Anita Gelato’s New Hours & Acai News

Fro-yo girl here. Anita Gelato was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2002 and opened in Tarzana in 2022, was closed on a Friday afternoon. I thought that was odd, but then I saw that the shop is now kosher certified. According to the sign posted on the door, this certification means that they will be closing every Friday two hours before sundown and reopening Saturday one hour after sundown (to observe Shabbat). This means no froyo on Friday nights.

I noticed that they stopped serving the soft serve acai. I never tried it. Fortunately, you can still get their luscious plain froyo with unlimited toppings. The small froyo ($9) is huge! Anita has the best sauces like pistachio, tahini, cookieman, and pretzel. Now that they aren't one side of the soft serve machine, they could introduce a different soft serve...maybe even another froyo flavor. Fingers crossed.

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.

Your Guide to Kosher Froyo Shops in Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. Shana Tova! In honor of the Jewish New Year (aka Rosh Hashanah), I looked into kosher froyo, including what kosher froyo is, who certifies kosher froyo, and where to get kosher froyo.

Kosher dietary laws originate from the Torah and are detailed in the Talmud. Under the Kashrut Laws (aka dietary laws), certain foods like pork, rabbit, and shellfish, are not kosher. Also, meat and dairy products must not be manufactured or consumed together.

While many froyo flavors are certified kosher in their sealed containers, few shops are fully kosher. If the kosher froyo container is opened and the froyo is mixed with non-kosher items, it is no longer kosher.

There are different types of kosher certification and different certification agencies. Broadly speaking, businesses apply to a kosher certification agency and are assigned to a rabbi who is the point person for the account. The rabbi will check the ingredients, production facility, and production to ensure that there are no non-kosher substances and that Kosher Law requirements have been followed. Once the business passes inspection, a contract is signed detailing the requirements and obligations of both parties.

Rabbinic law requires supervision during the milking process but the Orthodox Union ruled that in the United States, the Department of Agriculture’s regulations and controls provides enough assurance that only cow’s milk is sold commercially. Some rabbis disagree with this position and feel Jewish supervision should be required to ensure the purity of the milk.

Main Distinctions: Cholov Yisroel vs. Dairy Chalav Stam

Cholov Yisroel: refers to kosher milk that was produced with full-time Jewish supervision to ensure that the milk is from a kosher animal.

Dairy Chalav Stam: This is a less stringent designation that indicates that the dairy milk wasn’t supervised (i.e., under Jewish supervision) during the production but was assumed pure for other reasons (e.g., government regulation of the dairy industry makes it likely that the milk does not come from non-kosher animals). Commercial milk produced in the US and European Union nations is considered chalav stam.

Kosher Certification Agencies

There are many kosher certification agencies. They tend to be regional since part of the certification process includes a site visit. The main ones serving the Los Angeles area are:

• Kosher LA: Kosher LA is a kosher certification agency that was established in 1994 and is based in LA.
• KSA: the symbol for Pareve, the product does not contain milk or meat ingredients, from the Kosher Supervision of America, the largest kosher certification agency in the Western United States. Pareve foods are neutral and may be eaten with meat or dairy foods. KSA-D is the symbol for kosher dairy from the Kosher Supervision of America.
• Orthodox Union (OU) Kosher: can certify closed containers of froyo and in some cases, the entire froyo shop. “The OU (Orthodox Union) Kosher is the world’s largest and most widely recognized kosher certification agency, certifying over 1,261,754 products produced in more than 3,000 plants located in 103 countries around the world.”
• RCC Kosher: The RCC is a regional agency. The Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) is a non-profit organization of Orthodox Rabbis in California. One of the services they provide is kosher food certification.

Kosher Froyo & Froyo Shops

While hard to find, Los Angeles does have kosher froyo shops, not just ones that serve kosher froyo. Many froyo shops offer kosher froyo though they are not certified kosher shops.

