Friday, September 29, 2023

Last Days of the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey, Five Respondents Will Win Froyo Gift Cards


Fro-yo girl here. If you visit froyo shops and you’re over 13 in the US, take the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey. All eligible survey respondents will be entered into a random drawing to win one of five $25 froyo shop gift cards to any US shop that offers online gift cards. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and can choose their froyo gift card. One entry per person. 

Take the 7-minute survey at tinyurl.com/2023froyosurvey

The short survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, asks about your current froyo consumption and preferences. The survey results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and others in the frozen yogurt industry. 

The survey closes at midnight PST on Saturday, September 30, 2022.

Winners will be contacted via email and announced on the IFYA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/) by October 7, 2023 If any prizes are unclaimed by October 14, 2023, alternate winners will be selected from the eligible entries until all the prizes are awarded. 

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.


Thursday, September 28, 2023

New Fall Flavor at Yogurtland: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie




Fro-yo girl here. Now that the “back to school” time of year is over and it’s officially fall, Yogurtland has a new froyo flavor, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie. It’s described by Yogurtland as a rich delight, “where the warmth of brown butter notes mingle with the sweetness of chocolate chips in a cool and creamy frozen treat.” Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie is a lowfat froyo made with real chocolate and graham crumbs.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie froyo: Well, it really does taste like chocolate chip cookies made with brown sugar. It seemed sweeter than average. I’d rather have a real chocolate chip cookie though – there’s something about the contrast between the crispy edges and chewiness with big chunks of chocolate that’s just so satisfying. Recommended toppings: chocolate chips, whipped cream, Oreos, and chocolate chip cookies.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie froyo is available while supplies last at participating locations. Check the Flavor Finder on the Yogurtland website and app.

It's hard to believe that Yogurtland didn’t have a chocolate chip cookie froyo before. The closest thing was their Cookie Dough froyo which came out in 2021 which is a chocolate chip cookie dough flavor.

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.

Gjusta’s Sheep’s Milk Yogurt Review




Fro-yo girl here. I finally made it Gjusta in Venice and I found out they have their own grocery store called Gjusta Grocer. Gjusta Grocer had tubs of Gjusta sheep’s milk yogurt with plum compote. They make their own yogurt! I think I might have seen it at Gjusta too. I’m sure the compotes are seasonal. Plums are in season.

Sheep’s Milk Yogurt with Plum Compote: The yogurt is thick (not as thick as Greek yogurt or skyr) and sour. The compote isn’t that sweet though there are chunks of plum and the plum is naturally sweet. The compote adds some tang. I loved it because it tasted simple and natural, not overly sweetened and not overly processed. I’ll have to get more. It’s better than some of the sheep’s milk yogurt that I’ve gotten from farmer’s markets because those taste sweeter.

A tub is 8 oz and $6. The list of ingredients is short: sheep’s milk, local plums, lemon, organic sugar, salt. No nutritional information is provided. I’m guessing that it’s full fat because of the richness and taste of cream.

5 out of 5 stars

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

GJUSTA GROCER: 105 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291

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.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Froyo Guide to Thousand Oaks

 

Sweet XO at The Oaks


Fro-yo girl here. Thousand Oaks, California is the second largest city in Ventura County, with a population of 125,766. It’s 35 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and considered one of the safest cities in the US. Thousand Oaks also has a Tree City USA designation and is home to nearly 20,000 oak trees.

The first froyo shop in Thousand Oaks must have opened in the early 1980s and was probably a Penguin’s. Penguin’s was based in Thousand Oaks. It was founded in 1983 and reached well over 100 locations in 10 years. Penguin’s filed for bankruptcy in 1991. There were at least four TCBY shops in Thousand Oaks.

The Oaks Mall has been the center of the second wave of froyo activity in Thousand Oaks. Most of the newer froyo shops in town have been at The Oaks. The Oaks is currently home to Menchie’s and a Pinkberry vending machine.

