been chronicled in a series of videos, including the travel and taste adventures behind Flavor Quest. Yogurtland will offer these global flavors over a three-month period while giving guests a chance to earn free yogurt by scanning the QR codes of the Flavor Quest destinations posted inside the stores.

Yogurtland’s new globally-inspired flavors include: Maqui Berry Tart from Patagonia; Tiramisu from Italy; Polynesian Vanilla from the French Polynesian islands; Spiced Chai from India; Crème Brulée from France; Sticky Toffee Pudding from England; POG Sorbet from Hawaii; Bananas Foster from New Orleans; Mexican Hot Chocolate from Mexico and Black Sesame Vanilla from Japan.

Yogurtland’s new mobile app complements the Flavor Quest promotion and has a Flavor Finder feature that allows guests to find their favorite flavor at the Yogurtland nearest them. The app has three ways to search flavors. First by searching the flavor name, second by using a location to search flavors nearby, and the third way is to the find the location of the nearest Yogurtland and see what flavors are currently being served.

The Flavor Finder will be updated daily to provide real-time information about which flavors are being served at Yogurtland shops across the country.

During the Flavor Quest promotion, guests can use the app to scan the QR code on the flavor cards posted in stores. After scanning five new flavors (only one scan per flavor and one scan per day), fans will earn 5 free ounces of yogurt. After scanning all 10 flavors, guests receive 10 ounces free and will be entered for a chance to win free yogurt for a year. Guests can also use the app to name, describe and share their frozen yogurt creation through social media outlets.

To find the app, search Yogurtland in your mobile app store.

About Yogurtland

In 2006, Yogurtland opened its first location, and quickly popularized the self-serve frozen yogurt concept by offering the industry’s best quality frozen yogurt made from real California milk and served with a wide array of premium, popular toppings. Today, Yogurtland leads the industry with the finest smooth, creamy real yogurt and superior toppings where customers create and control their own flavor experience, all served in a clean, bright environment. Presently there are more than 200 locations across the U.S., Guam, Mexico, Venezuela and Australia with more than 50 additional locations scheduled to open over the next six months. For more information, visit http://www.yogurtland.com 

or http://www.facebook.com/yogurtland.

Future Fro-yo Shop Picture: Menchie’s Fremont

Fro-yo girl here. Another Menchie’s is coming to the Bay Area. The Fremont location will be their first in the East Bay. Since SoFrais closed, there isn’t a fro-yo shop serving this area (the next closest would be Yogurtouille on the Fremont side and Orange Tree on the Newark side). Menchie’s is replacing an old AT&T store. The interior renovation work doesn’t seem to have begun yet. The wall for the fro-yo machines isn’t up yet and they still need to tear out the old carpeting.

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

* MENCHIE’S FROZEN YOGURT: 5030 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA

New Flavor Alert: Key Lime Pinkberry

Fro-yo girl here. Pinkberry’s latest flavor, Key Lime, made its debut today. I wanted to make my cup taste like key lime pie but they didn’t have the graham cracker crust topping. In fact, I didn’t see any new toppings that were chosen to complement Pinkberry Key Lime. And they only had one tiny sign for the new flavor, a menu board. I wonder why they didn’t have more signs or posters?

* Key Lime Pinkberry: It definitely evokes the flavor of key lime curd, more so than key lime juice. The texture was perfect: smooth, creamy, thick, and dense. I really enjoyed the flavor - it’s very key limey and tangy but also quite sweet.The lime flavor masks the “yogurt” flavor and I do find it a bit too sweet, but I’m still a fan.

I can imagine having this on St. Patrick’s Day instead of mint fro-yo or a Shamrock Shake.

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

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.