2011 the Fro-yo Year in Review

Fro-yo girl here. As 2011 draws to a close, it’s time to look back at fro-yo events and trends and check out which of my fro-yo wishes came true.

Salty, sweet fro-yo flavors gain favor. This was the year when fro-yo flavors ventured into the land of salty and sweet, with peanut butter and jelly, salted caramel and maple bacon donut.

Fro-yo on the move. The rise of mobile fro-yo trucks was a major trend in 2011, with NYC and Chicago leading the way.

Fro-yo prices rise. The fro-yo price wars of 2009-2010 have ended and even Yogurtland raised its prices to 33 cents and up from 30 cents an ounce. Prices have gone up at many fro-yo shops.

Fro-yo bubble bursts in the Bay Area. Fewer fro-yo shops are opening as the number of closures rises. It’s always sad to see a fro-yo shop close but the ones that I will truly miss are Jubili (the first place I tried tart fro-yo) in SF, Yogurt Harmony in Berkeley, Tartini in Cupertino, and Fro-ggie in Fremont, CA.

Notable fro-yo openings in the Bay Area. Two locations of the Italian fro-yo chain, Yogorino, brought a richer style of fro-yo to SF. Jamba Juice’s Whirln’s fro-yo reached the Bay Area.

My fro-yo wishes mostly came true. I did get more signature fro-yo spoons. Yogurtland came out with Sanrio yogurt spoons. We did get a mobile fro-yo truck in the Bay Area though it was non-dairy. I did have a Greek fro-yo. However, I didn’t have any macarons with fro-yo.

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

Farewell My Old Friend, Jubili

Fro-yo girl. I've seen many fro-yo shops come and go, but the closure of Jubili hurts. It was the very first place I tried tart fro-yo. It was one of those life-changing "first" moments that you never forget. My fro-yo preferences were just being formed at that time. I liked the clean, white, modern look of their shop and the free wi-fi. Jubili was also a cereal bar. Later they added cupcakes (Velveteen Sweets).

Jubili was the oldest surviving tart fro-yo shop in SF. Yogurt Bar was the first tart fro-yo shop in SF and it closed in 2009. I never liked Yogurt Bar, so its passing left me unmoved. Jubili was the second tart fro-yo shop to open in SF, back in October 2007.

Here's an excerpt from my December 2007 review...my first fro-yo shop review:

"Fro-yo girl here. Jubili is the place that started it all for me - my first taste of tart fro-yo and I came for the mochi balls. The first time I went to Jubili, they were out of mochi balls (it was 9:30 PM). He said people kept asking for them. Very disappointing, but of course I don't blame them for it. I couldn't stop wondering about the mochi balls, day and night (I love mochi). I even looked for mochi ball pictures online and I only found a few."

I always wondered why Jubili didn't (1) open another location and (2) change the fro-yo flavors. The fro-yo parfaits were so good that I continued to visit Jubili even after the fro-yo shop explosion. They used to be one of the few fro-yo places that opened early, opening at 8 AM.

* My favorite menu item: the fro-yo parfait, with crushed Nature Valley granola bars, mochi and fresh fruit
* My favorite fro-yo flavor: peach tart

I peeked inside Jubili and the furniture and fro-yo machines are gone.

Farewell Jubili. You will be missed.

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

* JUBILI FROZEN YOGURT & CEREAL: 1515 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA

Streets of Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. Once a year I talk about fro-yo hot spots, cities where the most fro-yo activity is occurring. Today I wanted to recognize specific streets in San Francisco. Which SF street has the most fro-yo shops?

Right now it's Fillmore St., so let's take a look at the fro-yo shops on Fillmore.