There are currently three places to get froyo in Thousand Oaks: Menchie’s, Pinkberry (vending machine), and Wild Cherry.

Current Froyo Shops (& a Vending Machine)


  • Menchie’s, 168 W Hillcrest Dr. #1, opened a self-serve froyo emporium in 2012 by the movie theater. This location also sells froyo cakes.
  • Pinkberry by iCream, 350 W Hillcrest Dr, is a froyo vending machine by the Sprinkles cupcake ATM at The Oaks. The machine was installed in 2022.
  • Wild Cherry Frozen Yogurt, 1724 N Moorpark Rd, is a self-serve froyo shop that also sells boba drinks. When they first opened in 2010, they charged $0.33/oz. Wild Cherry also has a location in Camarillo and one that closed in Ventura.

Former Froyo Shops


  • Bericup, 382 W Hillcrest Dr., was a self-serve froyo shop in the food court area of The Oaks Mall. The shop opened in 2009 and may have closed in 2014. BeriCup was a froyo chain founded in Garden Grove, CA in 2007.
  • Blizz Frozen Yogurt, 2200 Thousand Oaks Blvd, was a self-serve froyo chain from Southern California. It was open from 2010 – 2011.
  • Golden Spoon, 2000 Avenida de los Arboles, closed in 2013. I’m not sure when it opened but probably before 2010.
  • Golden Spoon, 1404 N Moorpark Rd., probably opened before 2010 and closed in 2013. The owner changed the concept to Tizzy’s Yogurt Café.
  • Go Greek, 350 W Hillcrest Dr., opened in May 2018 at the Oaks Mall and closed less than a year later in March 2019. The authentic Greek yogurteria served fresh Greek yogurt and frozen Greek yogurt. The froyo was self-serve.
  • Krave It, 350 Via Las Brisas, was a self-serve froyo shop that opened in 2015 and closed in 2017
  • Lotus Yogurt Bar, 540 N Moorpark Rd STE 1, was a small self-serve froyo shop in the Village Square Shopping Center that opened in 2009 and closed in 2011. Lotus Yogurt Bar also had locations in Northridge and Hermosa Beach (both now closed).
  • Mali Cuisine, 140 W Hillcrest Dr suite 111, was a Southeast Asian restaurant that also had self-serve froyo. It was open from 2016 – 2021.
  • Penguin’s Frozen Yogurt, 1344 N Moorpark Rd, unknown opening and closing dates.
  • SweetXO, 350 W Hillcrest Dr, opened on the 2nd floor of The Oaks Mall in 2014 and closed in 2015. The shop had self-serve froyo, ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, candy, and gifts.
  • TCBY, 1772 E Avenida De Los Arboles, opened and closed in 2009 or 2010.
  • TCBY, 212 W Hillcrest Dr, Ste M4, probably closed well before 2010
  • TCBY, 3170 Los Feliz Dr, probably closed well before 2010
  • TCBY, 378 W Hillcrest Dr #K010B, was at The Oaks Mall
  • Tizzy Yogurt Café, 1404 N Moorpark Rd, opened in 2013. It was started by an ex-Golden Spoon franchisee and served froyo, shakes, smoothies, Belgian waffles, oatmeal, and coffee. It may have closed in 2014.
  • Yozen Frogurt, 2416 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, opened in 2008 and closed in 2011. The original Yozen Frogurt opened in West Hills in 2007. The Thousand Oaks branch was self-serve.

I found 16 former froyo shops in Thousand Oaks. There were probably other Penguin’s locations but it’s difficult to find out much about them because they closed so long ago. Did I miss any froyo shops in Thousand Oaks? Let me know.

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.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Loving Cup Quietly Closes OG Location in Russian Hill, San Francisco



Fro-yo girl here. Loving Cup closed the original location in Russian Hill earlier this summer. No announcement was made, so I’m not sure exactly when it closed. The last reviews were written in June 2023. I hadn’t visited that location for many years since the other ones were more convenient.