• Abyss Yogurt, 5406 Whitsett Ave., Valley Village, CA 91607, opened inside Abyss Market in February 2022. The fro-yo and toppings are certified kosher by Rabbi Yitzchak Feglin, with two Cholov Yisroel flavors from Klein’s and the other eight kosher flavors from Dannon YoCream.
• Anita Gelato, 18700 Ventura Blvd #120, Tarzana, CA 91356, is the first LA branch of the international gelato chain that was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2002. They offer one flavor of froyo, plain, with unlimited toppings. Anita Gelato is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA.
• Menchie’s (multiple locations) frozen yogurt flavors are certified kosher by Kosher Supervision of America or Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America in their sealed containers.
• Toppings Yogurt, 349 S Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA. The froyo is self-serve.
• Valley Swirl has two locations: 524 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, California 90036 and 9516 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035. While it’s primarily an ice cream business, they have frozen yogurt, available as a base for their hand-crafted mix-in style soft serve. Everything is RCC Kosher/Cholov Yisroel certified. In addition to ice cream and froyo, they serve puffle waffles, waffle nachos, milkshakes, boba drinks, smoothies, frappes, acai bowls, and hot beverages.
• Yoga-urt serves all organic, plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, kosher, probiotic, hand-crafted soft serve at three locations: 1407 W Kenneth Rd, Glendale; 2211 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles; 1700 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, Yoga-urt is kosher certified by the International Kosher Council (IKC) under Rabbi Zev Schwartz.
• Yogurtland (multiple locations) serves proprietary frozen yogurt mixes that are produced in a Kosher certified facility and bear the KSA-D symbol of kosher certification.

Did we miss any kosher froyo shops in Los Angeles? Let us know.

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.

Valley Swirl Opens Second Shop in Pico-Robertson Area of Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. Valley Swirl opened a second branch in the Pico-Robertson part of Los Angeles on Friday, July 7. The menu is the same as their La Brea location. It's RCC Kosher (everything is kosher). They have soft serve, mix-in style hand-crafted swirls, puffle waffles, waffle nachos, milkshakes, hand-crafted swirls (with toppings mixed in), boba drinks, smoothies, frappes, acai bowls, and hot beverages.

For the mix-in style, you choose the base, mix-ins and sauce. A hand-crafted swirl starts at $8.20 and includes two mix-ins and a sauce.

Bases: Chocolate, Vanilla, Non-Dairy Vanilla, Frozen Yogurt, Sugar Free Vanilla

Add-ins: Fruit, nuts, cookies, sauces, cookie dough, cotton candy, sprinkles, etc. Some of the toppings are marked as premium.

The vanilla froyo was very rich, smooth, and creamy. It reminded me of frozen custard. It was on the sweeter side but still indulgent and tasty.

The place looks like an ice cream stand with a cute painted patio area on the side. You order from the window and they'll call your name when your order is ready.

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

* VALLEY SWIRL: 9516 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

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.

Sprinkles Greek Frozen Yogurt Cups Review

Fro-yo girl here. I was looking at the ice cream cakes at Vallarta Supermarket in Pasadena, California and to my surprise, I spotted Sprinkles Frozen Greek Yogurt on the top shelf. This was my first time encountering Sprinkles desserts. They’re made in Hackensack, New Jersey and are kosher. Sprinkles also has four shops on the East Coast.

Vallarta carried three flavors of Sprinkles Frozen Greek Yogurt: Vanilla, Strawberry, and French Cappuccino. I’m not sure if there are other flavors. One 5.3 oz cup was $2.99 and has live and active cultures.

Vanilla Greek Frozen Yogurt: Interestingly, the container looked like a cup of non-frozen refrigerated yogurt. When I peeled the lid back, I was surprised by the large amount of big ice crystals on top of the yogurt. The yogurt also melted quickly, turning into an icy slush. I could taste the vanilla. The grainy icy texture wasn’t appealing and it was too sweet. One serving is 139 calories, 5.1 total fat, 22g total carbs, 10.15g protein, and 19g total sugars.

2.5 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.

