Frozen yogurt is the adorable little sister of the frozen treat world. Instead of just plain vanilla or chocolate, froyo comes in a rainbow of colors and flavors -- everything from strawberry to kiwi, coconut, mango, and blueberry. All in pastel colors.
Enter Menchie's to prove our point further. This chain which features a cute green-and-pink mascot, sprung upon south Florida about a year ago and, like weeds after a summer rain, continues to grow. The franchise chain now has nearly 40 locations in Florida, with hundreds throughout the country and more on the way.
The concept isn't new. Grab a cup and help yourself to as many different
flavors of yogurt as you want. All varieties (except for cake-based flavors) are gluten-free, and all yogurt is made from the milk of "smiley" California cows, which have not been treated with artificial growth hormones (rBST). The yogurt contains live and active cultures, and has received the Live and Active Culture (LAC) seal from the National Yogurt Association.
Of the hundred or so possible
varieties, the stores carry a dozen flavors on any given day. You then
add as many of the 30 dry toppings and 12 wet toppings (fresh fruit and
sundae syrups) you like and pay at the counter. The price is $0.44 an
ounce.
We visited the Menchie's in Coconut Grove on a weekday, which was filled
with tweens giggling over cups filled with pastel-colored yogurt. We
were pleased to find the yogurt still had a tartness to it, unlike some
too-sweet varieties. The fruit flavors actually tasted like what they
were named after (blackberry, for instance, tasted like blackberry).
Being purists, we preferred the plain yogurt with some fresh berries.
Menchie's
clearly caters to its fan base of kids and their moms, by selling
t-shirts, lip gloss, and little plush animals emblazoned with the little
"Menchie" mascot and her equally cute friends. That's OK, because if
all this cuteness gets to you (like it did to us), you can take your cup
outside and sit on a bench.
The newest Menchie's has opened in
Miami at Miller Crossing (15798 SW 56th Street) and is celebrating with a
grand opening party this Saturday, June 23. From11 a.m. - 1 p.m., enjoy
free frozen yogurt, with the first 50 guests also receiving a free
t-shirt. A balloon artist will be twisting animals until 2 p.m., and
face painter will plant a big daisy or heart on your cheeks from 2 - 4
p.m. There will also be a bounce house set up all day.
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