Loving Cup opened 2356 Polk St. in late 2008, back when the tart froyo craze had taken over San Francisco. Loving Cup offered something different from other froyo shops because the froyo was mix-in style. Customers selected a size, a base (chocolate, vanilla or non-dairy), and mix-ins. The associate would hand churn everything together using a machine. They also sold rice pudding.

In late 2018, the owners of La Boulangerie acquired Loving Cup. As fans of Loving Cup, Pascal Rigo and Nicolas Bernadi hoped to open 100 locations in a few years. They also talked about adding Loving Cup to a few La Boulangerie locations.

As of September 2023, there are three Loving Cup locations, two in San Francisco (608 Divisadero St, 2201 Union St.) and one in Marin County. Apizza in San Francisco also serves Loving Cup. I haven’t heard anything about Loving Cup in La Boulangerie since 2018. Loving Cup has gone quiet as well. Their last Facebook post was in April 2020 and the last Instagram post in May 2021.

La Boulangerie has five remaining locations. The location in San Francisco's FiDi district that served Loving Cup has closed in 2020 or 2021.

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.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Take the National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey for a Chance to Win Froyo Prizes



Fro-yo girl here. The 2023 National Frozen Yogurt Consumer Survey, sponsored by the International Frozen Yogurt Association, is now open. It's open to anyone over 13 who visits frozen yogurt shops in the US. The 7-minute online survey is about your froyo attitudes, preferences, and behavior.

Complete the online froyo survey by midnight Pacific Time on September 30, 2023 for a chance to win one of five $25 froyo shop gift cards. Winners can choose a gift card from any froyo shop in the US that sells online gift cards. 

Winners will be selected based on a random drawing. One entry per person please.

Take the short survey at http://tinyurl.com/2023froyosurvey

The survey results will be shared with frozen yogurt shops and others in the frozen yogurt industry to help shape the future of the industry.

Tell others to take the survey too!

The complete contest rules are available on our website.

Want to See the Results?


Anyone who is interested in receiving the survey results simply needs to share the survey invitation using a public profile. There are several ways to share the survey invitation, including sharing IFYA’s pinned Facebook post about the survey (https://www.facebook.com/froyoassociation/), pinned tweet (@froyogirl), or Instagram survey post (@froyoassociation) before September 28, 2023. Then, after sharing the post, send the IFYA a direct message with your email address. Your profile must be public.

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.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Your Guide to Kosher Froyo Shops in Los Angeles


Fro-yo girl here. Shana Tova! In honor of the Jewish New Year (aka Rosh Hashanah), I looked into kosher froyo, including what kosher froyo is, who certifies kosher froyo, and where to get kosher froyo.

Kosher dietary laws originate from the Torah and are detailed in the Talmud. Under the Kashrut Laws (aka dietary laws), certain foods like pork, rabbit, and shellfish, are not kosher. Also, meat and dairy products must not be manufactured or consumed together.

While many froyo flavors are certified kosher in their sealed containers, few shops are fully kosher. If the kosher froyo container is opened and the froyo is mixed with non-kosher items, it is no longer kosher.

There are different types of kosher certification and different certification agencies. Broadly speaking, businesses apply to a kosher certification agency and are assigned to a rabbi who is the point person for the account. The rabbi will check the ingredients, production facility, and production to ensure that there are no non-kosher substances and that Kosher Law requirements have been followed. Once the business passes inspection, a contract is signed detailing the requirements and obligations of both parties.

Rabbinic law requires supervision during the milking process but the Orthodox Union ruled that in the United States, the Department of Agriculture’s regulations and controls provides enough assurance that only cow’s milk is sold commercially. Some rabbis disagree with this position and feel Jewish supervision should be required to ensure the purity of the milk.

