Menchie’s Testing New Flavor, Cap’N Crunch Cereal

 

Fro-yo girl here. While I was at Menchie’s in Encino, California, I spotted a new test flavor: Cap’N Crunch. I think it’s froyo but it didn’t say. It’s made with Cap’N Crunch cereal for sure. The froyo was creamy, thick, and smooth, but it didn’t taste like Cap’N Crunch to me. It tasted like vanilla with a hint of butterscotch.

Cap'n Crunch is a corn and oat cereal introduced in 1963 by the Quaker Oats Company. Cap’N Crunch is a popular froyo topping and it’s been offered as a froyo flavor by 16 Handles, Yogurtology, Aloha Yogurt, and others.

Test flavors are regularly offered at Menchie’s Encino and feedback is collected from Menchie’s guests.

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 Test Flavor at Menchie’s: Vegan Cake Batter

 

Fro-yo girl here. I recently visited Menchie’s in Encino, California and there was a new test flavor, Vegan Cake Batter made with almond milk. It’s kosher and made with no artificial flavors and no artificial flavors.

Vegan Cake Batter was smooth and creamy but it tasted like egg nog to me, though I could taste the almonds too. It was unusual…didn’t really like it. I don’t like cake batter froyo in general.

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

* MENCHIE’S: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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.

Menchie’s Testing New Flavor, Dark Chocolate Candy

Fro-yo girl here. I recently visited Menchie’s in Encino, California – that’s the location where they test new flavors and ask for guest feedback. The newest test flavor is Dark Chocolate Candy made with Dove Dark Chocolate frozen yogurt. It’s made with no artificial flavors and no artificial flavors.

Dark Chocolate Candy tasted like other Menchie’s chocolate froyo flavors in the past – something like fudgsicle. There was just a hint of dark chocolate. It was sweeter and more like milk chocolate. It wasn’t as good as Menchie’s Rich Dark Chocolate made with Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate.

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

* MENCHIE’S: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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 University Needs a Makeover, Testing New Flavor, Full Service for Now, Curbside Pickup

Fro-yo girl here. I hadn’t been to Menchie’s University in Encino, CA in months because of the coronavirus pandemic, but I like going to see what they’re testing. Sure enough, there was a test flavor, Cinnamon Graham Cracker. I loved Menchie’s Golden Graham Cracker flavor, so I had high hopes. Hmm, I did not like Cinnamon Graham Cracker though – it seemed too sweet. But it did complement the Pumpkin Spice with Nilla froyo.

I wasn’t thrilled that they offered flat rate pricing because you can’t get exactly what you want or control the quantity. I wasn’t feeling like having a lot of froyo but the smallest option (Small w/ up to two flavors of froyo and 1 topping) felt too large. They wrote in the corner or price by weight but didn’t mention that option to me. She assumed I’d get the flat rate cup.

I was surprised that Menchie’s University did not have any of the new Connected cups. Also, the sign on the side of the building looks like it caught fire? It looks awful. Why wouldn’t they fix or remove it? Menchie’s University shouldn’t look this bad.

Menchie’s recently launched curbside pickup, available through the Menchie’s app. However, when I launch the Menchie’s app, my nearest location doesn’t even have the current flavors listed, let alone offer curbside pickup through the app. I don’t see a way to place an order other than calling the shop – and if that’s the case, who needs the Menchie’s app to do that?

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

* MENCHIE’S UNIVERSITY: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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 Test Flavor at Menchie’s: OREO Fruit Crème

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s University in Encino, CA is currently testing a new frozen yogurt flavor, OREO Cookie with Fruit Crème. Did Nabisco make Oreos with fruit crème? They probably did, since there’s a frozen yogurt version now. The fruit crème seems to be a mixture of lemon, lime and cherry flavors. Chocolate cookies with fruit crème don’t sound too appealing.

OREO Cookie with Fruit Crème: It tasted like a mild chocolate frozen yogurt but slightly different because of the hint of fruit flavors. It wasn’t terrible but the fruit flavors were quite faint. Had they been stronger, the froyo might have tasted worse. But it didn’t have much Oreo cookie flavor. The texture was light and creamy.

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

* MENCHIE’S UNIVERSITY: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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 Toasted Coconut Crunch Test Flavor, Fruit Purees

Fro-yo girl here. While I was at Menchie’s University in Encino, CA, I noticed a new test flavor called Toasted Coconut Crunch. It’s made with Mrs. Thinster’s Cookie Thins (the Toasted Coconut Cookie Thins) and has no artificial flavors or colors, no high fructose corn syrup and no partially hydrogenated oils.

