One Hot Concept: Frozen Yogurt

Have you heard of Pinkberry? How about BoYo? Red Mango? Red Kiwi? Yogurbella? How about the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck!? If you haven't heard of any of these then you're missing out on one of the hottest (coolest?) concepts in the United States right now. If you have heard of at least one of these then you know the frozen yogurt concept is taking this country by storm, and has been since Pinkberry launched in 2005. However it is Red Mango, a Korean company, who claims to have pioneered the tart variety of nonfat frozen yogurt back in 2002; Red Mango opened their first US store in 2007.

I myself have become enchanted by the nonfat frozen yogurt craze. I had my first taste of Pinkberry back in 2008 during a visit to southern California. On my first day in Venice I stopped into the first Pinkberry I saw and ordered a pomegranate frozen yogurt with fresh blueberries; I was hooked. I ordered an original frozen yogurt with fresh mango the next day, and again the day after, and again the day after that. I think I had some Pinkberry every day that week.

The closest Pinkberry to Boston is in NYC, so imagine my excitement when I found out about a new frozen yogurt cafe opening in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston called boYO. Boston Yogurt, better known as boYO, is definitely modeled after Pinkberry but has its own unique personality. With regularly changing flavors in addition to the original nonfat frozen yogurt, they also have gelato, sorbet, and an espresso and hot chocolate bar. On my first visit I ordered an original with fresh mango, but have been back several times for my fix.

Then this past December while in Miami, my wife and I turned to Yelp for help in finding some froyo in the Miami area. We were nowhere near the Pinkberry in Miami Beach so we headed to Red Kiwi in Coconut Grove. We ordered an original with fresh mango and a nutella with fresh raspberries. The nutella frozen yogurt was fantastic, but I think it's tough to beat the original tart flavor. After doing some research I discovered that the Red Kiwi in Coconut Grove is the only location right now, but they are looking to expand through franchising. Interested?

Have you jumped on the nonfat frozen yogurt bandwagon yet? I'm firmly planted in the front seat of the wagon and can always find an excuse for some deliciously tart frozen yogurt. Even in the middle of a snow storm that never materialized, like today. Way to go meteorologists. And just for the record, the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is an ice cream truck in New York City that drives around serving up delicious ice cream treats.