Main Distinctions: Cholov Yisroel vs. Dairy Chalav Stam


Cholov Yisroel: refers to kosher milk that was produced with full-time Jewish supervision to ensure that the milk is from a kosher animal.

Dairy Chalav Stam: This is a less stringent designation that indicates that the dairy milk wasn’t supervised (i.e., under Jewish supervision) during the production but was assumed pure for other reasons (e.g., government regulation of the dairy industry makes it likely that the milk does not come from non-kosher animals). Commercial milk produced in the US and European Union nations is considered chalav stam.

Kosher Certification Agencies


There are many kosher certification agencies. They tend to be regional since part of the certification process includes a site visit. The main ones serving the Los Angeles area are:

  • Kosher LA: Kosher LA is a kosher certification agency that was established in 1994 and is based in LA.
  • KSA: the symbol for Pareve, the product does not contain milk or meat ingredients, from the Kosher Supervision of America, the largest kosher certification agency in the Western United States. Pareve foods are neutral and may be eaten with meat or dairy foods. KSA-D is the symbol for kosher dairy from the Kosher Supervision of America.
  • Orthodox Union (OU) Kosher: can certify closed containers of froyo and in some cases, the entire froyo shop. “The OU (Orthodox Union) Kosher is the world’s largest and most widely recognized kosher certification agency, certifying over 1,261,754 products produced in more than 3,000 plants located in 103 countries around the world.”
  • RCC Kosher: The RCC is a regional agency. The Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) is a non-profit organization of Orthodox Rabbis in California. One of the services they provide is kosher food certification.

Kosher Froyo & Froyo Shops


While hard to find, Los Angeles does have kosher froyo shops, not just ones that serve kosher froyo. Many froyo shops offer kosher froyo though they are not certified kosher shops.

  • Abyss Yogurt, 5406 Whitsett Ave., Valley Village, CA 91607, opened inside Abyss Market in February 2022. The fro-yo and toppings are certified kosher by Rabbi Yitzchak Feglin, with two Cholov Yisroel flavors from Klein’s and the other eight kosher flavors from Dannon YoCream.
  • Anita Gelato, 18700 Ventura Blvd #120, Tarzana, CA 91356, is the first LA branch of the international gelato chain that was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2002. They offer one flavor of froyo, plain, with unlimited toppings. Anita Gelato is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA.
  • Menchie’s (multiple locations) frozen yogurt flavors are certified kosher by Kosher Supervision of America or Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America in their sealed containers.
  • Toppings Yogurt, 349 S Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA. The froyo is self-serve.
  • Valley Swirl has two locations: 524 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, California 90036 and 9516 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035. While it’s primarily an ice cream business, they have frozen yogurt, available as a base for their hand-crafted mix-in style soft serve. Everything is RCC Kosher/Cholov Yisroel certified. In addition to ice cream and froyo, they serve puffle waffles, waffle nachos, milkshakes, boba drinks, smoothies, frappes, acai bowls, and hot beverages.
  • Yoga-urt serves all organic, plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, kosher, probiotic, hand-crafted soft serve at three locations: 1407 W Kenneth Rd, Glendale; 2211 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles; 1700 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, Yoga-urt is kosher certified by the International Kosher Council (IKC) under Rabbi Zev Schwartz.
  • Yogurtland (multiple locations) serves proprietary frozen yogurt mixes that are produced in a Kosher certified facility and bear the KSA-D symbol of kosher certification.

Did we miss any kosher froyo shops in Los Angeles? Let us know.

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.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Chobani Zero Sugar Greek Yogurt Review





Fro-yo girl here. Chobani launched a zero sugar line of Greek yogurt back in June 2021. I did see it in stores, but the idea of yogurt sweetened with sugar alternatives didn’t appeal to me (e.g., I did not like Two Good Greek yogurt). But with all the new zero sugar products coming out, including Chobani’s new zero sugar line of yogurt drinks, I decided to give Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt a try. Chobani Zero Sugar has done well thanks to the interest in zero-sugar products.

Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt is made with filtered milk and only natural ingredients. It’s lactose-free and has live and active cultures. The main ingredients are ultra-filtered nonfat milk, water, and skim milk. It’s sweetened with allulose, stevia, and monk fruit.

I found Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt at Target for $1.25 on sale (regular price, $1.69). One cup is 5.3 oz.

Available flavors: Strawberry, Toasted Coconut Vanilla, Vanilla, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry, Milk & Cookies, Key Lime Pie, Peach, Black Cherry, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry, Lemon Meringue Pie

Milk & Cookies: It’s hard to imagine a cookie without sugar. The yogurt was thick and creamy. I was surprised by the whiteness of the yogurt and the lack of visible cookies. It did have a chocolate sandwich cookie flavor but it was more like a hint of cookie flavor. The yogurt seemed very sweet in an artificial way (yes, the sweeteners they use are natural but they have an aftertaste). The flavor was bland, very sweet, and chalky.

Vanilla: This one was smooth and creamy. It tasted sour, rotten, and sweet with a very heavy mouthfeel. It reminded me of glue. One serving is 60 calories, 0g total fat, 5g total carbs, 0g sugars, and 11g protein.

I don’t like Chobani Zero Sugar at all. I don’t think I can finish a cup of it.

1 out of 5 stars.

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.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Takeover Yogurtland in East Hollywood

 









Fro-yo girl here. I reported that Yogurtland had partnered with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem movie by naming a froyo flavor Fr-ooze, giving out special TMNT stickers, and displaying TMNT signs. That’s the extent of the promotion for most Yogurtland locations.

However, the TMNT took over Yogurtland East Hollywood with a party on September 7 with special cups, special flavors, special toppings, and TMNT decorations. The storefront was covered with images of the turtles. The tables had TMNT images. Inside, Donnie, Mikey, Leo & Raph spraypainted their names, had clues on a board, and decorated lockers.

TMNT cups were only available at the East Hollywood location. The cup shows the four turtles and a city in the background.

Raph’s flavor is Sai Strawberry, Leo’s Katana Pop Sorbet, Donnie’s Ube, and Mikey’s Mango Mayhem. Special toppings included green apple syrup ooze and gummy pizza slices. And of course they had plenty of TMNT Yogurtland sticker sheets.

* YOGURTLAND: 1132 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029

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.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Yogurtland Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Promo, New Stickers



Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland dropped a new video yesterday for Fr-ooze and the release of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem movie. Fr-ooze is Yogurtland’s pistachio froyo, renamed.

I visited Yogurtland and saw the TMNT signs. I was told that the pistachio flavor hadn’t changed. They are offering pistachio froyo nationwide through October 1 as part of the promotion.

They’re also giving out TMNT sticker sheets. The stickers feature the TNMT characters, weapons, and a mutant green Yogurtland cup and spoon. Use the stickers to decorate your Yogurtland cup and spoon. The stickers are available 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.

Pinkberry My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Promotion



Fro-yo girl here. September 7 was My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Day in New York City and Los Angeles. In NYC, various restaurants and businesses offered Greek-inspired treats, products, and gift cards. Five NYC Pinkberry locations gave away My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 froyo special: mini original froyo with granola, honey, and blueberries.

In Los Angeles, six Pinkberry locations participated in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 froyo giveaway and The Great Greek in Sherman Oaks served a free MBFGW lunch special. The participating Pinkberry locations were: Torrance, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, and Burbank.

Pinkberry Burbank had My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 signs and they gave out 250 mini cups of original tart froyo with granola, blueberries, and honey. The taste did make me think of Greece.

The movie is in theaters on September 8 (today). Tickets are available at www.MyBigFatGreekWedding3Tickets.com

I wonder if Pinkberry shows up in the movie?

