So, what does one do when life hands you beautiful weather and record setting temps? Well, in my world, we go for frozen yogurt! Ok, so for some this may not be earth shattering and I know that this is a topic that may or may not excite everyone. Yet, I am bringing it up because on a recent trip to the West Coast of Florida, I quickly realized that in different parts of the country, yogurt is a bit of a newer fad. I also noticed that everyone takes their yogurt just about as seriously as me and my fellow New Yorkers.
In recent years in New York City at least, self serve yogurt shops have popped up throughout the boroughs and around the country as well. I remember my very first experience in a self serve shop. It was June about 4 years ago and a colleague of mine took me into the original location of 16 Handles on 2nd Avenue in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. It was magical. It was bright and felt like joy lived right there at 16 Handles.
The shop was so welcoming and was decorated in neon pink, orange, and green accents scattered around the white backdrop. On the back wall you had your choice of paper cup sizes and next to that was a wall of yogurt machines. 8 machines positioned side by side each dispensed 2 Flavors ranging from French vanilla to tart pomegranate. You had the option to fill your cup with as many flavors and as much yogurt as you would like to indulge in. When I was done mixing and matching my coffee, chocolate, and vanilla yogurts in my cup, I was guided by my friend to the front of the shop where a wonderland of sweets awaited me.
In awe, I scanned the array of items available at the yogurt toppings bar. There was fresh fruit, cereal, chocolate, cookies, and sauces in a wide variety of options. Maybe 40 items in all from my recollection. I opted on my first trip to have health bar, shredded coconut, chocolate cookie crumbs, and a cherry on top. As I had my first bite, I was over the moon excited about how awesome a creation I made. I had eaten tons of frozen yogurt like Pink Berry through the years, but nothing compared to the delicious yogurt and toppings at 16 Handles. There was something fun and mesmerizing about making it myself as well. It made it special. It made it mine.
Yes, i know that we are only talking about frozen yogurt, but that is what makes it great! It may sound funny, but I think that ones choice of yogurt and toppings is a very personal and intimate one. Doug and I have had conversations about what you can learn about someone through their cup of fro yo. Yes, these are some of the conversations that we have.
Below are a few pictures that I took while at Yogurtology in Sarasota, Florida while we were visiting there last weekend. I am usually not one to take photos in yogurt shops that I frequent in NYC, but Yogurtology truly was unlike any place I had been.
If you cannot make out what the labels say, those are Nerds, Skittles, and Gummie Bears available for toppings!
Never in my life have I seen FULL Kit Kats and Twix bars as toppings at a yogurt bar. Amazing!
If you are more of a healthy type, there are always plenty of fresh toppings to choose from.
My partner in crime made this interesting combo with tart original yogurt and peach while we were traveling in Florida. His toppings of choice were tapioca balls and cinnamon toast crunch. His choices are quite a departure to my over the top candy land concoctions.
The nice thing about being a patron at 16 Handles in NYC or Yogurtology in Florida is that they charge you by the ounce, not by the size of what you are ordering. That means that you can have as little yogurt or as much topping as you wish. How many times have you gotten to the middle of your yogurt or ice cream and wished that you maybe had a few more colored sprinkles or nuts in there? Again, these may just be things that go on in our home, but I think that some can relate. There are also frequent flyer type cards that you can get where you buy 9 and the 10th gives you a few dollars off your next order. I LOVE a deal and whatI love more than a good deal is good yogurt shop.
In closing, it only took a few years, but my favorite self serve franchise has migrated towards my neck of the woods and is set to open very soon. 16 Handles Cobble Hill and Williamsburg are set to be open over the next few weeks/months and we couldn't be more excited (and scared). Let's just say that it is a 20 minute and 1 mile walk to the Cobble Hill location from my front door, that is a good thing!
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Location:Carlton Ave,Brooklyn,United States
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