Pumpkin And A New Promotion? Fall Has Arrived!

    

   

It’s Thursday and that typically finds me in the Emerald City, but today I took a break from the weekly trek to Seattle. I’m fresh off the heels of a Portland road trip, so a busy day in Seattle wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. That didn’t stop me from venturing to Kent to check out the latest Yogurtland promotion, though. Zelda always has time for fro-yo! It was bad enough that I wasn’t there for the debut on Monday, and I certainly wasn’t going to put it off any longer. Back on the interstate I went, this time heading north.

I was welcomed in by the assistant manager and she wanted to hear all about my recent trip. The shop wasn’t busy, so we chatted for a while and I filled her in on the details. After a while the suspense was killing me and I finally picked up a few sample cups. Monday kicked off the “Top This” promotion which features three flavors although only two are new. Chocolate Truffle and Vanilla Malt made their debut alongside of Fresh Strawberry which is a returning favorite for the promotion. The promotion is geared toward getting customers to be creative with their toppings and there will even be a contest in four categories: Most Decadent, Most Whimsical, Most Fruit-a-Licious, and Most Colossal. Hmmm…..guess who is planning to enter Most Colossal? I am a little disappointed that there isn’t more of an autumn theme, but I always welcome a new flavor. Chocolate Truffle is as rich and chocolatey as you might expect it to be, and it seems quite similar to a few of their chocolate flavors. A while back I counted all of Yogurtland’s chocolate flavors and came up with 14….14! How is that? At some point they all start tasting the same because you can only vary chocolate to a certain extent, but evidently Yogurtland begs to differ. It’s all about the marketing, right? Keep it fresh for the fans! I was more excited to try Vanilla Malt which I was immediately delighted with. It’s very smooth tasting and has great vanilla flavor. This was definitely going into today’s cup! There was one other new arrival since last week, and it’s a seasonal favorite: Pumpkin Pie. Vanilla Malt by itself is not reason enough for me to warrant a visit to Yogurtland, but Pumpkin Pie on the other hand is. It might not be very often that I’ll sacrifice my beloved Peant Butter for Pumpkin Pie, but it’s been months since I’ve had this flavor and I was definitely glad to see it return. After taking a quick taste, I looked at the other eight flavors (this location has 12 compared to most Yogurtland locations which have 16). There was Toasted Coconut, Pistachio, Lemonade Lake (former promotional flavor), and Rocket Pop Sorbet, along with another chocolate, another vanilla, NY Cheesecake, and Plain Tart. That’s not a very good lineup as far as flavors I like, but that just meant that I’d be able to concentrate more on the two I was planning to get. The shop still has promotional cups left over from the “Sweet Treats” Candy Crush promotion, so I grabbed one and headed straight for Pumpkin Pie.

Pumpkin Pie was joined by Vanilla Malt in a 60% – 40% ratio with Pumpkin Pie having the majority. When have you ever known Zelda to give the largest share to a neutral flavor? It just doesn’t happen! I rarely allot this large of a portion to a mild flavor in general, but today I made an exception since I was so pleased with Vanilla Malt. Time to move over to the toppings bar, and I started with chocolate. Vanilla Malt was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and NSA dark chocolate bits while Pumpkin Pie was given a nice dusting of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (mainly the cinnamon sugar crumbs which are my favorite part). It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have my two staples of cookie dough bites and whipped cream, so both were added throughout the cup. I was excited to see that the shop still has the collectible Candy Crush spoons, so that means I get to add another Sublime spoon to my collection. Time to grab my favorite table and enjoy!

Oh, Pumpkin Pie…how I have missed you! You truly are the taste of fall and all things comfort food oriented. Over the years I’ve had a few different Pumpkin Pie flavors at various shops, but Yogurtland is always my favorite version. It has a nice blend of spices without being overly pungent, and it’s strong enough to satisfy my craving of bold flavor. It really paired nicely with Vanilla Malt because it’s light and creamy, and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping was a bonus. I am impressed with Vanilla Malt because it’s one of the better vanilla flavors. It’s hard to get excited about vanilla in general since it’s so mild, but this one was was anything but generic. The only other one I really enjoyed in the past was a former Flavor Quest offering: Polynesian Vanilla. Oddly enough it never resurfaced after the promotion ended a few years ago, so perhaps it wasn’t an overall hit with everyone. I sure liked it, though! Luckily I now have Vanilla Malt, and let’s hope it has a little more longevity than Polynesian Vanilla did. Speaking of things that don’t last long enough…..isn’t there a weekend just around the corner?

Until we eat again….

Z-

 

Cookies And Fried Dough? Yes, Please!

   

   

It’s Saturday and the weekend is off to a roaring start! Thanks to a delectable Fro-Yo Friday adventure at Black Bear, that really set the tone and left me optimistic about what the weekend would offer. Whenever there’s an amazing encounter like yesterday’s, it makes me forget about all of the recent experiences that fell below my expectations and lately there have been more than just a few. I spent the morning in Tacoma which gave me various options when it came time for dessert. There are two different Menchie’s locations as well as two different Black Bear locations, but I knew last night where I was destined to end up. Ever since Wednesday’s visit to Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall, I’ve been craving a sweet return for another round of Twisted Cinnamon Churro. It’s no secret that Zelda’s a big fan of Churro flavors thanks to Yogurtland’s Flavor Quest promotion this past spring, so I was really eager to try the version at Menchie’s. It was even more lip-smacking than I imagined, and I was ready for more. Unfortunately none of the Menchie’s locations have Peanut Butter, so I had to sacrifice it in order to have Twisted Cinnamon Churro. In a case like this I don’t mind, so Saturday sent Zelda back to Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall for a scrumptious fiesta!