FYI, Pinkberrygreek was launched nationwide ten years ago. It was a non-frozen refrigerated yogurt that they served in Powerbowls and used to make smoothies.

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.


Thursday, September 7, 2023

Yogurt Stop To Close After 15 Years in West Hollywood





Fro-yo girl here. The owners of Yogurt Stop in West Hollywood announced that the shop will close on October 2, after fifteen years. They wrote the following on Instagram, “THANK YOU for 15 unbelievable and amazing years!!! When we opened January 2nd, 2009, YOU made us a healthy business. For the past 15 years, YOU kept us healthy. Because of YOU, we are able to close our doors a healthy business. Our last day of operation will be October 2nd, 2023. Again, thank you for all your support throughout the years. We’ve made many friends and are so grateful. We couldn’t have done it without you. We love you so much! XXX, Marta & Shoshana (and Elf).”

The shop is closing because the landlord chose not to renew the lease and would not give the owners the option to sell and extend the lease to a potential buyer of the business. The owners have had multiple issues with the landlord over the years. Back in 2019, an attorney for the landlords sent the Yogurt Stop owners a Cease-and-Desist letter because Yogurt Stop was selling items other than yogurt. When the owners of Yogurt Stop found a viable buyer, the landlords declined the buyer. It was known several years ago that Yogurt Stop would not be able to renew the lease. They even posted a sign about it at the shop.

It’s been many years since my last visit to Yogurt Stop because it’s nearly impossible to find parking in West Hollywood. I don’t even want to try to find parking most of the time. But I had to visit one last time and I was actually able to find parking a few blocks away in a residential neighborhood. It looked like I remembered only with a lot more snacks for sale. They had some interesting toppings like a UK candy and popcorn drizzled with chocolate. I got a cup of Peanut Butter Princess froyo with peanut butter chips.

Back in 2011, I wrote, “* YOGURT STOP (8803 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA): the fiercest fro-yo shop I've ever been to - filled with attitude. The fro-yo flavors have the best names, like I'm Coming Out Cake Batter, Lezbionic Tonic, and Milk My Harvey Chocolate. And they have plenty of best of fro-yo awards too. The toppings bins are overflowing and the fro-yo tastes great. They also encourage sampling unlike some self-serve fro-yo places. Fun!”

The Yogurt Stop owners describe the concept: “Yogurt Stop built itself on the simple concept of offering superior frozen yogurt, delicious toppings, including many baked in-house and locally sourced fresh fruit and other frozen delights in a fun-filled chilled-out environment. We set out to create not only a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, but an experience where friends, family, co-workers and citizens of the world could come together in a community setting. Yogurt Stop prides itself in providing each guest with prompt, professional, friendly and courteous service.”

There is a for lease sign on the exterior of the shop.

* YOGURT STOP: 8803 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

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.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Menchie’s September’s Featured Flavors & Raising Funds for the Fight Against Childhood Cancer

 





Fro-yo girl here. Happy September! Menchie’s has two featured flavors this month, Gourmet Peanut Butter Gelato and Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. They’ve also partnered with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will collect donations for St. Jude’s in Menchie’s stores this September.

Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo is a returning flavor that was first introduced in January 2021. The flavor is lowfat, gluten-free, and made without artificial colors, artificial flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. I hate bananas, so I haven’t tried the flavor.

Gourmet Peanut Butter Gelato is a NEW flavor that’s “as rich and creamy as your favorite peanut butter and as decadent as gelato.” It’s gluten-free and is made with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors, and no artificial flavors. It does contain real peanut butter and live and active cultures. It seemed thicker, creamier, and smoother than peanut butter froyo. The peanut butter flavor was strong and sweet in a yummy way. Recommended toppings: Butterfinger, Reese’s Pieces, Peanut M&Ms, chopped peanuts.

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

At the register I was asked whether I wanted to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. There were also signs throughout the store about the fundraiser.

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.