Santa Maria: Fro-yo Mission Impossible

Fro-yo girl here. I think I've been to every fro-yo shop in Santa Maria, a town of 91,972 inhabitants located in Santa Barbara County. Yelp lists Yogurt Creations, Euro Yogurt Cafe, TnT's and Lee's Frozen Yogurt. Lee's either has the wrong address or it doesn't exist. I found the address and it's someone's house (didn't ring the doorbell but I did look for a fro-yo sign even though it seemed highly improbable that someone could operate a fro-yo shop from their home (zoning laws). Euro Yogurt Cafe is now Woody's Yogurt Cafe and they didn't have fro-yo. Well, they had one fro-yo machine and it was out of order.



Yogurt Creations and TnT's both have multiple locations in Central Coast. YC is a self-serve fro-yo only format, while TnT's has ice cream, fro-yo, sundaes, smoothies and shakes. YC has the occasional tart flavor (but most flavors are sweet). TnT's apparently has tart fro-yo or is about to offer it due to popular demand. YC has mochi balls and TnT's doesn't. I like them about the same but I think the Central Coast could use some better fro-yo. Or maybe people out there just don't appreciate tart fro-yo?

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.
* LEE'S FROZEN YOGURT: 824 Stansbury Dr, Santa Maria, CA
* EURO YOGURT CAFE (now WOODY'S): 319 Town Center West, Santa Maria, CA
* TNT's: 1102 E Clark Ave Ste 110, Santa Maria, CA
* YOGURT CREATIONS: 2415 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA

New Frozen Yogurt Bars

Fro-yo girl here. I was pleasantly surprised to see new fro-yo options in the supermarket freezer section. Safeway's Eating Right came out with a line of fro-yo. I spotted three flavors: Vanilla, Black Cherry Chocolate Chip and Sugar-Free Vanilla ($3.99 for 1.5 qts). Haagen Dazs added a peach flavor fro-yo and their vanilla fro-yo comes in the tiny single serve cup ($1).



I was particularly excited to see the new Jamba Juice yogurt and sorbet bars. They come in three flavors: Coconut Pineapple Passion Smashin', Vanilla Strawberry Jubilation, and Vanilla Blueberry Pomegranate Perfection. I bought a pack of the Vanilla Strawberry Jubilation bars ($4.29 regular price, $3.49 on sale at Safeway). The all natural, low fat bars contain pro-biotic yogurt cultures. They're really good! The bar is a pretty pink & white swirl and the texture is creamy, smooth and firm. It does taste like strawberries. The bar is a bit tangy but also quite sweet. I'm surprised it's only 80 calories. I would get these again. 4.5 out of 5 stars.



Weight Watchers new strawberry smoothie bar ($5.99 regular price, $3.89 on sale at Safeway) contains yogurt. The popsicle is small (maybe 1/2 the size of your typical popsicle). It's creamy with real chunks of strawberry. It tastes like a very sweet, creamy strawberry ice cream. It has corn syrup. At first I liked it but then I noticed a slightly bitter aftertaste. One bar is 60 calories. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

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

World's Largest Frozen Yogurt Store

Fro-yo girl here. The other day someone suggested that I should review the world's largest frozen yogurt store. That sounds like a task I'd be up for...if only I knew where it was. I'm not even sure which shop is the largest in the Bay Area.

Coco Swirl Walnut Creek has the most fro-yo machines (10) and it has plenty of seating. Maybe it's the largest in the Bay Area? Tuttimelon Union City might be the largest in the Bay Area?

Back in 1987, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt claimed that its Lawrence, Kansas store was the World's largest frozen yogurt store. I don't think that location is still open. I Can't Believe It's Yogurt is now owned by Yogen Fruz.

Here's another blast from the fro-yo past. Back in 1991, four girls were killed at the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt location in Texas. The crime was shockingly brutal and it happened at the fro-yo shop. How awful.

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

* COCO SWIRL: 1273 Locust St., Walnut Creek, CA
* TUTTIMELON: 32200 Dyer St., Union City, CA

I'm Giving Up on Bottled Yogurt Drinks

Fro-yo girl here. I gave up on the Yakult type yogurt drinks a few months ago. They were all too sugary for me and I didn't like the flavor much. I'm seeing more bottled yogurt smoothies at the supermarket but I haven't been too interested in trying them. But then Trader Joe's introduced Organic lowfat Wildberry probiotic yogurt smoothies (love TJ's) so I bought a four pack. The smoothie wasn't bad - it had a tangy, real yogurt quality, it wasn't too thick...but I felt like I was drinking melted fro-yo. I probably wouldn't buy them again.



And I'm not buying Yoplait's new frozen smoothie in a bag - but it is interesting how it includes little frozen yogurt cubes.



I spotted a "baked style yogurt drink" at the market the other day. Baked yogurt? Sounded different enough to catch my interest. Baking doesn't kill the live cultures. They also had many mysterious varieties of kefir, including Krestiansky, Ryazhenka, Bazarny and Weijski. But these drinks were all full fat and are probably too rich for me.

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

Want to Manage a Fro-yo Shop?

Fro-yo girl here. If you've ever dreamed about managing a fro-yo shop, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. An innovative new fro-yo shop in the East Bay (Berkeley/Oakland area) is seeking someone friendly & personable with at least 3 years of experience in the food/coffee shop setting to manage their fro-yo shop.

As the manager you'll be responsible for hiring and training staff, purchasing, and day to day operations. Marketing experience and a passion for fro-yo a plus.

If you meet the criteria, send your resume and cover letter (froyogirl@gmail.com).

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

Future Fro-yo Shop Pictures: Blush Walnut Creek

Fro-yo girl here. The door was open at Blush Walnut Creek today and the Blush cherry logo sign is up. Isn't their logo the cutest? I heard construction is going well. I took a picture of the inside. Also the sign says they're hiring (e-mail organicblissyogurt@gmail.com if interested). The new shop is in the same shopping center as Whole Foods and it seems like parking could be hard to find. I'll keep you updated.

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

* BLUSH ORGANIC FROZEN YOGURT: 1345 Newell Lane, Unit B, Walnut Creek, CA

Thank You Yolato!

Fro-yo girl here. I didn't make it to Pinkberry last night for the free mini mango fro-yo. I wasn't in the mood to make the 1 hour drive after work and wait in a long line for a mini size...but I'm sure I'll try their mango flavor soon.

Sometimes I'm lucky enough to score free fro-yo merchandise without making an effort at all. I wanted to thank Yolato for the free Yolato t-shirt. The shirt comes in their signature colors - juicy orange, lime and yogurt, I mean, white. Yolato Express locations have really taken off in NY and NJ. The next time I'm out there or passing through at JFK Terminal 1, I'm going to finally try Yolato. Or maybe I'll see their gelato bars in CA before that happens? I am very anxious to try Yolato.

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

P.S. Free fro-yo tees gratefully accepted.

www.yolato.com