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.

USC Frozen Yogurt Spotlight: Machine at the Galen Center

If you go to USC like I do, you may have noticed that almost everything on campus is a ripoff. Especially considering we pay $40,000 a year. It's almost impossible to find lunch for less than 8 dollars. Even the crusty falafel in Commons is grossly overpriced.

There's a dining hall on campus that's sports-themed (basically, sports play on a giant screen) but anyone can eat there. Most of the food is realy overpriced, which is why it's so shocking that Galen is the home of a soft-serve frozen yogurt machine that is THE BEST DEAL AT USC.

It only has chocolate and vanilla, but it's usually creamy and delicious. They have a good selection of toppings- chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, nuts, granola. And it's only $2.50! For all you can eat! Maybe this doesn't seem like a big deal to you non-USC students, but I'm sure most Trojans will agree that there aren't many other deals like that.

The downside is that Galen is only for lunch from 11-2, so you can't get the yogurt whenever you want. Also, the toppings are hard to find sometimes. If you can't find them, check the cabinets under the yogurt machine.

So next time you're walking around campus, and you only have $2.50, and you can barely afford a cup of coffee, stop by Galen between 11 and 2. It's the best deal you're going to find.

Fake Ice Cream vs. Pinkberry

If you are a frozen yogurt connoisseur like I am, you are probably that there are two major types of frozen yogurt. If you're new to the frozen yogurt one, you should figure out which type you like more. 

"The Fake Ice Cream kind" is the old standard. It's like the kind at TCBY. They generally have chocolate and vanilla and maybe even some more interesting flavors you can mix with. It's generally good with sprinkles and nuts. The Bigg Chill mostly has this kind of yogurt. 

The other kind, which I call "the Pinkberry kind" is somewhat of a sensation. It started with Pinkberry, and basically tastes like really cold plain yogurt. It's really good with fruit. Pinkberry knock-offs are appearing EVERYWHERE, and they all have very original names. For example "Snowberry" is coming soon to Koreatown, as well as "Iceberry" and "Berry Good." 

People rarely love both kinds. Pinkberry lovers think the Fake Ice Cream kind is too sweet and Fake Ice Cream kind lovers think Pinkberry is too sour. It's really a matter of personal taste, but it's much easier to find the Pinkberry kind, as there is one everywhere you go. 

But basically, if you like sour things, go get a Pinkberry. Or a Chillberry or a Snowberry. If you like sweet, go to The Bigg Chill. Report back if you want. 

Frozen Yogurt Venue Spotlight: The Bigg Chill

The Bigg Chill is located in a little shopping center on Olympic and Westwood. It is currently my favorite. 

The basic flavors are all very good. Ghirardelli chocolate is excellent, and they're always rotating their extra, lower calorie flavors. But what really keeps me coming back is the Vanilla Custard flavor. It's AMAZING. They have it every weekend, it seems. Go try it. 

Pros:

-Vanilla Custard

-Lots of toppings

-Punch cards and gift certificates

- The line moves quickly. 

- They also sell other assorted low calorie snacks, like brownies and cookies. 

Cons:

-As my boyfriend has complained, the flavors are usually just different variations of chocolate and vanilla. I personally don't mind though.

- Parking sucks. And since it's usually packed, people get vicious about spaces. 

As you can see, my list of cons is short. And the deliciousness totally overrides everything. If you call there you can get an automated voice message of what flavors they have, so you can check ahead before you go and not make some poor soul working there read off all the flavors to you. 

Here's the address:

10850 West Olympic Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90064

Go on a weekend at around 5:30. You won't regret it. And if you do... sorry?

* My friend Jenna would like me to note that she once saw Frankie Muniz here. Also, once my mom and I were there and she claimed to see Gary Sinise under a billboard featuring Gary Sinise. I think this is unlikely, but worth noting.

What's the big deal about Frozen Yogurt?

Since I've lived in LA (almost three years), my love of frozen yogurt has become one of my defining qualities. "What's the big deal?" you ask. Well, let me tell you. 

- It's dessert but you can pretend it's good for you. 

- Even if it actually is good for you, you can make up for it with the millions of toppings offered at most frozen yogurt venues. 

- It's a fun, affordable, lower calorie outing with friends. 

- It's pretty in right now. Am I right?

Having become an expert on frozen yogurt in the LA and Manhattan areas, people kept suggesting to me that I start a blog, so I could share the knowledge. So whether you love fro yo like I do or just want to laugh at my obsession with it, I hope you enjoy.