Friday, August 28, 2009

Fro-yo Report From the Eat Real Festival Ice Cream Friday



Fro-yo girl here. I hadn’t planned on going to the Ice Cream Friday at the Eat Real Festival because the list of vendors didn’t include fro-yo…but then I heard they might have fro-yo, so of course I had to go. I even had a partner in crime, Ice Cream Girl (CeCe C.). She tried the ice cream while I searched for fro-yo.

Participating in Ice Cream Friday:
* Ici
* Fenton’s Creamery
* Bi Rite Creamery
* Gelateria Naia
* Scream Sorbet
* Gelato Massimo
* Straus: They only had ice cream (too bad) and no samples.
* Gelateria CiCi: They had their delightful, tangy, Straus yogurt gelato flavor which I’ve tried before at their Mill Valley location
* LaLoo's: I’ve been curious about their goat’s milk ice cream for a long time. They had goat’s milk ice cream, goat’s milk frozen yogurt (three flavors: Cherries Tuilerie, Cajeta De Leche, Forestberry) and goat’s milk ice cream sandwiches. Unfortunately, they didn’t offer samples but I did pick up a coupon and a cone with a scoop of Forestberry goat’s milk frozen yogurt.

The Forestberry (blackberries & raspberries) goat’s milk fro-yo had a nice consistency – creamy and sweet. It was sweeter than your tangy type of fro-yo with a distinctive goat’s milk taste. It was good but I didn’t really like the goat milk heavy aftertaste. It was creamy and sweet. LaLoo’s fro-yo contains live and active cultures.

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

* EAT REAL FESTIVAL at Jack London Square, Oakland: www.eatrealfest.com/

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Blush SF Grand Opening Details: Saturday, Sept. 5th


Fro-yo girl here. The wait is almost over, Blush fans and Blush curious. Blush SF has confirmed that the grand opening celebration will start at noon on Saturday, Sept. 5. The first 100 people will receive a Metreon movie pass. They’ll be handing out raffle prizes all day, starting at 1 PM. Enter for a chance to win iPhones, Blu Ray players, PSP players, 49ers tickets, Warriors tickets and more!

Blush will debut a new eco-friendly look (here’s a sneak peek – a picture of the design concept). If you’re a resident of SOMA, you may receive a Blush postcard in the mail. Look for Blush on sfgate.com!

There will be a soft opening before the grand opening event…update - it's on Friday, 9/4 from 12 - 5 PM. And yes, that means free fro-yo!

Transportation tips - the Bay Bridge will be closed during Labor Day weekend. Blush is very close to the Caltrain station at 4th and King St. Also, the Safeway across the street offers free validated parking.

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

* BLUSH SAN FRANCISCO: 219 King Street, San Francisco, CA

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt Update: New Flavors, New Toppings


Fro-yo girl here. I’m so disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to try the mango + orange + pineapple kefir at Culture…but they said it would be back. Also, apparently the kefir has been causing problems for their machines. They had a new flavor of fro-yo, raspberry+peach+banana. I'd like it if it didn't have banana.

I also noticed that their fro-yo has been significantly sweeter during my last visits. I was afraid to ask about it but finally did. I’m told that Straus (Culture uses Straus yogurt) changed their sweetener (stopped using agave nectar I believe). So I was right – the fro-yo is sweeter now. It’s still really good but I liked it better before. Straus – why did you do this to me?!

I tried the new housemade Coffee Crunch topping. Eh. It’s super sweet and crumbly. I have to say that I didn’t like it at all but the new graham cracker topping sure looked yummy.

Expect to see their pumpkin fro-yo back on November 1st.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Friday, August 21, 2009

Yogurtland Celebrates Its 50th Location


Fro-yo girl here. Earlier this week, Yogurtland announced the grand opening celebration for its 50th location, in Anaheim. With free fro-yo, free gift cards, free t-shirts and the Kogi BBQ truck, I can’t even imagine how crazy it’s going to be. Congrats to Yogurtland! Love the new logo and the poster design.