I arrived to an empty shop which is always a treat for me, and it was rather surprising consider today’s extra warm temperatures. Sunny and 84 degrees? This is the kind of weather that draws people in for a frozen dessert, so I expected to see a much busier shop. I was pleasantly welcomed in by the team member on duty who is someone I know well, and she’s always glad to see me. She knows I usually show up for Peanut Butter, but every once in a while I’ll pop in if there is something else just as crave worthy. I grabbed my favorite table and then chatted with her for a while before heading back toward the sample cups. I already knew what I’d be getting, so it was just a matter of doing a quick taste test. June’s featured flavors are Twisted Cinnamon Churro and Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch, and they’re both delightful. Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch is a returning favorite from last year’s Girl Scouts promotion, inspired by the Samoas cookie. What a strong likeness it has! I loved this flavor from day one, so I was thrilled to see it return. Twisted Cinnamon Churro is a brand new release, but it’s already a hit among many. It was even better than I ever dreamed it would be, and I think I prefer this one over Yogurtland’s Churro. I don’t say that about too many Menchie’s flavors because usually Yogurtland’s versions rank higher in my book, but I’m saying it now and you can quote me on it. Peanut Butter is the only other flavor that falls into this category because Menchie’s has Yogurtland beat with Peanut Buttercup and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookie. Kudos to Menchie’s for stepping up and creating something for me to dream about at night! After a sample of the two featured flavors, I looked at the rest of the lineup for a third possible flavor (namely a divider) and then I knew what was going into the cup.

Twisted Cinnamon Churro was the first flavor to make its way into the cup, followed by Vanila Snow as today’s modest divider, and then Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch. Twisted Cinnamon Churro saw the largest portion at 50% while Vanilla Snow had a mere 5%, leaving Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch to make up the remaining 45%. The cup was on its way to perfection, but it still needed a few little chocolatey tidbits. Twisted Cinnamon Churro was paired with graham cracker crumbs, although I’m not so secretly wishing that they still carried Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal. I can’t imagine why they took that away! Vanilla Snow was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch was given Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. As I made my way to the chilled toppings, I noticed a new blueberry burst boba. I’m definitely not a boba fan especially since I found a stray boba hiding in my whipped cream a few years ago. Unfortunately I didn’t find it until I bit into it….can you imagine? Ewwww! It’s still neat to see a new flavor, and I’m definitely a fan of blueberry. No boba for Zelda, though! For the finale cookie dough bites and whipped cream made their way throughout the cup, and thanks to a Pirq deal on my smartphone I received a 50% discount. Three cheers for deals! Time to grab a spoon and enjoy.

Twisted Cinnamon Churro was the highlight once again with its sugary sweet flavor and cinnamon presence. If I’m not eating an actual Churro, then this is the next best thing! Every bite was dreamy and oozing with goodness, and Zelda felt the onset of a sugar coma. Caramel Coconut Cookie Crunch was sweet and decadent, and the only thing missing was the special Samoas topping that they had last year. Crushed Girl Scouts Samoas were brought in when the flavor originally debuted, and that really elevated it to a higher level. Too bad it’s not Girl Scouts cookie season right now! The dark chocolate chip accent I chose was a nice complement, and it helped to bring out the subtle chocolate flavor. Vanilla Snow was good but it’s not that exciting of a flavor and its main purpose was to divide the flavors while giving me an excuse to get a PB topping. If I can’t have PB fro-yo, you can rest assured there will be a PB topping. Bite after bite of today’s dreamy indulgence was mind blowing, and Zelda was in a pure state of fro-yo euphoria. All good things must come to an end, though. Before I knew it I was holding an empty spoon and wishing there were just a few more bites, but that’s the way the topping crumbles so to speak. With another noteworthy adventure behind me, it’s time to start thinking about tomorrow’s enticement. Will Zelda stay true to her Sunday norm by frolicking in the land of yogurt or will there be another opportunity to break out the sombrero? Ole, ole, ole!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Triple Threat And Then Some

        

     

The weekend is rolling along and Zelda had a wonderful Saturday adventure in the land of yogurt. Most of the time I end up going on Sunday as opposed to Saturday since I’m usually in Tukwila for lunch, but today I made a special point to go because I knew my friend was working. If Zelda can have a social call while enjoying something scrumptious, then it’s even better. After a fun morning of activities in Tacoma, I happily drove to Yogurtland in Kent for a delicious encounter.

I arrived just as my friend was opening the store, so I was the first official customer. I always enjoy that feeling because it’s as if you’re walking in to a party. The only thing missing was the confetti, but little did I know there was something waiting for me. It’s so funny because I came bearing a goody for my friend, and he in turn had a sweet surprise for me. Everyone loves treats! What can I say, we like to spoil each other. My gift turned out to be a huge freshly baked cinnamon roll from the bakery next door, so that’s going to make a perfect snack later. I will have to admit that it was hard not to dig in when he gave it to me because it was still warm. Who doesn’t love a warm cinnamon roll dripping with sweet icing? Talk about temptation, but Zelda had self-control and held out for her fro-yo. I claimed my favorite table and chatted for a while, and then after a brief wave of customers I was ready for a few samples.

Since Monday’s visit, there have been a few changes. Another Flavor Quest flavor has departed; Blood Orange Ice has been replaced with Cranberry Orange Tart. Neither are flavors that I would get, so that didn’t really affect me much but there was one arrival that excited me. Double Cookies And Cream has returned after a lengthy absence, and I was glad to see it. I think the last time I had this flavor at Yogurtland was at the University district location before it closed in February. That’s too long! One quick sample and I knew this was going in the cup. I also took time to sample the two new promotional flavors, both of which I tried when they made their debut earlier in the week. Yogurtland’s Off The Stick promotion features flavors reminiscent of childhood favorites from the ice cream truck. There are four flavors total, and the first two are Strawberry Shortcake Pop and Grape Freeze Sorbet. Both are quite delicious, but I don’t typically go with fruity flavors or sorbet so they weren’t contenders for today’s cup. They’re fun to sample, though! The Kent location has a really good lineup right now and has two of Zelda’s other favorites in stock, so I was really excited about that. I only sampled one, Salted Caramel Pecan, and then I was ready to construct my masterpiece.

Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was joined today by Salted Caramel Pecan and Double Cookies And Cream to make a tantalizing trio. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter had the largest share at 40% while Salted Caramel Pecan was given 25%, leaving Double Cookies and Cream to make up the remaining 35%. Sweet and savory goodness was upon me, and now I simply needed a few yummy morsels to perfect it. Bring on the chocolate! Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was awarded NSA dark chocolate bits, Salted Caramel Pecan was paired with Hershey’s chocolate chips, and Double Cookies And Cream was the happy recipient of crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. It was really looking good but it still needed the finishing touch of cookie dough bites and fresh whipped cream. Both were added to the entire cup, and thanks to my friend it was free. Zelda really got the royal treatment today! Now it was time to grab a spoon and indulge.

