Menchie’s Meltdown in Los Angeles

 

Fro-yo girl here. Last year was a very challenging year for froyo and probably more so for the self-serve froyo shops. Most froyo shops are self-serve too. I noticed froyo shops in Southern California cutting back on hours, the number of flavors offered, and the number of toppings too. Eight Menchie’s locations and seven Yogurtland locations in California closed in 2020.

The Menchie’s locations that closed in California in 2020 were located in Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Calabasas, Florence-Firestone (South Central Los Angeles), Fullerton, San Jose, and South El Monte. The outlook still seems grim for 2021. Make sure your local Menchie’s is open before showing up for their National Frozen Yogurt Day celebration on February 2 (FYI, buy one, get one free on February 2).

Menchie’s Glendale, Santa Monica (Montana Ave.), and South Pasadena are currently only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yes, three days a week. And they have flat rate cups and full service. Menchie’s Berkeley, Burbank, Redondo Beach, Westchester, Santa Monica Ocean Ave. and Universal Citywalk Hollywood are all temporarily closed. The Burbank location was a good one, so I hope to go there again one day.

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.

Yasso Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Dipped Greek Yogurt Bars Review

Fro-yo girl here. Back in May 2020, I reviewed Yasso’s new Chocolate Dipped Greek frozen yogurt bars when I first found them. There were four new flavors (Mint Chocolate Crunch, Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch, Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Crunch, Vanilla Chocolate Crunch) but I only found Vanilla Chocolate Crunch and Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Crunch. I continued to look for the other two flavors without finding them. It became harder to find the dipped bars, so I lost hope of finding the flavor that I really wanted to try, Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch. Then Yasso introduced some new Greek frozen yogurt sandwiches and I started looking for but could not find those. Well, the new Target on Sunset Blvd. (Los Angeles) had the Yasso sandwiches, Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Dipped Greek Yogurt Bars and Mint Chocolate Crunch Dipped Greek Yogurt Bars. Wow.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch: These bars feature a milk chocolate coating with crisped quinoa. As a peanut butter lover, I was a big fan of this bar – the chocolate coating with quinoa is thin, crispy and delicious (not waxy or artificial tasting). The yogurt is creamy and tastes like peanut butter. It’s small yet feels indulgent. The yogurt flavor was not noticeable and I thought the peanut butter flavor could have been a tad stronger but these are wonderful treats and easy to eat since they’re portable and on a stick. One bar is 160 calories, 8g total fat, 17g total carbs, 14g total sugars and 5g protein.

Yasso’s chocolate dipped Greek frozen yogurt bars have either a milk chocolate or dark chocolate coating with crisped quinoa. The bars have live and active cultures, no high intensity sweeteners, and are gluten-free. Target was selling them for $5.89/box. One box has four individually wrapped bars. Each bar is 2.65 oz. The bars are gluten-free.

Back in 2014, Yasso Peanut Butter Cup bars were my favorite but I could not find them for years. I loved that they were dipped in chocolate and suggested that the whole bar be covered in chocolate. They finally did that 6 years later. If only it weren’t so hard to find the Peanut Butter Crunch Chocolate Dipped Greek Yogurt Bars.

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

4.5 out of 5 stars.

* TARGET: 5500 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA 90028

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.

NEW Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Sandwiches Review

Fro-yo girl here. New Yasso products always seem to take awhile to arrive at my local Target (in Southern California). I started looking for Yasso’s new Frozen Greek Yogurt sandwiches as soon as I read about the launch in late October 2020. I checked a few Target locations in person – no luck.

The sandwiches feature Greek froyo wedged between two soft chocolate cookies and are available exclusively at Target. The retail suggested price is $5.99/pack. A pack contains four sandwiches. Each sandwich is individually wrapped and the wrappers have cute sayings.

I had pretty much given up on finding the Frozen Greek Yogurt sandwiches until a recent search on the Target app revealed that the new Sunset Blvd. (Los Angeles) location actually has them in stock. The other 20+ locations near me do not have them in stock.

It turns out that the Target on Sunset Blvd. just opened in late October 2020, after 13 years. Yes, it took 13 years for that Target location to open. But the good news is that it’s huge and has Yasso products that other Target locations do not carry. It also has amazing views of the Hollywood Hills, including the Hollywood sign and the Yogurtland across the street.

Target Sunset had Yasso Mint Chocolate Chip and Vanilla Bean sandwiches for $6.49/box (the Target price online is $5.29). Okay, so Target Sunset is more expensive. The sandwiches are small (3 fl oz) and 100 – 120 calories each. They’re made with real Greek yogurt, no artificial or high intensity sweeteners, and live and active cultures.

Mint Chocolate Chip Sandwich: It’s described as mint frozen Greek yogurt and chocolate flavored chips wedged between two soft chocolate wafers. The cookies were similar to the kind that I associate with ice cream sandwiches – soft and they tend to stick to your fingers. Sure enough, Yasso’s cookies stuck to my fingers. The filling was enjoyable – their mint froyo is refreshing, firm, and creamy and I liked the additional texture of the tiny chocolate flecks, aka chocolate flavored chips. However, their 2017 froyo sandwiches had a better cookie (firmer, like Oreos), so I liked those better than the 2020 version. One cookie sandwich is 120 calories, 2g total fat, 21g total carbs, 12g total sugars and 4g protein.

Vanilla Bean Sandwich: The froyo was a little softer than the mint chocolate chip. It was creamy and had a strong vanilla flavor with lots of visible vanilla bean specks. The soft chocolate cookie was the same as the kind used in the Mint Chocolate Chip sandwich. The Oreo style cookie from Yasso 2017 was better tasting and had a better texture. One cookie sandwich is 100 calories, 1.5g total fat, 20g total carbs and 11g total sugars.

Available flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Bean, Peanut Butter

4 out of 5 stars.

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

* TARGET: 5500 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA 90028

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.

Yogo Farm Opens in Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. Yogo Farm opened some time last year, I think. It must have been open for a very short time. There are two reviews on Google and none on Yelp. It’s been temporarily closed since last fall (if not earlier). Someone posted a funny picture of the Yogo Farm employee sleeping inside the store last May. The store looks cute (thanks to their designer, Mindful Design Consulting) but their website never worked and they don’t have any social media presence that I could find. Strange place. It’s in Little Bangladeshi.

I drove by to see what was going on. They served Honey Hill Farms froyo and charged a flat rate (only $2.50 for a small, with toppings). It was self-serve.

Maybe it’s owned by the same person who owns Bhalli Discount Store? Because that’s where they’re directing their mail now.

“YOGO FARM INC is a business registered with the Office of Finance, City of Los Angeles. The doing business as (DBA) name is YOGO FARM INC. The business activity is limited-service eating places. The business operates in 3704 W 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020-2305. This business location starts on April 1, 2018.”

They just opened this year but they registered with the city back in 2018. It took two years to open and then they promptly closed again. I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to get some froyo there?

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

* YOGO FARM: 3704 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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.

Claremont, California Froyo Guide

Fro-yo girl here. As a college town, Claremont, CA has been blessed with an abundance of froyo options for a town of 36,000 residents and most of them have been in business for quite a few years. Currently, you can get froyo at Yogurtland, Yocrepe and two 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt locations.

Current shops

• 21 Choices, 460 W 1st St, opened this location in Claremont Village in 2008. The shop has aged well and still looks stylish. Unlike most froyo shops, 21 Choices specializes in mix-in style froyo. Their flavors are made in-house every day. The cookie dough is housemade.
• 21 Choices, 817 W Foothill Blvd., is the only froyo shop in North Claremont. The shop was closed for renovations for a few months starting in 2018 and reopened in 2019.
• Yocrepe & Boba, 328 S Indian Hill Blvd, (formerly Cefiore) used to be known as Cefiore, an early froyo counter serve froyo chain that specialized in tart froyo. Froyo is still served but crepes and boba drinks are emphasized. Cefiore opened in Claremont in 2008. The name change occurred in 2013 and they switched to a self-serve froyo format with 6 flavors a day.
• Yogurtland, 101 N Indian Hill Blvd., Suite 103, opened in 2009 in Claremont Village, finally bringing self-serve to Claremont. Before Yogurtland arrived, locals had to go to Upland for self-serve froyo. When Yogurtland Claremont first opened, it was a mere 30 cents an ounce with 16 flavors on tap. In 2018, the price had gone up to 49 cents an ounce.

