 "Photo: Lucy Moore | Student Life")
Rating: 4/5
6329 Delmar Avenue
314-862-1717
$1-7 depending on weight
Jessie is my canine, and she’s a sweet, sweet one. Intolerably persuasive, Jessie usually gets what she wants. So it was last week, while I was strolling through the Loop, that Jessie had one of her cravings. We were in front of Fro-Yo—Frozen Yogurt—at that moment; I was only too glad to get inside and sate the little bugger.
Located between Phoenix Rising and Good Works Furniture, Fro-Yo occupies the space that was formerly Crazy Bowls & Wraps. The storefront looked modern and cool, though I was surprised not to see any tables outside. Stepping in, I was very pleased with the spacious, high-ceiling layout. The greenish-blue tiled wall added to the pop atmosphere, while Pink’s “So What” played on the stereo. For Californians and New Yorkers familiar with Pinkberry, Fro-Yo looks pretty darn familiar. It’s merely the St. Louis version. I approached the counter asking for their best seller. The clerk looked at me dubiously, before pointing toward a row of dispensers. “Self service,” said the clerk, “40 cents an ounce.” I picked up a cup and strode over to gawk at all the flavors.
There were six machines, with two flavors in each. Each dispenser had the standard three knobs set up, one for each flavor and one for the mix. Flavors present includes original—pretty self explanatory, strawberry, chocolate, green tea, cheesecake and peanut butter to name a few. The shop switches each flavor in and out. On most machines there were signs indicating the options as low or fat free; I couldn’t help but notice Fro-Yo’s touting board of nutritional values. I chose the cheesecake and moved on to the dressings.
The “condiments” were numerous and varied. Fro-Yo had everything from your traditional toppings like sprinkles and marshmallows, to mochi and even fresh fruits. There were kiwis, strawberries, melons and enough others for a small smoothie bar, which made me quite happy. These were lined up near the counter where the clerk stood. Again, these toppings were completely self-service. I got some strawberry with my cheesecake and proceeded to checkout.
There were two cash registers, each attached to a metallic scale. I placed the cup on these scales, which charged me based on how piggish I was feeling. My total was almost $6 for a portion slightly bigger than a Bear’s Den fro-yo cup, although the price will vary greatly depending on how much one wants to eat. Hey, it’s dessert on the Loop. What would you expect?
I sat at one of the tables inside and promptly played with my food. The yogurt has a thick, viscous consistency, slightly creamy in color to justify its cheesecake flavor. I was expecting the taste to be somewhat airy and fleeting from the lack of fat; I couldn’t have been more wrong. The yogurt was rich and strong. The leading flavor was sweetness, a little on the strong side, but very palatable indeed. After the initial burst, there is the rich, creamy taste of cheesecake: tarty and smooth.
The strawberries added a much-needed sour taste to each mouthful, a zap in the mouth that enhances the flavor of the primary ingredient. Not to mention they made the frozen yogurt look irresistible to beat.
Fro-Yo advertises itself as a health-friendly establishment, so I took a second glance at their nutritional data. For a single serving, which is a 1/2 cup, there is about 7 percent of one’s daily carbohydrate needs, as well as protein, minerals and vitamins. I don’t quite believe their numbers on fats, judging from the taste as well as the nature of yogurt. It is also unclear which flavor this data set is for; clearly the low-fat prefix before ‘original recipe’ indicates a different composition compared to the prefix-free peanut butter flavor.
If you are having dinner on the Loop and don’t fancy the dessert section of the menu, or if you’re just looking for something to feed your sweet tooth, you might want to consider Fro-Yo as an alternative. Although somewhat pricey, Fro-Yo offers a good snack in a cool package. While wandering the Loop, stop in and check out the flavors before it gets to cold. Fro-Yo is a welcome addition to the Loop indeed.
what they put in that mix, cats dogs etc...BLAH