* Toasted Coconut Crunch froyo: The texture was creamy and smooth but it tasted like coconut without cookies. I do love cookie froyo flavors, though I’m not a big fan of coconut froyo. So, this flavor was okay for me but a pass because the cookie flavor isn’t noticeable.

I also noticed chilled fruit purees in squeeze bottles in blueberry, strawberry, and passionfruit. I don’t think that I’ve seen these at other Menchie’s locations, so maybe fruit purees will be carried soon at more locations. Yogurtland added fruit purees in June 2016.

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

* MENCHIE’S UNIVERSITY: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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 Test Flavor, Chip’s Chocolate

Fro-yo girl here. While I was at Menchie’s University in Encino, CA, I noticed a new test flavor called Chip’s Chocolate. It’s made with real Ghirardelli chocolate and has not artificial colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. I did try some. Since I rarely get chocolate frozen yogurt (I usually don’t like chocolate frozen yogurt), it’s difficult for me to judge it. It didn’t seem bad and it didn’t taste just like fudgsicle like so many chocolate flavors, so I guess it was good? The sign was cute. I think every Sweet Friend should have a favorite flavor. I wonder what Menchie’s favorite flavor would be? And what about Sprinkle and Mookie?

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

* MENCHIE’S UNIVERSITY: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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 Pinkberry Flavors: Orange Tang and Pink Lemonade

Fro-yo girl here. I hadn’t been to Pinkberry Burbank for awhile but I thought it would be nice to do my own swirling. I was pleasantly surprised to run into two new “test” flavors, Pink Lemonade and Orange Tang.

* Orange Tang: The flavor does remind me of an orange drink like Tang or Sunny Delight. I haven’t had either for a really long time but Orange Tang doesn’t taste just like orange juice added to frozen yogurt. There’s something different going on. I think it tastes better than Tang, or what I remember Tang tastes like. Recommended toppings: yogurt chips, popping boba

* Pink Lemonade: I love lemonade and lemonade froyo. This flavor is quite tart but with a sweet finish. Yum. Recommended toppings: raspberries, gummy bears

Both flavors had that lighter, refreshing quality that sets Pinkberry apart.

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

* PINKBERRY BURBANK: 120 E Palm Ave., Burbank, CA 91502

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 is Testing Freshly Made Waffles

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s University in Encino is where Menchie’s tests new products and flavors and provides training. Recently they were testing a new dairy-free flavor, dark chocolate made with coconut milk. I headed over less than a week later and the flavor was nowhere to be found. I guess the test flavors aren’t there long. I heard they were testing a Marshmallow Peeps flavor next. If I lived closer to Menchie’s University, I’d certainly go there regularly.

During my visit they were testing a new product: freshly made waffles. They’re sold by the weight for the same price as froyo and toppings. Head to the Menchie’s team member and ask for a waffle. The waffle iron is kept next to the round waffle iron they use to make waffle bowls.

A team member pours the batter onto the waffle iron. After a few minutes the hot waffle is ready. The waffle is rectangular (6 squares long, 3 squares wide). It’s a light waffle with deep pockets. The texture is soft and slightly crispy. It is not a liege waffle; the denser liege waffle would hold up to froyo better. Froyo gets absorbed into the Menchie’s waffle and quickly makes it soggy. Pro tip: Put your froyo on the side, not on top of your waffle.

The waffle flavor was okay but not better than those waffles you can make for yourself with a waffle iron at a hotel. The fact that the froyo makes the waffle soggy is a big negative. 

My two cents: If Menchie’s wants to offer waffles, they should make the batter more interesting and make a denser waffle that doesn’t get soggy so easily. Flavored waffles (made with flavored batter) like peanut butter or chocolate sound much more appealing than plain waffles. Or offer waffle bites dipped in different kinds of chocolate, peanut butter, etc. 

I actually like Liege waffles but they’re pretty filling so I probably wouldn’t get one plus add froyo to it.

Menchie’s University is also selling snacks by Brookside, IceBreakers Mints, IceBreakers Ice Cubes and Hershey’s Kisses Deluxe.

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

* MENCHIE’S UNIVERSITY: 17245 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316

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.