What a heavenly creation! Decadent doesn’t even begin to describe it. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was exquisite with rich flavor, and it dazzled my taste buds immensely. Double Cookies And Cream is always luscious and creamy with just the right amount of chocolate flavor, and it was really on point today. I don’t get chocolate flavors that are too overpowering, but this one is balanced very nicely. Salted Caramel Pecan is sweet and succulent with a light savory aspect, and it never fails to put a smile on my face. Every bite of today’s creation was luxurious and it certainly didn’t last as long as I would have liked. Before I knew it I was taking the last few bites and scraping the sides of the cup in an attempt to get every remaining drop. The sugar coma began to take effect and I was experiencing pure fro-yo bliss.

The shop wasn’t too busy after I started to eat, so that worked out perfectly for me and my friend because it gave us an extra opportunity to visit. I’ve really missed this! I always had a standing reservation every Thursday at the UW location until it closed, and then my friend moved on to the Bellevue location which is a little farther than I like to travel. Occasionally he works at this location, so I usually try to plan a visit when I know he’ll be working. It doesn’t happen as often as I like, but I’m always glad when it does. It was another fantastic visit today, and my sweet tooth was even happier about the fact that there would be a huge cinnamon roll waiting for later. Speaking of which….I think I hear it calling me now.

Until we eat again….

Z-

Globe Trotting With Popsicles

 

   

  

It’s Sunday, but it’s not just any Sunday…it’s the last day of the third annual Flavor Quest promotion at Yogurtland. This calls for a trip to the land of yogurt! Over the past 10 weeks, customers were delighted with 10 exotic flavors from around the world. Countries from this year’s promotion included Thailand, Mexico, USA, India, Denmark, Brazil, France, Egypt, Italy, and Spain. Zelda found herself taking several around the world trips namely to Thailand, Mexico, and Denmark for Cinnamon Coconut, Churro, and Peanut Nougat with Almond Butter & Honey Gelato which was Yogurtland’s first gelato offering. I wasn’t as excited about the offerings from the second half of the promotion although I did find Egypt’s Pom Berry Lemon Tart surprisingly appealing. It’s not really my normal preference, but I did find enjoy a few samples of it from time to time. I knew this was the last chance to enjoy any of the remaining flavors, but there were also a few other motivating factors to today’s visit. A good friend of mine was working today, the manager of the recently closed UW location. After the closure, he transferred to the Bellevue shop which is a little far for me but he works at the Kent location on occasion. Today was my lucky day! The other draw to today’s visit was that one of the flavors from the new promotion arrived a bit early, and you know Zelda loves to get the jump on new flavors! After a fantastic lunch in Tukwila, I made a beeline for Yogurtland in Kent for an exciting adventure.

I arrived just before the shop officially opened for the day, and my friend welcomed me in with open arms. We always had a standing fro-yo date every Thursday at the UW location, but that was quickly halted when the shop closed in February. I miss our weekly visits! I was glad when I found out that he was working here today. We talked for a while and then I finally made my way to the machines to see what temptations awaited. There are three remaining flavors from Flavor Quest: Pom Berry Lemon Tart from Egypt, NSA Espresso Float from Italy, and Blood Orange Ice from Spain. I definitely didn’t care for NSA Espresso Float, so I’m not sorry to see that one go. Pom Berry Lemon Tart is the best of the three, so I took a quick sample to bid it farewell. Now it was time for the excitement of trying the new flavor. The promotion officially kicks off tomorrow with two new flavors, but the Kent location is infamous for putting in special flavors a day or two early. Strawberry Shortcake Pop pulled a sneak attack and arrived ahead of schedule, and Zelda was all too happy to try it. The new promotion features flavors inspired by novelty ice cream pops, and Strawberry Shortcake Pop is made with real strawberries and crumbled cookies. I’m not usually into fruity flavors, but I never miss the chance to sample something new. This one has a nice strawberry presence with a light complement of shortcake flavor, although I couldn’t detect any crumbled cookies in the texture. I’ll be honest; I’ve never had a Strawberry Shortcake Pop, so I don’t know how well this flavor represents the popsicle. It’s certainly delicious, though! After welcoming in the new arrival, I was excited to see two of my favorites in the store. I was hoping that Peanut Butter would still be in the store, but it made its exit this morning. Lucky for me it was replaced with another crave worthy option, Salted Caramel Pecan. Yum! I didn’t even bother with a sample because I knew it was bound for the cup!

Today’s trio was a scrumptious blend of Red Cupcake Batter, NY Cheesecake, and Salted Caramel Pecan. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter had a slightly larger portion at 50% while NY Cheesecake was my modest divider flavor at 10%, and Salted Caramel Pecan made up the remaining 40% of the cup. Now it was time for the sweet morsels that the cup was calling out for. Whenever there is a new promotion, there is usually a special topping to go along with it. Since Strawberry Shortcake Pop made an early debut, so did the special topping: cake bites. They are little cubes of cake, and they have a nice spongy texture. I didn’t get them in the cup, but I made sure I took a sample. It’s very light and reminds me of the cake that you often see in strawberry shortcake. It’s not dense like a pound cake, but it’s not quite like an angel food cake either. This topping will go well with all of Yogurtland’s flavors, but it’s certainly a perfect match for Strawberry Shortcake Pop. After a quick nibble, I went with some of my standard fare. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter is always adorned with NSA dark chocolate bits, NY Cheesecake was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Salted Caramel Pecan received Hershey’s chocolate chips. The entire cup saw its usual gift of cookie dough bites and fresh whipped cream, and then it was time for tasting.

Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was rich and decadent, melting in my mouth with every sinful bite. NY Cheesecake is very subtle, but the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups made it quite memorable. All I could taste was peanut butter flavor, so it was a successful pairing. Salted Caramel Pecan is always delicious, and the chocolate chips elevated it to an even more exciting level. This was amazing! It didn’t last nearly as long as I would have liked, though. Before I knew it, the cup was empty and I was licking my lips.