* JUBILI - 1515 Fillmore St. Now that Yogurt Bar has closed, Jubili is the oldest tart fro-yo shop in SF. The fro-yo hasn't changed much recently (same flavors) but they added cupcakes and cookies (a line called Velveteen Sweets). I wonder why they stopped coming out with new fro-yo flavors?
* FRAICHE - 1910 Fillmore St. Fraiche's organic fro-yo is really great right now and their homemade mochi cubes are the best. I like how the mochi is bigger and fresher than the mochi at other fro-yo shops. Their newish pumpkin flavor is amazing and I like those yogurt muffins too.
* YOPPI YOGURT - 2208 Fillmore St. They opened up recently and brought self-serve fro-yo to this street. It's a cute shop (like those Yoppi characters) though on the small side for a fro-yo shop.
* ROYAL GROUND COFFEE - 2060 Fillmore St. Okay, it's not a fro-yo shop but they do have one machine. I would avoid it. Fro-yo feels like an afterthought here.

Quickly on Fillmore had a frozen yogurt sign but when I went inside, they didn't have fro-yo.

Union Street and Irving Street are also good streets for fro-yo.

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

Halloween Spirit Fro-yo Shop Report

Fro-yo girl here. I love it when Halloween is on a Sunday because Halloween festivities start up on Friday and it feels like a Halloween long weekend. It also gives me time to drive around the Bay Area and check out the fro-yo shops. This year I saw fewer and less elaborate Halloween decorations in fro-yo shops (compared to last year). Cupcake shops are showing more Halloween spirit.



My fro-yo shop 2010 Halloween Spirit Award goes to...Blush Burlingame. They transformed the store into an aquarium and gave out full size candy bars and snacks for kids and Blush frequent buyer cards with stamps for adults. And their pumpkin fro-yo is amazing.







I also checked out the following:
* JUBILI: some Halloween window decals, pumpkin inside
* FRAICHE: paper bats in the window, pumpkins inside
* TUTTIMELON UNION CITY: green spiderwebs above, fair amount of decorations
* TUTTIMELON BURLINGAME: some decorations
* TUTTIMELON WEST PORTAL: no Halloween decorations (sadly), but I still recommend their pumpkin gelato with a swirl of original tart on top
* YA-UA: cute decorations
* YOGURT GOGO: no decorations
* NUBI SF: no decorations, but they feature pumpkin pie fro-yo

I'm hoping to see more Halloween spirit next year.

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

Future Fro-yo Shop Picture: Yoppi Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. A cute new sign went up in the window of the old olive oil shop (Olivier & Co.) - Yoppi Yogurt is coming soon. The sign depicts a winter scene with snowflakes - will they open this winter? It will be the fourth fro-yo serving place on Fillmore, joining Fraiche, Royal Ground Coffee, and Jubili (they're all within walking distance of each other). Moyo's Yogurt is also close by but not on Fillmore St.

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

* YOPPI YOGURT: 2208 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA

Wow, I Wrote 300 Fro-yo Reviews

Fro-yo girl here. Today I posted my 300th fro-yo review on Yelp. I remember my first fro-yo shop review clearly. It was for Jubili in San Francisco and I posted it on December 16, 2007. At the time, I had just learned about mochi balls and I couldn't stop thinking about them. The first time I went to Jubili, they were out of mochi.

The next day, December 17, 2007, I posted another fro-yo review for Love Berry at Stonestown Galleria. I can't remember my 100th fro-yo review or my 200th fro-yo review (I should have paid closer attention). My 500th Yelp review was for Cafe Delatti in Los Gatos.

My first Tuttimelon review was posted on January 27, 2008 for their very first location, on Irving St. in San Francisco. Tuttimelon Blackhawk opened at the perfect time - it's my 300th fro-yo shop review.

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

Fro-Yo Shops with Free Wi-Fi

Fro-yo girl here. The other day I saw the most adorable free wi-fi signs at Tuttimelon West Portal. They inspired me to make a list of Bay Area fro-yo shops with free wi-fi. Very few have power outlets. With the exception of Tuttimelon, I’ve only reviewed the ones that I’ve been to with my laptop.

* TUTTIMELON (2240 Chestnut St. and 44 West Portal Ave., San Francisco, CA): Other Tuttimelon locations may have free wi-fi but these are the only two that I’m certain have it.