Former shops

• 21 Choices opened first location in Claremont opened in 2006 at 328 S Indian Hill Blvd. They moved to North Claremont in 2007 or 2008.
• Kiwibear (formerly Kiwiberri), 373 W Bonita Ave, opened in 2007 as Kiwiberri. Yes, it was similar to Pinkberry (counter serve, tart froyo) and Pinkberry’s lawsuit led to the name change. They started with two flavors – original tart and green tea, just like Pinkberry at that time. The short-lived shop closed in 2008.
• Silver Spoons took over the 21 Choices space after 21 Choices moved in 2007. Silver Spoons offered froyo and gelato and seems to have lasted a year before Cefiore took over the space.
• The Sweet Swirl, 450 Auto Center Dr., was a cute self-serve froyo and desserts shop that opened in 2017 and closed in 2019. I was sad to hear that it closed because it was so cute. Unfortunately, the yogurt wasn’t great but I did like the waffle stick, ambiance and customer service.

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.

Cookbook Market Now Offers a Line of Housemade Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. I’m so thrilled that I stumbled into Cookbook Market earlier this year. Cookbook describes itself as a “neighborhood green grocer specializing in responsibly grown, super tasty meat + fish, cheese, bread, fruit, vegetables, coffee, chocolate, freshly prepared foods, & more.” Their housemade sandwiches are fantastic and they carry bread and pastries from the best bakeries in LA, like Clark St., Bub & Grandma’s, Gjusta, and Friends & Family. They also make some of their own condiments, broth, baked goods, granola, broth, pot pies, mac & cheese, hand pies, pasta, veggie burgers, etc.

Very recently, they launched a new line of housemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. The housemade pints are $12.50 each. There were only a handful of flavors (the shop is small, so the selection of everything is limited) and only was frozen yogurt.

Frozen lime yogurt: The froyo on top was firm and icy but not watery. The lime flavor was very tangy and pronounced – much tangier than most tart froyo that you find in froyo shops. The graham cracker crumbs were sparse. However, digging under the top layer, I encountered a softer, creamier core with an abundance of buttery, crispy graham cracker crumbs and lime rind. This core was sweeter as well. The bottom of the pint was firm and super tart again, like the top layer. Very interesting and super flavorful. I think I’m a fan but the uneven distribution of ingredients was unusual. I’d definitely like to try more flavors in the future.

Cookbook has two locations. I saw the froyo at the Highland Park location (not sure if the Echo Park one carries froyo).

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

* COOKBOOK MARKET: 5611 N Figueroa St., Los Angeles (Highland Park), CA 90042

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.

 

Menchie’s New Featured Flavors, Vegan Salted Caramel Made with Almond Milk and Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana Made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s has announced the first new flavors of 2021. There are two: Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk and Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate.

I had to wait a few days in order to find the flavors in my area and I finally found them at Menchie’s Mission Hills (Los Angeles). Bananas are my least favorite food ever, so I’d much rather try Vegan Salted Caramel. Since most Menchie’s don’t seem to offer samples now (for safety reasons), I probably can’t try a tiny bit of Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Banana. I may not try it at all. I hate bananas so much that I couldn’t possibly like any banana flavored froyo or offer an objective opinion.

Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk: The texture seemed off – too loose, icy and not frozen enough. The caramel flavor was super strong – too strong for me. It seemed very sweet and very salty, like butterscotch with salt. Recommended toppings: Something to mellow out the strong flavor – Cool Whip, almonds. I would not add candy. I think it would be better with some vanilla froyo. 

Vegan Salted Caramel made with almond milk is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and made with no artificial colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. 

Be sure to use Menchie’s flavor finder (website, app) if you’d like to find the new flavors.

FYI, Menchie’s Burbank is now temporarily closed. It’s a good location, so I hope it reopens soon.

Menchie’s featured flavors are available for a limited time, while supplies last.

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.