The shop was rather busy today, but not because of the last day of the promotion. Today is also Mother’s Day and Yogurtland was offering a Buy One Get One Free for anyone who came in with their mother. Naturally with it being a sunny day and a holiday, everyone wanted to come in for fro-yo. It didn’t impact my visit with my friend too much, though. We still found plenty of time to talk in between customers, and he will be working at this location a few more times in the coming week. It looks like Zelda has yet another reason to come back again soon!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Duo Worth Driving For

Wednesday’s adventure took Zelda back to the land of yogurt. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself to something extra special, and I always enjoy a visit to Yogurtland. The Kent location is the closest one to me, and it’s a bit of a drive but always worth it. This location just brought in two of my favorites, so it’s a combination that I couldn’t pass up. As my morning drew to a close, I headed north on I-5 and anticipated my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I arrived shortly after the store opened, and a couple of other anxious customers were already inside filling up their cups. The assistant manager was working and welcomed me in, and she was excited to see that I had arrived with a few treats for the staff. We all love a happy surprise, especially if it’s something sweet! Speaking of sweets, I was lucky enough to get the scoop today on the upcoming summer promotions at Yogurtland which is always exciting for me. One thing I really like about Yogurtland is that they have ongoing promotions with special flavors. As if I needed another reason to go! It certainly keeps things interesting for the customers since there is always something new. The current promotion (Flavor Quest) is in its final two weeks and then it will be time to move on to the next one, and Zelda will be there with bells on. As for today, the two flavors I came in for are longtime favorites which are part of the regular rotation. I did take time to sample one promotional flavor, though. Pom Berry Lemon Tart is one of the final four releases of Flavor Quest, and I am surprised at how much I like it. I’m not much of a fruity or tart person, but this one is rather tasty. Since I knew it wouldn’t be likely to end up in the cup, I made sure to get a sample before moving on to the main attraction.

Two flavors found their way into Zelda’s cup today: Red Velvet Cupcake Batter and Peanut Butter. I typically prefer to have at least three flavors, but none of the other 10 flavors really tempted me. I considered NY Cheesecake as a divider flavor, but it’s rather mild and not one of the better cheesecake flavors I’ve had. In the end I opted for a 50/50 combination of Red Velvet Cupcake Batter and Peanut Butter. When all else fails, go with what you love! As I moved over to the toppings bar, I was mesmerized by all of the chocolate options. This is heaven as far as I’m concerned! I never have a hard time finding something I love here as opposed to a few of the shops closest to me which are a little more limited in chocolate toppings. Maybe I’m just extra picky, but I like what I like. After narrowing it down, Red Velvet Cupcake Batter is was paired with its usual NSA dark chocolate bits while Peanut Butter was decorated with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The entire cup saw plenty of cookie dough bites (crumbs, the best part) as well as fluffy whipped cream, and then it was perfect. After utilizing today’s coupon, the cup was entirely free. Hooray for free snacks! Now it was time for this wonderful duo to sing.

I sat down at my favorite table and the fro-yo indulgence began. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was amazingly decadent and very intoxicating, and every bite was delightful. Peanut Butter was sweet and rich, filled with so much nutty flavor. You know Zelda loves her PB!  Both flavors played well with each other, making it a successful pairing. When combined with the chocolate toppings, it was a mouth watering delight that quickly sent me into a sugar coma. Why can’t all of my adventures be this superb? I’d be okay with that! There was a bit of a mishap with the whipped cream, though. It started sliding downward toward the bottom of the cup before I took the first bite, and it didn’t look too pretty after I tried to rescue it. I guess it was a bit of a whipped cream fail, but it certainly tasted amazing. After all, it’s the taste that really counts!

One thing I noticed during today’s adventure was my spoon. This location has finally gotten the standard pink and green Yogurtland spoons back in stock after a very lengthy hiatus. Yogurtland’s summer promotions always feature collectible spoons, so the pink and green ones usually take a vacation while the promotional spoons are offered. In the past, some of the special spoons were gone quickly and became difficult to come by. You have to get them while you can or be prepared to go without. This wasn’t the case with last summer’s spoons, though. I’ve never seen a promotional spoon survive as long as last summer’s did, and the shop finally ran out of them in the last few days. That’s got to be a record! The pink and green spoons will only be around for a short time, though. The new summer promotion which starts in July will have new spoons, and the pink and green spoons will go back into hiding for a while. I personally can’t wait because the spoons are one of my favorite things about summer in the land of yogurt. Bring on the new spoons!

Until we eat again….

Z-

spoons

An Egyptian Surprise And An Italian Bomb

     

  

Today found Zelda making the weekly drive to Seattle. Up until recently, a trip to the Emerald City always ended with a visit to the land of yogurt. With the recent closings of Seattle’s two Yogurtland locations, that altered my usual routine and I was forced to find another go-to spot for yogurt. A few different times I went to Menchie’s in the Queen Anne district and the Capitol Hill district, and a couple of times I made the journey to Yogurtland in Kent. It’s a little out of the way, but sometimes I just have to have my Yogurtland. Today was one of those days! The final flavor in the Flavor Quest promotion arrived in stores this week, and I was curious to check it out. After a busy morning downtown, I left the city on a quest for yummy treats at Yogurtland in Kent.

There were a couple of people there when I arrived, but the shop wasn’t as busy as I thought it might be. With a sunny day like today, there are likely to be more people than usual since weather tends to dictate fro-yo trends. While there are of a few of us die-hard fans that will go in the snow and rain, most people don’t indulge on frozen treats when the weather isn’t as inviting. The manager was working and gave me an enthusiastic greeting as I entered the store, and we visited for a while before I grabbed a few sample cups. Since Sunday’s visit there have been a couple of changes, mainly in the Flavor Quest lineup. Flavor Quest features 10 exotic flavors from various worldly destinations around the world and runs from March to May, but another one of the first four offerings has departed. Banana Pudding from the USA made a quiet exit earlier in the week, and it made way for a returning fan favorite of Hershey’s Chocolate Milk Shake. I liked Banana Pudding, but I think I’ve had my fill of for the time being. The final arrival in the Flavor Quest promotion, NSA Espresso Float which hails from Italy, arrived on Monday. I’m not into coffee flavors, but I still wanted to try it to see how it tasted. It was very overpowering and had a really strong coffee presence, so it wasn’t something I’d be likely to get anytime in the future. At least I can say I sampled it, though. After a strong encounter with NSA Espresso Float, I decided to go to the opposite end of the spectrum and have a quick taste of Pom Lemon Berry Tart from Egypt. This is another recent arrival that made its debut two weeks ago. While I’s not something I would come in specifically to get, it’s rather refreshing and has a very appealing flavor. As I gazed at the other flavors in the lineup, I tried to imagine what I would enjoy the most today. Two flavors were already decided upon before my arrival, but I really wanted a third flavor today. After studying all 12 flavors carefully, I was ready to create.