Advantages: Tuttilicious fro-yo, gelato & more, bathroom, general feeling of tuttiliciousness
Disadvantages: Parking can be a challenge, lack of power outlets

* GELAYO GUSTO (856 W El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA): I haven’t been here for months but based on my last visit, it’s the best fro-yo shop to for your laptop. It hasn’t been the same since the ownership changed though.

Advantages: Free, plentiful parking with no time limit, power outlets, food (sandwiches), drinks (coffee), accepts credit cards, music isn’t too loud or annoying
Disadvantages: None that I can think of except that it’s not what it used to be

* RED MANGO (852 Laurel St., San Carlos, CA): This is a nice place to hang out with your laptop and a cup of fro-yo though I seem to recall that I couldn’t find a power outlet.

Advantages: Comfy seating, great ambiance, free & easy parking, great iced tea drinks
Disadvantages: Lack of power outlets, too many pillows to contend with in San Carlos

* JUBILI (1515 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA): I was able to work on my laptop for a few hours here. I like the design but it’s not the best place to work.

Advantages: Like the clean, white décor, bathroom, open earlier than most fro-yo places so you can have breakfast there (hot cereal, cold cereal, regular yogurt parfaits), secure wi-fi, not too noisy
Disadvantages: Parking is a pain, one power outlet in an inconvenient location

* SWEET CONNECTIONS (430 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno, CA): They have power outlets but the noise level is distracting.

Advantages: Power outlets, coffee, free parking should be available
Disadvantages: Feels like being in a day care center, décor isn’t as nice as some of the other more sophisticated looking fro-yo shops

* SIP CAFÉ (1412 Camden Ave., Campbell, CA): I may have gone on a bad day but it felt very warm inside and I couldn’t find a power outlet

Advantages: Opens early, coffee, pastries, plenty of seating, free & easy parking
Disadvantages: Closes early, hard to find power outlet

* BLUSH DUBLIN (4640-A Tassajara Rd., Dublin, CA): What a cute shop. It always feels lively and welcoming.

Advantages: Great fro-yo, free parking, Peet’s nearby, bathroom, likely to be offered free water or juice
Disadvantages: Music is louder than average, just one power outlet

* CAFÉ VERONA (46999 Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont, CA): It has a coffee house feel which makes me feel comfortable hanging out there with my laptop.

Advantages: Relatively inexpensive fro-yo, comfy booth seating, sandwiches, easy (and free) parking
Disadvantages: Closes early, couldn’t find a power outlet

* HONEYBERRY (3488 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA): Many pros but I didn’t like my sandwich and the tables are too close together.

Advantages: Sandwiches + fro-yo, free parking
Disadvantages: Couldn’t find power outlet, noisy (maybe because tables are so close together)

* PINK SWIRL (43423 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA): It was easy & comfy to hang out here with my laptop.

Advantages: Free (and easy parking), relaxed environment, flatscreen TV, power outlets
Disadvantages: There’s a room for little kids

Other fro-yo shops with free wi-fi: So Frais, Nubi, Green Cup, Yogurt Bees, Delatti, Yogurt Harmony, Park Mini Mart, Union Street Coffee Roastery, Hello Desserts, McBerryZ Frozen Treats, Whimsical Frozen Yogurt, Café Verona, Yogurt Paradise, Café Yolicious, Quickly

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

Yogurt Parfaits at Fro-yo Places

Fro-yo girl here. While you can get yogurt parfaits just about everywhere (e.g., Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, McDonald’s), the best place to get them is at a good fro-yo shop where the fruit is fresh and the parfaits are made to order. These are my top picks for yogurt parfaits in the Bay Area:

* Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt: It’s no secret that I love Culture for the quality of their fro-yo and their incomparably delicious toppings. Their parfaits are made with organic Straus yogurt (yum). They have organic (yes organic) fruit that I don’t see at other fro-yo shops, including plums, pluots, peaches, Valencia oranges and blood oranges. And their crunchy, super fresh, house granola, made on the premises, is fantastic. My favorite is the gingersnap granola. Fruit and granola offerings change often.