2021 Froyo Wish List

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy Froyo New Year! Now that it’s 2021, it’s time to revisit my 2020 froyo wishes and reveal my 2021 froyo wish list. First, a recap and update of my 2020 froyo wishes.

2020 wish #1: More fresh herbs and roots in froyo. There wasn’t a surge in herb and root flavored froyo, though Yogurtland did introduce a creative floral flavor with orange blossom, Orange Blossom White Peach light ice cream. Taro Frozen Yogurt in Bahrain introduced Beets froyo this year. I’m intrigued but Bahrain is so far away. I don’t think I’ll be traveling for quite some time.

2020 wish #2: More thoughtful toppings and froyo pairings. I didn’t see that much of this, but it was a strange year with fewer new froyo flavors and fewer new toppings as well. Many froyo shops didn’t even offer samples due to COVID-19. Many didn’t even bring back seasonal froyo flavors.

2020 wish #3: Menchie’s flavor finder. They finally launched the feature that I’ve been hoping for, only most Menchie’s locations in my area don’t report their daily flavors, so the feature is of limited usefulness. Sigh. I have to travel to the San Fernando Valley to reach the better Menchie’s locations (e.g., Valley Village, Burbank, Northridge, Encino, Sherman Oaks).

As people are eating more at home now and doing takeout, I’m hoping for some better supermarket froyo and it will probably be plant-based. I liked Yasso’s chocolate dipped bars (new this year) but they’re hard to find and I never found the peanut butter chocolate dipped Yasso bars. Jeni’s has wonderful froyo but it’s no longer called yogurt on the packaging.

My 2021 froyo wishes are:

Erewhon starts stocking Yoga-urt: I just started shopping at Erewhon this year. It isn’t too close, so I’m not a regular, but I noticed that they will carry local artisanal brands. Yoga-urt pints would be a perfect addition. Yoga-urt is local and their hand-crafted, small batch froyo is vegan, organic, gluten-free, soy-free, and all natural. It’s kosher too. I’m heading there for my first froyo of 2021 – to start the new year off right.

More no sugar added froyo offerings: I know I’ve been saying this for years, but a lot of froyo out there has too much sugar. I’d rather have more fat than more sugar. All that sugar masks the flavor of the other ingredients. And I don’t want monkfruit or Stevia sweetened offerings. Both taste awful. Dates are much better for natural sweetness.

More tea flavors: Love tea, love froyo. I’ve had matcha green tea, Thai tea, and milk tea froyo. But there’s so many other kinds of teas that would taste great in froyo form, such as oolong tea, jasmine tea, hojicha, and puerh.

One day I’d love to try Anita Gelato’s froyo (they opened in NYC this year), Australian purple rice yogurt drinks and Australian froyo, and Pick Kuwait’s froyo.

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.

New Yogurtland Flavor: Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl, No Added Sugar

Fro-yo girl here. Remember Yogurtland’s Mixed Berry Smoothie Bowl, the flavor that was introduced in March 2020? Yogurtland just launched a new smoothie bowl flavor (it’s soft serve), Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl. Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl is plant-based, vegan, non-fat, gluten-free, and has no added sugar. Yogurtland describes Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl as, “Our new smoothie bowl blends pineapple juice with real kale and spinach for a refreshing flavor in every spoonful.” 

Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl: This is a good flavor for January’s New Year’s healthy eating resolutions. It’s lighter and tastes healthier than your typical yogurt. The texture is icier but smooth. There is a natural sweetness from the pineapple juice and apple juice, but you can taste the greens too. I found it rather bland and watered down though, compared to the green juices I usually get from juice shops like Pressed, The Juice, Kreation, Erewhon, etc. I’ve had many green juices because I like green juices. They can be flavorful, with the right recipe. Recommended toppings: The usual fresh fruit, coconut, granola, fruit purees.

Yogurtland hasn’t announced this new flavor yet, but it’s available at many of their locations. Check the Yogurtland website and app’s Flavor Finder to see if Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl is available near you. Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl is available for a limited time, while supplies last.

P.S. Pineapple & Greens Smoothie Bowl has no probiotics. It is not frozen yogurt.

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.