Peanut Nougat with Almond Butter & Honey Gelato (from Denmark) was the first flavor that landed into the cup, followed by Cinnamon Coconut (from Thailand). I think the third flavor will come as a surprise, but Zelda selected a small amount of Pom Berry Lemon Tart (from Egypt). It was a complete Flavor Quest cup! I know what you’re thinking….that’s very unlike me to get a fruit/tart. I was surprised myself but the sample I had as a palate cleanser after tasting NSA Espresso Float was so enjoyable that I couldn’t help but want a little more. There weren’t any other flavors in the store that I really wanted as a third flavor, so I expanded my horizons. My first two choices were rather mild comparatively, so I didn’t want to pick another neutral offering like NY Cheesecake. This cup needed a little pizzazz!. Pom Berry Lemon Tart had the smallest amount of the cup at 20% while Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato and Cinnamon Coconut each had 40%. Up next came the yummy task of picking out a few toppings for each, and that’s where the chocolate came in. Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while Cinnamon Coconut was paired with NSA dark chocolate bits. For Pom Berry Lemon Tart, I really had to consider the options carefully because I wanted something that would complement it nicely and I didn’t want to just go with one of my usual chocolate toppings. Fruit would have been an appropriate choice, but I never choose fruit as a topping and wasn’t about to start today. I considered getting yogurt chips or vanilla chips but finally opted for cheesecake minis aka cheesecake bites. For the final two, cookie dough bites and fresh whipped cream made their way throughout the cup and the grand total was only $0.10 today. Talk about dining on a dime! With a shiny teal spoon in hand, it was time to savor my delight.

Pom Berry Lemon Tart was the first flavor to exit the cup in an attempt to prevent it from blending into the other two flavors. It was weird to have a flavor like this in the cup, but it was a yummy choice on a sunny day. I may not get it again in the future since it’s an unlikely choice, but I really enjoyed it today. Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato has a light and sweet flavor, but like Cinnamon Coconut it’s on the milder side. I like both of these flavors, but I would have preferred to have something with a little more richness to help offset their subtle qualities. Pom Berry Lemon Tart definitely livened up the cup, but it’s not rich or decadent by any means. It’s very possible that Cinnamon Coconut and Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato may be gone by my next visit, so it’s probably a good thing that I ventured into the Kent store today for one last taste. I certainly wouldn’t want to miss out on having them one last time! The good news is that as soon as Cinnamon Coconut departs, one of Zelda’s favorites is returning to the store. That’s definitely something to look forward to! And if I’m not mistaken, there’s a weekend on the way……

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Perfect Reunion With A Faithful Companion

Another weekend has ended, and Monday saw Zelda recovering from a whirlwind trip around the world courtesy of Yogurtland. All that traveling can really take it out of a person! I was inclined to have a more local adventure today, and only one place came to mind. Twisties in Lacey finally brought back Peanut Butter after a six month hiatus which is way too long in my book, and I was all set to welcome it back. I’ve been patiently waiting ever since the owner told me that it was scheduled to go in as soon as they ran out of NSA Praline, and I finally got the good word last night that it was in the machine and ready to go. I knew where I’d be going today!

It was quiet when I walked in, and I was the only soul around. Solitude was mine! I gave the owner a happy hello and told him that I was here for PB’s big return. I’ve been asking him to bring it back for months, so he knows how much I’ve been looking forward to it. I wouldn’t miss this for anything! He expected it to be in last Wednesday since there was such a low amount of NSA Praline in the machine, but that last little bit of Praline hung on for dear life and didn’t run out until yesterday. The timing was perfect, though, because it gave me a reason to look forward to Monday. I could have made the trek back to Yogurtland in Kent because the final flavor in the Flavor Quest promotion was hitting stores today, but I’m not as excited about this flavor because it’s a coffee flavor. I rarely miss the first day of a promotional flavor, but since I was there yesterday to welcome in this week’s other new release I decided to postpone sampling the coffee flavor and chose my PB reunion instead. After a brief chat with the owner, my taste buds were anxious and couldn’t stand to be in the same room with my favorite flavor any longer without a taste. The time was finally here! I knew there was really no need for a sample, but I took one anyway just to be sure the texture was firm. It was the epitome of perfection! While it was tempting to get a whole cup of this amazing flavor, I always get a minimum of two flavors. Salted Caramel Corn is still in the store, so that was my next sample and it was almost as amazing as Peanut Butter. I think Zelda found her dynamic duo!

Peanut Butter and Salted Caramel Corn were a match made in heaven today. Peanut Butter had the majority of the cup at 75% and was divided into two sections while Salted Caramel Corn made up the remaining 25% and served as an amber colored PB divider. Now it was on to the scrumptious task of picking out chocolate accents! Peanut Butter was adorned with chocolate chips and crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while Salted Caramel Corn had part of a chocolate covered pretzel. There are two essentials for all of my creations: cookie dough bites and whipped cream. Twisties is one of the few shops that doesn’t carry cookie dough bites, but that doesn’t stop me. I’m not about to let anything come between me and my cookie dough! For that very reason, I always keep a travel stash on hand. You never know when you’re going to need it, and this is one of those rare occasions. Twisties does offer whipped cream, so after adding a fluffy layer I grabbed my favorite spot on the big comfy couch and broke out my stash of cookie dough bites. They were generously added to complete the masterpiece, and then it was time to taste the yum.

