Historic Froyo Shops: Humphrey Yogart

Fro-yo girl here. Tucked in an older strip mall in the San Fernando Valley you’ll find a blast from the froyo past; Humphrey Yogart has been serving up froyo and staying true to the low carb / yog-art lifestyle since 1984 (it turned 30 this year). It’s not self-serve and it’s not your usual soft serve froyo with toppings. Sure the toppings are similar (popping boba, fruit, candy, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cereal, brownies, cookies, mochi) but Humphrey Yogart specializes in super creamy, thick blended or mix in style froyo.

At Humphrey Yogart, yogurt is yog-art. You’re invited to create your own frozen yogurt flavor by choosing a base (tart vanilla, sweet vanilla, chocolate, soy, organic tart or their low carb froyo flavors), choosing your blend ins and/or toppings (fruit, candy, cookies, cream cheese, nuts), and choosing your size. Your froyo & blend ins are mixed together in a blending machine. You can get your froyo in a cup or cone and top it with hot fudge or whipped cream. Portions are generous.I tried the organic tart base which was icier and less flavorful than their tart vanilla.

Froyo prices: Child ($2.55) + 30 cents each blend in, Regular ($3.35) + 40 cents each blend in, Large ($4.25) + 50 cents each blend in, X-Large ($6.65) + 90 cents each blend in.

Interesting blend ins include pumpkin, espresso, malt powder, butterscotch, pistachios, peanut butter, and cinnamon. Recommended combinations include Raspberry Cream Cheese, GramCracker Pumpkin, and Chocolate Coconut Almond. It’s like Yogen Fruz but with many more options.

Almost everyone who stops in gets the froyo but they also have Cascade Glacier ice cream, coffee, shakes, smoothies, soups, salads and sandwiches. Also, the shop carries low carb health food items like low carb bread, cookies, chips, etc. And there’s free wi-fi.

The low carb froyo flavor calendar is accessible on their website: http://www.humphreyyogart.com/calendar

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

* HUMPHREY YOGART: 4574 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

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.

Fro-yo Seattle Report: Shy Giant Frozen Yogurt

Fro-yo girl here. I finally made it to Shy Giant Frozen Yogurt (which was closed for a couple of months during the Pike Place Market renovation), Seattle’s first frozen yogurt shop. When it opened its doors in 1976, it was the first fro-yo shop in the Pacific Northwest and the second on the West Coast (it’s even older than Yogurt Park in Berkeley, CA). Shy Giant feels like a historic fro-yo place. 

Shy Giant is on its third owner now and it still offers custom flavored fro-yo. They chop up fruit and add it to the fro-yo. 

It was interesting to see their old signs (the signs look like they’re from the 1970s). One menu board lists yogurt, tofu and yodolo. They had frozen tofu! I’m not sure what Yodolo was. They no longer offer tofu or Yodolo. Their soft serve machines look as old as the shop. They offer 4 fro-yo flavors a day, Snoqualmie ice cream, smoothies, hot apple cider and hot chocolate. 

Shy Giant does have tart fro-yo flavors. The texture is very thick, stiff, creamy and dense. It reminded me of mix-in style fro-yo even though it did come from a soft serve machine.

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

* SHY GIANT: 1500 Pike Place, Space 15, Seattle, WA