Frogurt
Notice the recent wave of frozen yogurt shops? And it’s not a return of the TCBY fad of the ‘80s. The yogurt shop has been revamped: it’s healthier, more affordable and seems to have some staying power.
Why the Craze?
Get it yourself! Instead of choosing from three standard sizes, you can put just as much or as little in your cup as you like. And you’re charged by the ounce on a scale at the register, not by each flavor and topping.
Unique toppings. Lots of them. Candies, cookies and cereals plus a few healthier toppings such as nuts, fresh fruit and even carob, a chocolate substitute. Or try “boba,” little orbs filled with fruit juice.
Lower fat, lower sugar, live and active cultures. Though the topping bar can render the non-fat cookies n’ cream yogurt just as fattening as ice cream, frozen yogurt is healthier than what you can find on most dessert menus and tastes just as good.
The immediate area has six frozen yogurt shops each with a new flavor to try and new pairings to be made.
Bloop, 4118 Franklin Rd. 540-904-5602
Twelve flavors of creamy, delicious yogurt, flavorful combinations and a topping bar stocked with fresh selections. The yogurt machines are the most high-tech I’ve seen, calibrated to dispense yogurt at the perfect temperature the second you pull the lever. The richness of flavors had my taste buds convinced it couldn’t just be yogurt.
Recommended: Red Velvet and White Chocolate swirl topped with dark chocolate flakes and cheesecake bites.
Frogurt, 118 Campbell Ave SE, 540-857-0007
Frogurt’s downtown location makes it the perfect place during a stroll on the market or after dinner (they’re open until 10 p.m.) They always keep 10 flavors, frequently bring in new flavors, and offer specials Monday through Thursday. The topping bar has anything you can think of, from the most sugary candies to seasonal fresh fruit prepared daily.
Recommended:: Cinnamon Bun topped with chocolate chips and granola and drizzled with hot caramel.
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. 4208 Franklin Road NW (Hunting Hills Plaza) 540-266-7476
Like walking into Willy Wonka’s factory: Bright colors, smiling cartoon animals painted on the walls and a giant, yogurt-cone mascot. The open space is ideal for traffic flow and with a curving wall of yogurt machines boasting 16 creamy flavors. The topping bar is no less impressive and the carefree feel made me heap tons of candy and chocolate in my already-full cup.
Recommended: Classic Chocolate and Vanilla swirl topped with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips and an excessive amount of gummy worms.
Sweet Frog, 2015 Colonial Ave SW, 540-343-3764
Sweet Frog’s creative flavor combinations alone make it worth a visit, and they charge only 39 cents an ounce. Combos like Mounds Bar, Strawberry Cheese Cake and Root Beer Float are too good to miss. And toppings like iced animal cookies, and chocolate “rock” candies were just as fun as their 16 flavors of yogurt.
Recommended: Cookies and Cream and Irish Mint swirl topped with Oreo pieces and Andes chocolate mint bits.
Sweet Pete’s. Ridgewood Farms Village Shopping Center, 540-725-7333
The great tropical feel and a taste of their Island Banana will all but transport you to the Bahamas. As I sampled their 10 flavors, I tried a mix I had experienced nowhere else and was pleased with the result. The staff was fun and friendly and suggested their favorites as I created my own.
Recommended: Orchard Cherry mixed with Low Fat Chocolate (tastes like a cherry cordial) topped with vanilla mochi, whipped cream and a cherry.
Teriyaki Grill House / Yogurt Cafe, 3260 Electric Rd, 540-725-7333
A cool, relaxing vibe that’s a little different from others. As a happy medium between a yogurt shop, coffee shop and teriyaki house, it’s a great place to chill out and enjoy a frozen yogurt creation or sip a latte and take advange of the free Wi-fi. Ten flavors; all delicious. Recently renamed Teriyaki Grill House and expanded to offer healthy teriyaki options, but still offers 10 rotating flavors of yogurt.
Recommended: Mango Tango Sorbet and Georgia Peach swirl topped with strawberry and mango boba and fresh strawberries. –Amanda Mitchell Dutton