Peanut Butter couldn’t have been any better or any fresher! This was an absolute 10 on Zelda’s scale of Peanut Butter perfection, and it might have even tipped the scale at an 11. It was that good! The texture was perfect; firm but still creamy, and the flavor was out of this world. This is what PB dreams are made of, and it was quite the mouth watering experience I was hoping for. Salted Caramel Corn was sweet and buttery rich, and every drop seemed to melt in my mouth. I was totally mesmerized and my eyes began to glaze over. Bite after bite of this blissful duo sent Zelda into a total sugar coma, and the rest of the world ceased to exist. Well, for the most part. There was a tv next to the couch and toward the end of my adventure the owner turned on a soccer match, so that eventually brought me back to reality. Zelda’s not much of a sports fan, and it’s hard to block out the sound of commentators during a sporting event. It was perfect up until that moment, though! Today’s cup really set the bar high for the rest of the week’s adventures, and it’s going to be hard to top. I’m hopeful, optimistic, and ready for the challenge!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Whirlwind Siesta, Flamenco Sold Separately

      

      

The weekend is still going strong and Zelda took off on another international adventure today! With Yogurtland’s current Flavor Quest promotion, customers can experience exotic flavors from around the globe without going any further than their nearest Yogurtland. The promotion began in March and features 10 culinary offerings from various countries, but the final two flavors are making their official debut on Monday. One made a quiet entrance today, so Zelda grabbed her passport in an attempt to see what this new destination had to offer. Time to check in at the Kent store!

I was the first passenger to arrive at the Kent airport, and the manager and assistant manager welcomed me in. They’re always glad to see me, especially since I’m a frequent flyer. A few other passengers showed up soon after, but the terminal was mostly quiet which is great for vacationers like myself. No one likes to travel with a bunch of chaos! After securing my seat, I was whisked away on my international journey. There were three vacation destinations on the tour, but a fourth city was visited during a brief stopover. The stopover led me to Spain for the newest arrival in the Flavor Quest promotion, Blood Orange Ice. It’s a sorbet, so it’s not something I would normally go out of my way for. It has a light orange flavor, and it reminds me of Push-Up Pops that I used to eat as a kid. Those were always one of my favorite ice cream novelty items from the ice cream man, and this flavor is very reminiscent of that. I didn’t spend very long in Spain and didn’t even bother shopping for a flamenco since I was more anxious to get on to the real spots on my itinerary. After a quick Spanish siesta, I was off to Denmark to enjoy Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato which just happens to be Yogurtland’s first gelato offering. It’s mild in flavor and tastes a lot like a peanut bar, and I have enjoyed it on several occasions. The texture is the same as fro-yo, so you wouldn’t really know it was gelato by looking at it. The next country I visited was Thailand for Cinnamon Coconut. This flavor is a nice combination of sweet coconut and savory cinnamon, and I’ve really enjoyed this over the course of the promotion. After spending some time soaking up the local culture, it was time to head back to the USA for some good old fashioned Banana Pudding. It’s is a staple in the south, and Yogurtland’s version of this beloved dessert is sweet and flavorful. This smooth and creamy offering was a great way to finish an worldly excursion.

A vacation isn’t complete without a few souvenirs, right? Well, Zelda definitely picked up a few along the way. While in Denmark, Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato was in the company of crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to bring out as much peanut butter flavor as possible. Thailand’s souvenirs were NSA dark chocolate bits as an accompaniment for Cinnamon Coconut because we all know how Zelda loves her dark chocolate, plus chocolate and coconut make a nice combination. After returning to the USA, I picked up two goodies at the Duty Free shop: crushed Nilla Wafers and Hershey’s chocolate chips were today’s trinkets for Banana Pudding. Banana Pudding isnt really complete without the Nilla Wafers, and of course Zelda never needs an excuse to get chocolate chips. There are always two requirements for every creation, so cookie dough bites and fresh whipped cream made their way onto all three flavors. Perfect! After cashing in a few frequent flyer rewards, today’s vacation turned out to be free. Those are the best kinds!

What a vacation! All three flavors were scrumptious, and it was such a delicious trip around the world. It’s a tossup as to which country I enjoyed the most, but it was definitely Denmark or Thailand. The USA’s Banana Pudding was very tasty, but it wasn’t quite at the same enjoyment level as the other two flavors in the cup. As my journey came to an end, the terminal began to see a few more customers who had opted for the later flights. It wasn’t too crazy, but there was an interesting incident. A mom and her two small sons (approximate ages of six and eight) came in and each got a yogurt, and another mom and her two kids came in at the same time. Evidently the two moms were meeting each other for an after-church snack for themselves and the kids. Everyone got their yogurt, paid, and sat down to eat. Might I add that the two small children each had a huge yogurt, and the cost of all three was $19. I know this because I was standing at the register talking to the assistant manager about upcoming flavors. After a while, the younger of the two boys came up to the toppings bar while we were standing there and he reached in and started grabbing pretzels with his bare hands. That’s never good! Naturally the assistant manager and I spoke up at the same time and told him he couldn’t reach in and grab toppings with his hands, and that he needed to pay for any toppings he wanted. To our surprise, he dropped all the pretzels he was holding back into the bin and quietly walked back over to his table. I think his reaction stunned us both and we had a good laugh over it. Of course, the pretzels had to be dumped since they had been tainted by germy little fingers and neither of the moms noticed the incident at all because they were so engrossed in their conversation. Oh, the things you see at a self-serve yogurt shop! The funny thing was that it looked like the little boy had barely even touched his $6 yogurt because it looked exactly as it had when it was being weighed. He might have been better off at a vending machine with a bag of pretzels for $0.75, don’t you think? I guess it wouldn’t be a true vacation if there wasn’t some sort of unusual sighting. Too bad I didn’t have my video camera!

Until we eat again….

Z-

Alert The Media….Record Breaking Easter Adventure!

   

   

It’s Easter, and what a fantastic holiday Zelda has had! Every day has a sweet adventure in store, but today’s was somewhat epic. For the past week and a half I’ve been planning a visit to the land of yogurt in Kent because a good friend of mine was going to be working today, and I wanted to make sure I could stop by to wish him a happy Easter. He was the manager of the University location which closed at the end of February, but he is now working at the Bellevue location which is a little further of a drive and in a busy traffic area. Needless to say our visits have somewhat suffered lately! Sometimes he works at the Kent location, so when I heard he was going to be there today I marked my calendar and knew today would be a Yogurtland day. It was also a perfect opportunity for me to redeem my third Unlimited Cup reward and attempt to beat my previous record of 57 ounces. I knew my friend would want to witness the big event, and if I could avoid a lengthy drive to Bellevue then that was another bonus. With my favorite fro-yo companion along for the ride, we were ready to pull out all the stops and make this an unforgettable Easter holiday.