* Fraiche Yogurt: I haven’t tried their non-frozen yogurt but they do make their own with Clover Organic Milk and it’s probably decent. I haven’t had their granola either because their homemade mochi is the best. Other options include steel cut oatmeal and Blue Bottle coffee.

* So Frais Frozen Yogurt Cafe: This new, upscale self-serve fro-yo shop also offers build your own yogurt parfaits at 42 cents an ounce. Their fresh fruit looked particularly fresh.

* Jubili Frozen Yogurt: I had a fro-yo parfait here but they also offer yogurt parfaits made with lowfat vanilla yogurt, your choice of two fresh fruit toppings, and your choice of granola. The crushed Nature Valley granola bars are really good!

Fraiche (7 AM on weekdays) and Jubili (8 AM on weekdays) are the only fro-yo shops that open early enough to have a yogurt parfait for breakfast. At Jubili you can get the fro-yo parfait at 8 AM if you’re so inclined (i.e., you’re like me). Yes, that is a picture of a fro-yo parfait. When I have a choice between a fro-yo parfait and a yogurt parfait, I choose the fro-yo parfait every time.

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

* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA
* FRAICHE YOGURT: 644 Emerson, Palo Alto, CA
* SO FRAIS FROZEN YOGURT CAFÉ: 5363 Mowry, Fremont, CA
* JUBILI FROZEN YOGURT: 1515 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA

Favorite Time for Fro-yo

Fro-yo girl here. The results are in. Fro-yo cravings are the strongest in the mid-afternoon according to 49% of poll respondents. That’s around the time that most people experience the afternoon slump (http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/2.cfm). I know that around 3 PM I feel like I need to boost. I used to get another latte or a cup of coffee around that time because I need caffeine.

A small tart fro-yo qualifies as a healthy snack and a smart way to combat the afternoon slump. And if you have to walk to get your fro-yo, you’ve taken another positive step towards combating the afternoon slump.

Very few respondents have strong fro-yo cravings in the morning but there are places you can go in SF to have fro-yo for breakfast. Jubili will serve you a fro-yo parfait at 8 AM on weekdays or get a fro-yo waffle from Cefiore on New Montgomery at 9 AM on weekdays.

For me there’s nothing like ending the day with a delicious cup of fro-yo (which is why my fro-yo cravings are strongest late at night). For late night cravings, Tuttimelon North Beach is open till 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

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

* JUBILI: 1515 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA
* CEFIORE NEW MONTGOMERY: 59 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA
* TUTTIMELON NORTH BEACH: 601 Broadway St., San Francisco

Pomegranate Seeds are Back!

Fro-yo girl here. When it comes to fresh fruit toppings, pomegranate seeds are my favorite. I love the crunch of the seed portion and the refreshing tartness of the flesh. Peeling one takes forever, so the seeds also feel like a special treat.

Pomegranates also are considered a superfood, rich in anti-oxidiants and a good source of of vitamin B5, potassium, vitamin C. Consumption may reduce the risk of heart disease, lower systolic blood pressure and promote prostate health in men.

Pomegranates are typically in season from October through January and I’ve been anxiously awaiting their return. The season is so short so I’ll have to get pomegranate seeds whenever I see them.

Today at Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt in Palo Alto, I saw a large bowl stacked with pomegranates. They’re back!!!! Pomegranate seeds were recently spotted at Fro-ggie in Fremont as well (thanks Carol L.) and Yogurt Harmony in Berkeley (thanks Karen W.). Keep an eye out for them at other fro-yo shops. I’ve had pomegranate seeds with my fro-yo at Red Mango, Pinkberry, Jubili, Tuttimelon, and Blondie’s Pizza. I’ve had pomegranate tart fro-yo at Tuttimelon (Irving St., SF and Alameda), Blush (pomegranate-dragonfruit), Papamingo, and Nubi (raspberry pomegranate). Tuttimelon has the best tasting pom tart fro-yo and it’s extra tart. Yum!

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


* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
* FRO-GGIE: 1554 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539
* YOGURT HARMONY: 2259 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
* TUTTIMELON: 2150 Irving St, San Francisco, CA, 94122