Noodle St Housemade Yogurt

 

Fro-yo girl here. Noodle St. started in Monrovia, CA in 2017 and currently has four locations. They specialize in handmade noodles. You can even watch someone making the noodles in the kitchen. Their Chinese beef noodle soup is high quality, refined, and delicious They also make their own yogurt! The first time I dined there and saw yogurt on the menu, it wasn’t available.

Recently, I walked by the Westfield Santa Anita location in Arcadia and noticed they had a sign for homemade yogurt. According to the menu, they have original, blueberry, and mixed nuts yogurt. However, when I asked, they only had original yogurt. A small jar of original yogurt is $4.

Original yogurt: It reminded me of Vietnamese yogurt, which is made with whole (dairy) milk and condensed milk, but not as sweet while still flavorful. The yogurt had a smooth, custardy texture, a little firmer than usual because it’s pot set (cultured and set in individual glass jars). I’m pretty sure that it’s made with more than just whole milk but I’m not sure if they use buttermilk or condensed milk. Anyway, it’s surprisingly sour and really tasty. I’m hoping to try other flavors.

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.

Future Froyo Shop Picture: Boba Milk PDX

Fro-yo girl here. The news about Boba Milk opening in Hawthorne broke last July. The new shop is the latest venture for the owner of Fish Sauce and Short Round (Vietnamese restaurants). Fish Sauce’s hard-scoop frozen yogurt is currently available at Short Round as well. Short Round had one flavor, peach green tea, for $4 a serving. The frozen yogurt made in house, rich in probiotics, and billed as authentically Vietnamese. Boba Milk will also offer waffle cones and bubble tea. They promise to get creative with flavors; some of the flavors they’ve created include durian, roasted beet, and jackfruit. They’re hiring, so they must be opening soon (Update: they opened on March 4. I took the picture on March 1). The windows and door are still papered over, so it’s difficult to judge how much progress has been made inside. I asked at Short Round and the employee I spoke to didn’t have any additional information.

I wonder what makes it Vietnamese? I’m guessing that it’s made with condensed milk, since Vietnamese yogurt typically is.

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

* BOBA MILK: 2134 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202, IG: @bobamilkpdx

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.

Vietnamese Yogurt (aka Ya-ua or Da-ua) at Thanh Loi Tofu

Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been a fan of Vietnamese yogurt for years. The best place to look for Vietnamese yogurt (aka, da-ua or ya-ua) is a Vietnamese deli, tofu, or sandwich shop. I know that I’ve seen it at multiple Lee’s Sandwiches locations. Vietnamese yogurt is typically flavored with condensed milk. Have you ever had condensed milk with original tart froyo? It’s so good. Yes, condensed milk is sweet but it brings out the tanginess of the yogurt.

Vietnamese yogurt is usually been thick and creamy, on the sweet side but very tangy. the texture is like a pudding. One place I’d like to recommend is Thanh Loi Tofu in South El Monte, CA. They make their own soy milk, tofu pudding, tofu, fish cakes, sausages, waffle cookies, and more. Look in the refrigerated case for their yogurt ($1.85). It comes in a clear cup. I like to add fresh fruit to the cup and sometimes granola or nuts. Their soy milk is wonderful too. The unsweetened soy milk is naturally sweet.

However, I don't recommend the Vietnamese yogurt at Tam's Bakery (9783 Westminster Ave. #104, Garden Grove, CA). It doesn't have that lovely tang that most Vietnamese yogurt has. It's made with dry whole milk rather than condensed milk. 

Tip: Look for condensed milk as an ingredient.

I’ve been contemplating what would happen if I were to stick the cup in the freezer. I think it could be something magical.

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

* THANH LOI TOFU: 9646 E Garvey Ave., Ste. 104, El Monte, CA 91733

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.

Tarte Asian Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. I spotted a new yogurt during a recent trip to Whole Foods. Tarte Asian Yogurt is inspired by one of the founder’s mom’s Southeast Asian style yogurt (I gather that it’s inspired by the Vietnamese yogurt, da lu). Tarte is a modern version of Asian style yogurt, made with milk from a California dairy farm and exotic fruits. Six flavors are available in individual 6 oz. cups: Original, Blueberry Acai, Green Tea & Honey, Mango & Coconut, Pomegranate & Goji, and Strawberry & Guanabana.

According to Tarte, “what makes Tarte so unique is the slow and gentle cooking process that caramelizes the natural sugars found in milk which results in an extremely creamy and delicious flavor.”

Tarte is sweetened with Stevia, has high protein content (14 grams) and 115 calories per serving. According to the Tarte website, their yogurt has 2x the protein of regular yogurt and 2x the calcium of Greek yogurt, with billions of probiotic cultures.

* Original: It’s about the same smoothness, thickness and creaminess as a Greek yogurt. The original flavor is sweetened with sugar and Stevia. The flavor does taste different but in a slightly artificial way, even though the ingredients are 100% natural. It might be because of the Stevia. It’s more sour than the Tarte description would lead me to believe. It’s tangy with a sour aftertaste. The da lu I get from the Vietnamese market might not be as healthy but it tastes better.

* Green tea & honey: I like this one better than the original. The honey flavor is fairly strong and helps mask the weird aftertaste of the Stevia. I can taste green tea but it’s faint.The yogurt is tangy and sweeter than the original flavor.

I found Tarte Asian Yogurt at Whole Foods in Noe Valley for $1.79 a cup or 2/$3 on sale. To check for availability in your area, visit their Store locator feature on the Tarte website. It’s currently available at Gelson’s and Whole Foods.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

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

* WHOLE FOODS MARKET: 3950 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94114

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.

Lee's Sandwiches Yogurt Review, POM Wonderful Valentine's Promotions

Fro-yo girl here. I tried Vietnamese yogurt, or da ua (not frozen yogurt, just yogurt) a couple of months ago. It's really, really good. I found it at several locations of Lee's Sandwiches and need to look for other places to get some. Their yogurt comes in a clear cup with a lid ($1.95). The consistency is very creamy and thick and the flavor is sweet and tangy. Making it seems really easy. Epicurious has a five minute prep time recipe that involves two ingredients, Greek yogurt and condensed milk: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Vietnamese-Yogurt-355520

On a somewhat unrelated note, POM Wonderful is sponsoring a heart themed art contest. I suggest using a picture of pomegranate fro-yo. Details: http://tinyurl.com/yas5k8h

You can also send someone a POM Wonderful Valentine: http://tinyurl.com/yekz5bk

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

* LEE'S SANDWICHES: 625 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA