Yogofina Elmwood Finally Opens

Fro-yo girl here. The news first broke that Yogofina planned to open a new location in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley back in March 2015. When a year had passed without an update, I started to wonder if Yogofina would ever open. Yogofina finally opened in September.

A friend took some pictures of the shop and shared them with me. It’s a small self-serve shop and the layout reminds me of their Lakeshore location. They do have a rewards program but it’s different than the one for other Yogofina locations. There are 14 self-serve flavors a day and lots of toppings.

* YOGOFINA: 2911 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705

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.

Yogurtland Celebrates Voltron & Brings Back Pineapple Sorbet

Fro-yo girl here. Last Friday Yogurtland brought back one of their most popular flavors, Pineapple Sorbet. 

I also donated to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and filled out a Yogurtland pledge circle (the circles are posted to their wall of donors). 

Last week they also announced that they were celebrating a new Netflix original series called Voltron Legendary Defender. Visit Yogurtland between Sept. 22 - Oct. 19 three times and you'll be rewarded with three free ounces (must be a Real Rewards member). I’m sure I’ll earn the reward.

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.

Kite Hill Artisan Almond Milk Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. I spotted Kite Hill at 365 by Whole Foods in Silver Lake (Los Angeles). It’s a line of artisan almond milk yogurt that’s traditionally cultured, soy free and dairy free. Almond milk is the leading alternative/dairy-free milk. Kite Hill makes their own almond milk from GMO-free almonds grown in California. Kite Hill also produces dairy-free cream cheese spreads and entrees.

* Plain: Thick, smooth, and creamy, a little chalky. The flavor is definitely interesting. It is sour yet tangy and tastes like almonds. It actually tastes a lot like Tofutti the soy based cream cheese, Better Than Cream Cheese. The subtle sweetness is nice. It might be an acquired taste but I think I like it. The tang and almond flavor make it intriguing.

The packaging is too flimsy. I found that the bottom of my plastic cup of yogurt had cracked on the way home from the market. Some of the product leaked out. The texture was probably thicker than usual since the liquid had drained out.

Flavors: Plain, Vanilla, Blueberry, Strawberry, Peach. The flavored yogurts are blended.

Ingredients: Almond milk (water, almonds), cane sugar, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, agar, live active cultures: S.Thermophilus, L.Bulgaricus, L.Acidophilus and bifidobacteria.

One serving is 5.3 ounces, 160 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated), 5g sugar, 6g protein. 365 by Whole Foods carries Kite Hill Yogurt for $1.69 each.

4.5 out of 5 stars

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.

Trimona Bulgarian Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. Greek yogurt has become so popular that the market has seen an influx of Greek yogurt alternatives. Enter Trimona Bulgarian Yogurt, a European-style yogurt made with lactobacillus bulgaricus and made in New York. It was developed by Atanas Valev with the help of two jars of homemade yogurt brought over from Bulgaria in 1991. 

Bulgarians have a long history of eating yogurt and special connection with yogurt, long revered for its health benefits. A Bulgarian scientist, Dr. Stamen Grigorov, discovered lactobacillus bulgaricus in 1905. Dr. Ilya Mechnikov won a Nobel prize for finding that fermented milk “was responsible for the hardiness of the Bulgarian people."

Trimona Bulgarian yogurt is organic, not strained and made from the milk of grass-fed cows. It is made with whole milk yogurt to which no sugar is added. You can get it plain or plain with flavorings in a separate compartment. I found Trimona for $1.99 (single serving, flavored) on sale at Sprouts (regular price: $2.29).

Varieties: Plain, Honey Ginger Cinnamon, Raspberry Coconut, Mango Passion Fruit, Blueberry Lavender

* Honey Ginger Cinnamon: I tried the plain yogurt side first. The texture is clumpier, thinner, and pretty sour (the whey wasn’t strained out). It had a clean taste and you could taste the richer cream notes from the whole fat milk. I liked how the cinnamon, ginger and honey mixture was kept separate so that you could control the desired level of sweetness. There was a very strong, sharp ginger flavor (I like ginger so that’s a good thing).

I liked how the yogurt was simple, minimally processed and similar to homemade yogurt. Good stuff.

One serving is 130 calories, 4.5g fat, 12g sugars, 4g protein

Ingredients: Pasteurized organic whole milk, live & active yogurt cultures, organic honey, water, organic ginger puree, pectin, organic ground ginger, organic cinnamon

I found this interesting snippet on the Trimona website about straining vs. not straining yogurt: “Greek yogurt is by definition a strained yogurt, which means they remove the liquid whey fraction. Bulgarian yogurt retains the whey, since it is one of the highest quality proteins, and is stocked with vitamins and minerals. Most Greek yogurt is further adulterated by removing fat and adding sugar. Some also add inferior protein and thickeners.”

4.5 stars

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.

Yogurtland’s New Fall Flavor: Pumpkin Whip

Fro-yo girl here. Welcome back, fall. September 22 is the first day of fall and that means it truly is pumpkin season. Pumpkin flavored items started showing up in September. Yogurtland just introduced a new fall flavor, Pumpkin Whip.

Pumpkin Whip’s flavor card says, “Pumpkin lovers unite for a new twist on a fall favorite. We whipped up real pumpkin, pumpkin pie spices, and the sweet taste of vanilla for a rich and creamy pumpkin-perfect treat.” Pumpkin Whip froyo is nonfat, gluten free and made with real pumpkin and real spices.”

Pumpkin Whip has more spices than Yogurtland’s Pumpkin Pie flavor and it has vanilla. It’s rich, thick and indulgent (and it’s non-fat). The pumpkin pie spices like nutmeg and cinnamon add a comforting warmth to the flavor. The spices aren’t overwhelming you can still taste the pumpkin – which is how a good pumpkin froyo should be. You have to add whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs. I also like to add almonds for crunch and mochi for chewiness. Nilla Wafers, white chocolate chips and cheesecake bites would also be good toppings.

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.

Icelandic Provisions Skyr Review

Fro-yo girl here. The newest skyr in town comes from Icelandic Provisions, a company that was co-founded by MS Iceland Dairies, the oldest and largest dairy co-op in Iceland. Icelandic Provisions calls itself the only traditional Icelandic skyr available in the US, because it is the only skyr to be made with centuries old heirloom skyr cultures. Their skyr was co-developed with MS Iceland Dairies.

Similar to Smari and Siggi’s, Icelandic Provision’s skyr is high in protein, low in sugar and all natural (no rBGH). Icelandic Provisions flavors are more Nordic, incorporating Nordic fruits like lingonberry, cloudberry and bilberry.

Varieties: Plain, Coconut, Raspberry, Vanilla, Strawberry & Lingonberry, Blueberry & Bilberry, Peach & Cloudberry

I tried two flavors: Blueberry & Bilberry and Peach & Cloudberry. The skyr doesn’t smell as nice as yogurt. It smells and tastes more fermented. The texture is certainly very thick (enough to keep your spoon standing up) and the fruit is blended in, though you can see tiny bits of skin. The flavor was sweet (but less sweet than usual) and more sour than tangy. While I could taste the fruit (the blueberry and peach more so than the bilberry and cloudberry), the overall flavor is mild. The skyr coats the tongue and doesn’t leave a clean aftertaste. It was filling, bland and fermented tasting. I prefer Siggi’s and Smari.

One serving is 5.3 ozs, 2g fat, 12g sugars, and 14g protein.

Ingredients (peach and cloudberry): Skyr (pasteurized low-fat milk, live and active cultures), peaches (puree and fruit), cane sugar, cloudberry puree, pectin, locust bean gum, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juice concentrate for color, lemon juice concentrate.

I found Iceland Provisions on sale at Sprouts for $1.59 (regular price, $1.99). It’s also sold at Whole Foods, Wegmans, Harris Teeter and other retailers.

3.5 out of 5 stars

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.

Taste of South Lake, San Gabriel's Largest Culinary Festival, Returns on October 8

Fro-yo girl here. San Gabriel Valley’s largest culinary community event, the Taste of South Lake, will take place on Saturday, October 8 from 11 AM – 5 PM. Taste of South Lake, presented by the South Lake Business Association, features South Lake restaurants (including Yogurtland) and community partners, cooking demos, and live music. 

For more details, see the press release below.

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

Savor the Taste of South Lake, San Gabriel Valley’s Largest Culinary Festival!

Pasadena, CA, September 17, 2016 - Thousands are expected to attend Pasadena’s largest culinary celebration, The Taste of South Lake, Saturday, October 8th, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests can enjoy culinary delights from over 25 South Lake Avenue restaurants, live cooking demos from the area’s most talented chefs, music performances from internationally known bands, an interactive vendor village, beer, wine and cocktail garden and much, much more! This is a day you do not want to miss!

The Taste of South Lake offers guests a day to indulge in a diversity of taste, featuring popular South Lake Pasadena restaurants. From Del Frisco’s Grille, to Urban Plates and Lemonade, Taste of South Lake will cater to all. This free, outdoor festival features a special live cooking demonstration stage with famed chefs such as Luisa Fabbri, owner of Contessa, Ronald Russell, the renowned vegan and raw food chef, as well as vegan Chef Yvonne Ardestani, creator of “My Eclectic Kitchen” cookbook and app. We are excited to announce that Chef Daniel Shemtob, the award winning chef of TLT Food and the Food Network will also be joining us, with demonstrations of his bold, culturally-inspired cooking.

Additionally, there will be live music performances from not only the best emerging bands, but also platinum selling artists throughout the day. Presented by Bai Brands, the day begins with the eight-piece, fusion musical collective The Nick Valentini Collective, who has been dubbed as the “Jazz fusion Radiohead”. Los Angeles’s very own psych pop artist James Supercave will grace the stage, followed by American Rock band The Shelters, whose debut EP was produced by none other than Tom Petty. MTV VMA award nominees, Chairlift will perform their upbeat mix of indie pop/electo and Australian alternative rock band, Atlas Genius, whose debut album “When It Was Now” peaked at No.34 on the US Billboard 200, is headlining the festival at 5pm. KCRW’s DJ Raul Campos is spinning throughout the day between sets. Bai Brands, the better-for-you beverage company is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the Music Stage. Guests will be able to take photos at the Bai photo booth and enjoy a complimentary bottle of Bai at their booth, to keep hydrated and refreshed.

The Taste of South Lake is presented by the South Lake Business Association and co-sponsored by Corporate Center Pasadena. The South Lake Business Association gives special thanks to Corporate Center Pasadena, KCRW 89.9, LA Weekly, Bai Brands, Logix Federal Credit Union, Pasadena Outlook, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly and Universal Protection Service.

“Taste of South Lake celebrates and showcases the South Lake Avenue District while providing the ideal community building experience. The event is also our way of welcoming guests and thanking them for being patrons of the South Lake Avenue District.”– Gina Tleel, Executive Director of the South Lake Business Association.

Participating restaurants & businesses include Celestino Ristorante, Corner Bakery Cafe, Del Frisco’s Grille, Du-Par’s Restaurant & Bakery, Jamba Juice, Lemonade, Logix Federal Credit Union, Massetti Caffe Mobile, Nekter Juice Bar, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bai Brands, Perry’s by Claud Beltran, Real Food Daily, San Sai Japanese Grill, Souplantation, Ten Thousand Villages, Tpumps, Urban Plates, Veggie Grill, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Cutco, Williams-Sonoma, Yogurtland and more. 

• Date: Saturday October 8th, 11am - 5pm
• Location: 251 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
• Admission: FREE plus FREE parking at Corporate Center Pasadena!

Live Cooking Demos by:

• 12:00pm: Luisa Fabbri - Owner of Contessa 
• 1:00pm: Chef Daniel Shemtob - Award winning chef of TLT Food
• 2:00pm: Ronald Russell - Renowned vegan & raw food chef, co-owner of celeb hangout Sun Cafe in Studio City
• 3:00pm: Chef Yvonne Ardestani - Creator of the My Eclectic Kitchen cook-book app and blog specializing in vegan fare

Live Music Performances by:

• 12:00pm: The Nick Valentini Collective - Eight-piece, fusion musical collective
• 1:00pm: James Supercave - Pysch pop artist featured on NPR and Vice
• 2:00pm: The Shelters - American rock band, debut EP produced by Tom Petty
• 3:00pm: Chairlift - American synth-pop duo, MTV Video Award nominee 
• 4:00pm: Atlas Genius - Alternative rock band from Australia 
• Spinning between sets: KCRW DJ Raul Campos 

General Public: For more information, please visit www.southlakeavenue.org or call 626.792.1259.