I’d like to take a moment to see where the chains stand right now (as of August 21, 2009) and I’ll update this again if I remember to, about a year from now. Also, the information on their website might not be completely accurate but I assume they update their locations listings on a regular basis.

* Golden Spoon: 103 US locations, I counted 101 but they didn’t list San Jose and Castro Valley and I know those are open. They’ve been around the longest and they’re still the largest.
* Red Mango: 57 US locations
* Pinkberry: 56 US locations
* Yogurtland: 50 locations according to the poster but I counted 55 US locations on their website. They probably opened five between the time they ordered the poster and now.
* Cefiore: 31 US locations
* Yogen Fruz: 29 US locations
* Yogurberry: 24 US locations
* Tutti Frutti: I started to count these but I can tell that they don’t distinguish between open and coming soon/not open stores on their website.
* Orange Tree: 10 US locations

Red Mango and Pinkberry are truly neck and neck. I wonder which one will make it to SF first. Yogurtland seems to have the real momentum? It seems like certain people can’t stop talking about self-serve.

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

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Congratulations Tuttimelon on Going International


Fro-yo girl here. A few days ago, Tuttimelon’s first international location, opened its doors (yay!) in Richmond, BC (Canada). Back in January 2009, my wish list for the year included the following: “Tuttimelon’s growth continues: Tuttimelon already has the most locations in the Bay Area (5 in 2008) and there are more on the way. I’m all for the world domination of Tuttimelon!” The Tuttimelon website now lists additional locations to come in Canada, Macau, Hong Kong, China and Southern California. They're not done with the Bay Area either. Watch out world!

My wishes are coming true and I couldn’t be prouder of Tuttimelon and Roy L.

Can you believe that I wrote the very first Yelp review of Tuttimelon ever? I went there on the day it first opened, February 2, 2008. Here’s an excerpt:

“Fro-yo girl here - with your fro-yo scoop. Spotted on Irving St. - the grand opening of Tuttimelon. They have the best toppings I've seen so far, including chestnuts, red beans (not the pureed paste but whole beans), mochi balls, cereal, fresh fruit, chocolate chips, etc. All toppings are clearly labeled. They have the best mochi balls - softer and chewier than the other places.

The original fro-yo is fantastic - strong, tangy taste, creamier and firmer than average consistency. Clean tasting, extra tart or some would say sour. It's fat free with live probiotic cultures too.”

If you happen to be in the Richmond, BC area, be sure to stop by for the tuttilicious celebration on August 22nd.

* TUTTIMELON RICHMOND: 2110 - 8391 Alexandra Road, Richmond, BC V6X 1C3, Canada
http://twitter.com/tuttimelon_can

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

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Future Fro-yo Shop Picture: Tutti Frutti Oakland



Fro-yo girl here. I peeked through the plastic covering the windows and spotted five spaces for fro-yo machines (so 10 self-serve flavors a day). The interior has been painted in bright colors and the orange, green, and yellow chairs are in place (see my picture). It looks like it could open any day now.

Tutti Frutti is one block from Fenton’s Creamery in North Oakland. The help wanted sign is still up (must be 16 years old).

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

* TUTTI FRUTTI: 4214 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, CA

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Exchange Your Blood for Free Fro-yo



The Tuttimelon/Red Cross blood drive continues. The Tuttimelon blood drive moves to Alameda and San Mateo next month. Give blood and get free fro-yo in return. Sign up online for an appointment.

9/3/09 @ ALAMEDA STORE
https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm?group=op&expand=630642&zc=94501

9/8/09 @ SAN MATEO
https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm?group=op&expand=630620&zc=94401

* TUTTIMELON: 2402 Central Ave., Alameda, CA
* TUTTIMELON: 165 E. 4th St., San Mateo, CA