We were the first customers to arrive, and my friend greeted us and gave me a big hug. Naturally I couldn’t show up on Easter without bringing him some sort of chocolate treat, so that really put a smile on his face. It just doesn’t feel like Easter without chocolate! To my excitement he had a chocolate goody for me as well, so there was no definitely no lack of sweets here! What can I say? He always spoils me! We had both been looking forward to today because our weekly Thursday visits hit a brick wall once the University location closed, and we haven’t had as much of a chance to visit lately. When I told him that today was the day I’d be building my third Unlimited Cup, he was definitely glad to be there for the festivities. We took time to catch up for a while, and then dessert was looming and I was ready to start the first part of the construction phase.

Today’s adventure was two-fold because there was the matter of the Unlimited Cup as well as Zelda’s personal masterpiece, so the Unlimited Cup was the first order of business. For those of you who may not be familiar with the Unlimited Cup, it’s a highly coveted reward for Platinum members through Yogurtland’s Real Rewards program. It takes a lot of yogurt to earn this reward, 540 cumulative ounces to be exact. This is my third Unlimited Cup in a little over a year, so that should tell you something about how much fro-yo Zelda consumes. The Unlimited Cup is just that; it’s however much yogurt and toppings you want in a 16 oz cup. It’s a shame not to make the most of this coveted reward, so for me it’s an opportunity to create the biggest and craziest yogurt around. I am known for my petite desserts on a daily basis, but that goes out the window when it comes to the Unlimited Cup. It’s all about quantity, and lots of it. After all, I have a reputation to uphold! My first unlimited cup was 41.8 ounces, and the second was 57 ounces. I was not about to settle for anything less than 60 on today’s cup, so the strategy began. Using chocolate rolled wafer cookies and divider cookies for structural support, the creation began with Salted Dark Chocolate and then moved on to Cinnamon Coconut, Banana Pudding, and Peanut Nougat with Almond Butter & Honey Gelato. Interestingly enough, all four flavors are new offerings from the current Flavor Quest promotion so they’ve only been out since the beginning of March. It took several minutes to complete the process since it was a matter of balancing all that yogurt into a 16 oz cup. Once the cup was filled, we added a few various toppings for accent: frosted animal cookies, Nilla Wafers, sliced almonds, carob chips, salted caramel bits, and coconut macaroons. When the creation was complete, it weighed in at a whopping 70.4 ounces (70.0 after the weight of the cup was deducted). We beat our previous record by an even larger amount than we had expected, so it was quite the monumental moment! And for those of you trying to do the math, the grand total before the price was zeroed out was $26.60. After savoring the moment and catching the eye of a few curious onlookers, we began the task of deconstructing the masterpiece. With a cup this size there’s no way one or two people can eat it all, and it usually ends up finding its way into the freezer for several future snacks. It’s a nice way to make the Unlimited Cup last that much longer instead of just eating it and having nothing left to show for it. I was snacking on my first and second Unlimited Cup for a few months after making them, so I know that will be the case once again. Let’s hear it for a record breaking cup!

Once the deconstruction was complete, the next matter at hand was today’s dessert. There has been one new arrival in the Flavor Quest promotion since my last visit, and I was curious to try it. Pom Lemon Berry Tart from Egypt is the latest offering in this worldly promotion, and it combines pomegranate, lemon, and raspberry. I’m not usually a fruity or tart fan, but I still enjoy trying a brand new flavor. I was surprised at how delicious it was, and it was very refreshing. I didn’t find it too terribly tart, so I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much. As yummy as it is, though, I still wasn’t planning to add it into today’s mix. I already knew the three I was planning to get, and three of them had already found their way into the Unlimited Cup.

Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato was the first flavor chosen, followed by Banana Pudding, and Cinnamon Coconut. Peanut Nougat With Almond Butter & Honey Gelato and Cinnamon Coconut were the two with the largest shares and saw 40% each, while Banana Pudding was my divider flavor and made up the remaining 20% of the cup. I’m not a huge fan of banana, but I have enjoyed this one lately. With that said, I find myself getting smaller amounts of it on each visit because I think I’ve reached a slight banana burnout. Nothing major, though! Once the flavor lineup was set, I stepped over to the toppings bar to pick out a few little gems. Peanut Nougat with Almond Butter & Honey was the lucky recipient of NSA dark chocolate bits while Banana Pudding was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Cinnamon Coconut was paired with Hershey’s chocolate chips. The entire cup saw its usual fare of cookie dough bites and fresh whipped cream, and would you believe that it was free? After yet another discount, today’s delight was also complimentary. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

Another tasty creation! All three flavors were unique in their own way but Cinnamon Coconut was probably the flavor most enjoyed. Peanut Nougat with Almond Butter & Honey Gelato is a yummy one, but it’s a bit mild compared to the others in the cup. This is the type of flavor I’d normally consider as a good divider flavor for bolder flavors with the exception of the two others in today’s cup. I made that mistake the first time I got it and wasn’t happy with the way it paired with Churro, so I didn’t want to make the same mistake today with Cinnamon Coconut. Sometimes certain flavors just don’t mesh well together, so it’s good to have a more appropriate flavor to separate them. The cup was very successful today and was quickly devoured.

The shop wasn’t too busy since most people were probably still at church or having dinner with family, so it gave my friend and I a great opportunity to visit. It was just like the old days at the UW location, and it was the perfect way to wind down from a record breaking moment. Oh, how I’ve missed our Thursdays! As for the Unlimited Cup, I’m already thinking of how I can top today’s feat when the fourth unlimited cup rolls around. That won’t be for several months, but it’s never too early to start planning. I wonder if 80 ounces is too big of a goal to set!

Until we eat again….

