Drawing by My Niece, Fro-yo Niece?

Fro-yo girl here. My sweet niece, Randy Roo (her nickname), does like her fro-yo. She drew this picture of the two of us (I’m glad we’re both color coordinated) at a fro-yo shop! Her favorite flavor is chocolate and her favorite fro-yo shop is Twist.

She’s tried tart fro-yo but hasn’t developed the taste for it (yet). Her dream is to open a fro-yo and candy emporium one day!

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

* TWIST FROZEN YOGURT: 12105 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

The Year of Acai

Fro-yo girl here. I darted into Whole Foods the other day and received a free serving of a new frozen confection, Jolly Llama sorbet. The sorbet comes in a single serving size ($1.79 each at Whole Foods). Squeeze and eat for a quick, fat free, and nutritious fruity treat. While the blueberry sorbet was nice, I couldn’t help but think that it would taste better if it were fro-yo. The size is just right and it’s really convenient to eat.

Jolly Llama comes in four flavors:
* Mango
* Blueberry
* Acai berry
* Strawberry

I wish there were more supermarket fro-yo options (something better than Dreyer's and Trader Joe's tart fro-yo). If it works for sorbet, why not fro-yo?

The acai berry flavor seems to be the superfruit flavor of 2009. Last year was the year for pomegranate fro-yo (everyone seems to have pomegranate fro-yo now). Next year it might be baobab? Acai blueberry fro-yo can be found at select Tuttimelon locations (you can see my acai blueberry Tuttimelon parfait), select Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt locations, and Yogen Fruz.

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

http://www.jollyllamasorbets.com

Happy Anniversary, Culture!

Fro-yo girl here. I don’t live or work close to Palo Alto, unfortunately, but I still make special trips to go to Culture Organic Frozen Yogurt. This week they’re celebrating their one year anniversary (be sure to wish them a Happy Anniversary – and get a free topping in return – but the offer ends on Friday, 9/25), so I had to stop by and also reflect on the special occasion.

I had a cup of original tart fro-yo in my smurf blue fro-yo cup and topped it with crunchy housemade graham crackers (delish!). The texture was great tonight, thick and creamy but also refreshing with an icy edge. The flavor still has some sourness though it’s not as sour as it was when it first opened (too bad – I miss the old original tart flavor). They didn’t have frozen kefir today either (boo). I love that I don't have to swirl it myself.

Current fro-yo flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Original, Raspberry peach banana

Culture milestones:
* First shop in Bay Area to offer frozen kefir
* First to offer homemade fro-yo toppings like crisps, marshmallow crème, housemade meringues, etc. And they’re organic!
* First Bay Area fro-yo shop to offer flaxseed cones
* First Bay Area fro-yo shop to offer fro-yo sandwiches (Yo’Wiches)
* Site of fro-yo event hosted by yours truly

Mary, please make mochi!!!!!

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

* CULTURE ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 340 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Tuttimelon’s First SF Self-Serve Location

Fro-yo girl here. Call me sentimental, but I can’t bear the thought of the original Tuttimelon location on Irving closing. I love that location. It’s still my favorite. Well, they’re adding a self-serve location on Irving St. It’s taking over the old Chinese jewelry store. I went inside that shop before and it didn’t seem that spacious? I swung by Tuttimelon Irving to talk to J. (he wasn’t there) and stock up on mango tart fro-yo (still an astounding 99 cents!).

Maybe they can keep the original location open for full serve diehards like me? Or have the option of having someone swirl for you at the self-serve place? I’m sure the new location will live up to the Tuttimelon standards, people will love it, and they’ll dazzle us with tuttiliciousness. Two more weeks to wait and then all will be revealed. But who will serve me? And what will happen to J’s swirling skills?

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

* TUTTIMELON: 2150 Irving St, San Francisco, CA
* TUTTIMELON: 2045 Irving St, San Francisco, CA (not open yet)

Nubi SF Lakeshore Plaza Grand Opening Coverage

Fro-yo girl here. Yes, I was lurking around Lakeshore Plaza during today’s grand opening event at Nubi. I stopped by in the morning only to learn the ribbon cutting ceremony would occur at 4 PM. At 4 PM, there was a line of people milling around and the crowd spilled out into the parking lot. I spotted the same balloon artist that was at the Nubi San Leandro grand opening event. Ono and Zen Buffet sent congratulatory floral arrangements.

The fro-yo is 50% off all day today. They also had Nubi stickers and balloons for the kids. I didn’t stick around for the t-shirt giveaway. In fact, I didn’t have the patience to wait for the ribbon ceremony after lurking around for over 20 minutes (sorry). [Oh, I read my e-mail too late - so the ceremony was at 4:30 PM.]

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

* NUBI SAN FRANCISCO: Lakeshore Plaza, 1511 Sloat Blvd, Suite A, San Francisco, CA

Grand Opening of Yogoholic in Pleasanton

Fro-yo girl here. Pleasanton just added another self-serve fro-yo shop: Yogoholic. On September 18, 19, and 20, during the grand opening celebration, they're offering a buy one, get one free deal. The shop opened a few days ago (soft opening). They have 8 flavors a day, mostly sweet (there was only one tart flavor today) with about 30 toppings (yes, mochi) for 39 cents an ounce. The fruit looked nice and fresh today.

I spied some coupons by the register for 50% off and buy 1, get 1 free by the register.

It's in a dead shopping center (most of the spaces are vacant) in a residential neighborhood.

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

* YOGOHOLIC: 3350 Bernal Ave. #145, Pleasanton, CA

Coming Soon: Icebee in the Sunset

Fro-yo girl here. I drove by Icebee again today and the door was open. I peeked inside and it looks like it’s close to opening. The fro-yo machines were way in the back and it was dark inside, so I’m not sure how many machines they have. I’ll keep driving by. More self-swirling madness coming your way soon.

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

* ICEBEE: 2608 Ocean Ave., San Francisco, CA
www.icebeeyogurt.com