Toppings

I know it's been a while, but I found this new place that was too extraordinary to not write about.

I should start by letting you know that I got a car last tuesday, and have so far succeeded in my plan to get frozen yogurt every day since. And my favorite visits have been to Toppings.

Toppings is relatively new. It is self-serve like Yogurtland, but it is creamy and delish like at the Bigg Chill. It is subsequently my FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD.

They have all the best toppings: cheesecake, cookie dough, brownie bites. Their dark chocolate flavor is delicious. The woman who works at the counter is super nice, and when Jenna and I asked permission to do homework there, she was excited and informed us that's why they got wi-fi. (Yes, there is free wi-fi.) There are punch cards. The woman always offers to give you water and anything else you might need. It's just lovely and friendly and is what my home would be like if I lived in a frozen yogurt shop.

The only downside: too many children. I guess it's a pretty family neighborhood (it's on Robertson and Olympicish) and whenever I go there, the place is crawling with children. They always get in my way on the toppings line. It's annoying. Try to go at night when the children are already asleep. It's open until 11 PM most nights.

Penguin's

Today is a dark day, as I have to write a negative review of a yogurt place. I went with some friends to Penguin's last week, and the experience was just terrible.

First of all, the service was abysmal. It took us forever to be helped, the guy helped 2 other parties before us even though we were there first. Once it was finally our turn, a member of our party was blatantly ignored.

The prices were strange and seemingly arbitrary. A topping was something outrageous like $1.74. My medium with a topping came out to $4.98. I gave the guy a 5 and he didn't give me my change. I certainly didn't need those two cents, but it would have been nice if he'd offered. I got no-sugar chocolate chips which were truly disgusting. I took one bite and announced that they tasted like dust. That was my gut instinct upon tasting those chips. Dust. And I've had no-sugar chocolate chips before that did not taste like dust, so I know it's not just that type.

The flavors are nothing special, and the textures, for the most part, weren't good. I got the highest calorie chocolate one because the lower calorie ones were all too gritty. Grit with dust on top is not a good combination, and not what one looks for in a frozen yogurt.

Both Penguin's locations in LA are close to The Bigg Chill, so go there instead.

21 Choices

21 Choices is Coldstone for fro yo. There are two locations, one in Pasadena and one in Claremont. There has been a cruel rumor floating around that one is opening near USC, and I was hopeful when I saw a 21 Choices truck in the UV, but it's been almost two years since I heard this heavenly rumor, and I don't think there's truth to it anymore.

Anyway, there are 6 flavors every day- a plain chocolate and vanilla, and some interesting ones that already have things mixed in. Then you can get just about anything mixed in, fruit, candy, cookies, etc.

You're probably saying to yourself, "But Carrie, doesn't this go against the whole idea of frozen yogurt being a somewhat healthy dessert?" Yes. It does. But 21 Choices is awesome.

Fro Yo Intuition

The lighter the color of your fro yo, the better it will be. Don't ask me why. That's just the way it is.

I love frozen yogurt. Should I get a frozen yogurt machine?

You may have seen machines at Bed, Bath and Beyond type places that supposedly can make authentic soft serve frozen yogurt. If you eat frozen yogurt every day (or want to), this probably seems like a good investment. But I'm actually going to advise against it.

I got one by Cuisinart. It claimed it was simple, the picture on the box was exquisite, and there was even a little thing that would mix toppings straight into the yogurt! One night some friends and I got together to make a mocha flavored one. It was... pretty good, I guess. I honestly don't remember, so it obviously wasn't phenomenal. I do remember that I had to get a bunch of ingredients and make a batter of sorts.

I made yogurt a second time and it came out so horribly I've been afraid to try it again. And it's hard to make myself, when there's yogurt of such better quality and so much easier to access a couple of miles away.

So if you live within driving distance of a frozen yogurt place, don't get one of these machines. The yogurt isn't as good and it's kind of a lot of work, considering how little it usually takes. But hey, if you really want one of those machines, go for it.

Frozen Yogurt Tip: Hidden Toppings

If you are at a place like Galen or Yogurtland where you are preparing your own yogurt, put toppings on the bottom of the cup before you serve your yogurt. That way you will find a hidden trove of topping. It is DELIGHTFUL.

Yogurtland!

Yogurtland is a very magical place. It brings together both worlds and offers Fake Ice Cream AND Pinkberry kind. And here's the really great part- YOU SERVE YOURSELF. They charge you per ounce.

They also have excellent toppings! Every kind of fruit and sweet toppings that include cookie dough and cheesecake bites. As much as you want of as many as you want. Amazing.

By the time I discovered Yogurtland I'd been a fro yo enthusiast for years, and I had watched many people handle the machines and give me my allotted yogurt. There is something empowering about serving yourself, though I have not yet perfected my frozen yogurt swirl.

The ambiance of Yogurtland is fun too. There are cute little tables and chairs. And they have a pitcher of water with berries floating in it. I always love when places have pitchers of waters. I guess I could do without the berries, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Yogurtland is a truly exciting outing. And you can take anyone. I once went with a group of four friends, and one girl hates the fake ice cream yogurt and another girl hated the Pinkberry yogurt. All four of us managed to leave happy. This is quite rare.

I guess the downside of yogurtland is that it's easy to spend more than you meant to. Especially if you load up on toppings like I do. But you really have no one to blame but yourself. The only major problem I've had with the store itself is that I had a coupon there and it expired in under a month. That was kind of a drag.

Go to www.yogurt-land.com to find the Yogurtland closest to you! I am fairly certain you will find something you like.