Our New Obsession: Yogurtland

Screw Pinkberry. Eff off, Red Mango. Since first visiting a Yogurtland last month in Santa Barbara, we've obsessed with the frozen yogurt chain.

And how can you not be? Yogurtland offers up at least 10 flavors at any one time -- from the plain to the exotic. They even recently offered ube -- one of my all-time favorites -- although that appears to have now been replaced by the seasonal pumpkin and gingerbread flavors.

Besides selection, Yogurtland gives you portion control. You swirl the yogurt yourself -- and if you don't go overboard, the price stays relatively low. Evan and I got separate bowls last Saturday at the Burbank location, and our total bill still came to under $4.

Then there's the free samples -- which just about everyone abuses. The small sample cup can be refilled a few times before it collapses from the overuse.

Obviously Yogurtland isn't a substitute for our favorite ice cream shop, East Hollywood's Scoops. And some of the choices are misses-- the new gingerbread flavor is absolutely horrible. But for the economy alone -- particularly when stacked up against the insanely overpriced Pinkberry -- Yogurtland gets the win.

FREE L.A.: If You're Hungry for Dessert, It's a Good Time to Be Here

:: New "Spanish fritter" shop Xooro -- pronounce it "Sure-oh" -- is opening its second location, on Melrose. (The fledgling chain is also in Santa Monica.)

For you and me, "Spanish fritter" = "gourmet churro." Good enough for me. Even better: The new store will be handing out FREE CHURROS TONIGHT, June 24, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Xooro is located at 8360 Melrose, #107, West Hollywood.



:: Pinkberry is introducing two new flavors for Summer: Coconut and Passion Fruit.

To introduce the new swirls, Pinkberry is handing out free samples on FRIDAY, June 26, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.



:: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf had been running a contest to determine which special Ice Blended drink its stores should feature over the Summer.

The winner was "Instant Karma," described as a "Nutty Creme Caramel." To celebrate the pick, Coffee Bean stores will be passing out free 12 oz. samples of "Instant Karma" on JULY 1 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

An Introduction to Red Mango

(Flickr pic by Bertakamous.)

As you know by now, Red Mango bills itself as the originator of the current natural/tart frozen yogurt craze, as it opened in Korea first, and inspired Pinkberry here in the U.S.


(Flickr pic by getofab.)

The Miracle Mile location recently opened, so I took a short walk from the office yesterday to finally give it a try. Red Mango touts the fact that unlike its competitors (ahemPINKBERRYahem) it uses real, live yogurt cultures.

I ordered a small (more than enough) for $2.50, plus a granola topping for $1 more (the pricing is similar to Pinkberry). The yogurt is indeed nice, although admittedly the granola added some sweetness. To be honest, I can't tell much of a difference between this and Pinkberry; I do have to say that the Miracle Mile Red Mango is generous with its portion; unlike most Pinkberrys, which usually have nothing but air in the middle of its swirl.

Also, I tried a sample of the green tea flavor. Very strong flavoring; not for people who are on the fence about green tea. I liked it.

Will I go back? At 90 calories for a small serving, Red Mango does indeed fit my diet... on the flip side, at $2.50 (or $3.50 with a topping) per serving, it doesn't fit my budget. So the answer is yes... but not frequently.

More Franchises, Less Wieners

(Flickr pic by Carmyarmyofme.)

Ahh, the continued franchise-ization of Los Angeles; we're looking at you, Pinkberry.

Not to mention the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, Quiznos, Robeks, etc. The same chains that are popping up in every strip mall and every multi-use development ground floor all over town. Don't get me wrong, I like the Coffee Bean; actually, I've been known to visit all of those spots. But as the Los Angeles Times' Steve Hymon notes, it comes at a terrible price: The loss of unique independent shops like Sherman Oaks' Wiener Factory (above).

The Wiener Factory is about to morph into a Pinkberry, and Hymon has seen enough:

a Valley institution is left with no home. The good news: Kevin Lentz, the Wiener Factory's owner, says that he's knee-deep in offers from fans of his restaurant to help relocate.

In an interview last week, we asked Lentz if he sees this as a parable for what's happening around the city.

"When I was growing up here in the '50s and '60s, L.A. had a reputation that the streets were paved with gold," he said. "It was a wonderful place to raise your kids, and there were mom and pops all over. They were family-run businesses. You would go in, and everyone knew you by your first name, and they took care of you.

"The business community nurtured the residents. Nowadays, with the franchises, it seems to be more cold. There doesn't seem to be that personal interaction," he added. "That's something we've always tried to do here. And if we go out and open other locations, that's not going to change."

Thankfully, we do see a resurgence in entrepeneurs in some parts of town, like Eagle Rock. And don't forget, not long ago, Pinkberry was just a one-store operation.