Abyss Yogurt Inside Abyss Market Opens: Self-Serve Kosher Froyo & Toppings in Valley Village

Fro-yo girl here. Abyss Market was known as Fast Stop Mini Market. Late last year, they changed the name to Abyss Market and they’ve been transforming into a food destination. I’m not sure if ownership also changed. Abyss Market added the Black Rabbit Café late last year. The café serves hot panini sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more from the back of the store. Then, “the dopest liquor store in North Hollywood,” added self-serve froyo in February 2022. The froyo and toppings are certified kosher, with two Cholov Yisroel flavors from Klein’s and the other 8 kosher flavors from Dannon YoCream.

The toppings bar was small and did not include any fresh fruit. For toppings they had candy, nuts, cereal, cookies, sprinkles, and chocolate chips. But for a liquor store froyo set up, it was very clean. The toppings were covered and labeled. They even provided gloves. It’s 70 cents an ounce, more expensive than average but everything is kosher. Menchie’s in Valley Village is 62 cents an ounce and their froyo is kosher, but not all their toppings are kosher.

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

* ABYSS YOGURT: 5406 Whitsett Ave., Valley Village, CA 91607

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.

Valley Swirl, Kosher Mix-In Yogurt Opens in Valley Village

 

Fro-yo girl here. Valley Swirl opened up recently inside Cambridge Farms, the kosher market in Valley Village. I noticed the sign said ice cream but I asked if they had froyo. They said they just ran out. I ventured back after calling first to make sure they had froyo.

One thing to note is that they serve mix-in style soft serve ice cream or froyo. You pick the base and add-ins and they put both in a machine that they crank until everything gets mixed together. Also, everything they serve is RCC Kosher. There have been other kosher froyo places like Milky’s and a place on Melrose Ave, but I don’t recall any that have been located in the San Fernando Valley. The style is similar to Humphrey Yogart in Sherman Oaks.

First choose cup or cone, then choose your base, and choose 1 mix-in (75 cents for each additional mix-in). Or they have signature swirls ($7.75) that you can pick. A build your own swirl is $6.75 and comes with 1 mix-in and whipped cream.

Bases: Dairy vanilla ice cream, Dairy chocolate ice cream, Vanilla froyo, Non-dairy vanilla, Non-dairy chocolate, Sugar-free vanilla, Sugar-free chocolate.

Add-ins: Fruit, nuts, cookies, sauces, cookie dough, cotton candy, sprinkles, etc.

They also serve customizable milkshakes, boba drinks, waffles, and hot drinks. Custom ice cream pies and tacos are available but must be ordered in advance.

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

* VALLEY SWIRL ICE CREAM: 12431 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607

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.

Future Froyo Shop Pics: Yoga-urt #2

Fro-yo girl here. The news broke in early October that Yoga-urt is opening a second location in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The actual spot was just revealed, 2211 W. Sunset Blvd., and I just drove by to see it. It’s between a shop that I’ve been to a few times, Memento Mori, and a candle store, near the busy intersection of Sunset Blvd. and the 2 (N Alvarado St.). The signs are up. There are pictures of froyo and smoothies in the window.

The first shop opened three years ago in Kenneth Village (Glendale, CA). Mr. Froyo and I are regulars there and it’s the only froyo that he will eat. Yes, it’s organic, vegan, kosher, probiotic, and soy free. It’s LA’s first all organic, non-dairy froyo place. We love it because it tastes so fresh and natural. It’s handmade in small batches. They make their own almond milk. It’s the freshest, best froyo you can get. The gluten free cones are so good. The housemade sauces are fabulous. The shop has a particular scent that we love. Mr. Froyo even likes the music that they play. And the amazing woman behind Yoga-urt, Melissa Schulman, has poured her heart and soul into this business. She radiates positivity and sincerity (might be the yoga training coming through).

Expect to see Yoga-urt #2 open in Spring 2019. Of course, you should visit Yoga-urt #1, especially if you haven’t already tried it. Bring friends and anyone who loves froyo.

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

* YOGA-URT #1: 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201, http://www.yoga-urt.com/, IG: @yoga_urt
* YOGA-URT #2 (opening in 2019): 2211 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

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.