Z-

The PB Madness Is Coming To An End

   

It’s the start of another week, and for many people it’s spring break. Bring on the fun! The weather sure did cooperate today because it was sunny and in the mid 60s. What a great day to be outside and an even better day for a frozen treat. Normally I’d be making the trek to Yogurtland to try out the two new Flavor Quest flavors which arrived today, but I had a sneak preview at one of them yesterday while at the Kent store. The second flavor came out as scheduled today, but I wasn’t too anxious to make the lengthy venture two days in a row because it’s a tart flavor. I’ll definitely look forward to sampling it when I got later in the week, but today I decided to revisit the Menchie’s in Hawks Prairie after a brief hiatus. I may not be crazy about the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Slam Dunk flavor which is one of the featured flavors for March, but this location always has a few other permanent flavors that I crave. I was also curious to see if they had brought in any new flavors over the past few weeks, and there was no time like the present. As fro-yo hour neared, I took a short drive in search of a sweet delight.

I arrived as the shop was opening for the day and the team member welcomed me back with a friendly greeting. I was the only customer in the shop, but I knew it was just a matter of time before a few other hungry customers would show up. I grabbed my favorite table and then took a look to see what had changed since my last visit. The first thing I saw was one of the machines that was missing its flavor signs. I know this location cleans their machines in the morning before the shop opens, so I figured that they were still in the process and hadn’t had a chance to finish. It just so happened to be the machine that they usually have Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Slam Dunk in, so that peaked my curiosity. I asked the team member about it and she informed me that the flavors that were going in that machine were still thawing out and wouldn’t be ready until later in the day. That was a bit of a disappointment! No one likes to walk in and find fewer flavors than there should be, especially if it’s not due to a machine malfunction. I can understand if a machine is broken and needs to be fixed, but if the machine isn’t clean or the yogurt isn’t thawed then that’s a different story. It’s something I encountered last week at Gibson’s in Tacoma, and on that day they only had five flavors instead of eight; that’s more than 25% of their flavors that were not available. Luckily there were 12 others today at Menchie’s, and the ones I really came in for were ready and waiting. There was some good news as far as the empty machine goes, though. It seems that one of the flavors going in will be one of next month’s featured flavors and it will be available later today, but the really exciting news is that the other side of the machine is going to have Zelda’s favorite: Peanut Buttercup! It seems that along with my recent feedback, a few other people mentioned that they didn’t like the Reese’s Slam Dunk flavor as much as Peanut Buttercup which had been in prior to Slam Dunk’s appearance. The people have spoken and the almighty Peanut Buttercup has prevailed! How fitting that it coincides with the end of March Madness which is what the Slam Dunk flavor was named after. The madness is over! That was the best news I had heard all day, but it would have been 10x magnified if it had been thawed and ready for me to eat. Next time, though! Since my last visit, the shop also ran out of the other featured flavor for March: Rich ‘n’ Smooth Cookie Butter and in its place was Low Carb Butterscotch. Originally I planned on getting Rich ‘n’ Smooth Cookie Butter in today’s cup, but that was before I knew it was gone. Now it was time to look at the other options. Low Carb Butterscotch intrigued me since I’ve had it at other Menchie’s locations in the past, so I sampled it and happily found my replacement. Since there was no PB flavor available, I still needed a rich flavor to dominate the cup. My first thought was I Dream of Cookies ‘n’ Cream, so I took a quick sample to be sure. Sometimes it strikes the taste buds more than others, so you can never be too sure. It was pretty good today, so it became a contender. My final sample was the other flavor that I specifically came in for: Dreamy Dulce de Leche. This is always a perfect choice, and the sample really sealed the deal. The lineup was set and I was ready to fill the cup!

Dreamy Dulce de Leche was the first flavor in the cup, followed by I Dream of Cookies ‘n’ Cream as a divider flavor, and Low Carb Butterscotch as the final flavor. Dreamy Dulce de Leche was by far the largest amount of the three at 70%, while I Dream of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was a modest divider at 10% and Low Carb Butterscotch made up the remaining 20% of the cup. Now it was time to move on to a few tasty nuggets of goodness! I always look to see if there are any new toppings, especially chocolate ones, but I didn’t see anything since my last visit. I’ve been hoping this location would get dark chocolate chips, but not yet. There are miniature Hershey’s Kisses which are milk chocolate and then there are a few other milk chocolate toppings, but nothing with dark chocolate other than dipped fruit. It requires a little bit of creativity on my part, so I typically look in the bin with the dipped fruit and can usually find a few chunks of chocolate that have broken off or become separated from the fruit. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do! Dreamy Dulce de Leche was the happy recipient of a few dark chocolate bits, I Dream of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was adorned with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Low Carb Butterscotch had a nice accompaniment of crushed KitKat. The entire cup had a generous amount of cookie dough bites and then it was doused with whipped cream as well. After redeeming a discount, the grand total was only $0.25. How many people do you know who can dine for a dime so to speak? If there’s a deal to be had, Zelda will find it. Now all that was left was to grab a spoon and enjoy.

Dreamy Dulce de Leche was the highlight of the day, but the other two weren’t too shabby at all. It’s hard to compete with the mouth watering taste of Dreamy Dulce de Leche and its rich caramel flavor, but Low Carb Butterscotch had a nice buttery presence that made me think of its namesake candy. The Low Carb flavors aren’t usually as indulgent as the regular flavors, but this is one of the few that I really like. The texture is a little different and not quite as creamy, but it definitely has a nice taste. I Dream of Cookies ‘n’ Cream had a light cocoa flavor but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I have on other occasions. It just didn’t dazzle my taste buds quite as much as usual, and the other two flavors out-shined it. It was still a nice addition to the cup, and it was only a matter of time before I was taking the final few bites and smacking my lips.

The shop had a few other customers while I was there, but it never got too busy for my liking. I’m curious to see what the coming months will bring because this the first summer since the shop opened. The Hawks Prairie area of Lacey is somewhat busy, so I expect to see a fair amount of business once school is out. Hopefully it isn’t too crawling with kids since Zelda cherishes her quiet fro-yo moments, but only time will tell. On the brighter side, at least I’ll have some Peanut Buttercup to enjoy in the near future. That’s enough to brighten any day in my book and I have a feeling I will be returning to Hawks Prairie sooner rather than later!

Until we eat again….

Z-