Zelda’s here….where are you?

  

Happy Fro-Yo Friday! Yes, Zelda decided it was time to spread a little holiday cheer today and invite you along on my adventure today. It’s been a couple of weeks since I filled you in, and that’s too long! It was a bit of a mixed bag today, so there’s plenty to tell. My first thought was Menchie’s at Hawks Prairie because they recently brought back one of Zelda’s favorites: Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. I’ve gone a few times since it returned last week, and it was definitely calling me today. As the afternoon approached, I finished my errands and made the familiar drive to Hawks Prairie only to find an unexpected surprise. It was 12pm and the door was locked, which has happened on occasion since the shop sometimes fall a few minutes behind schedule. Well, as I looked in through the glass I noticed a sign on the counter as well as on the door announcing the shop’s new hours. Starting today they will be opening at 2pm instead of 12pm, and let me tell you that this was a very last minute decision. I was just here three days ago and no one was aware of the intent to change the hours, and upon further investigation later this afternoon it turns out that the staff was just made aware of the change on Wednesday. It looks like Zelda’s fro-yo options just decreased because fro-yo hour is certainly not 2pm for me. After coming to the harsh realization that there would be no Cinnabon today, I quickly checked the flavors at the next two closest locations: Tacoma Mall and Capital Mall (each one in opposite directions). Tacoma Mall had nothing to draw me in, however Capital Mall had the final promotional flavor four days ahead of schedule. No contest there! Capital Mall it is.

The manager welcomed me in and gave me some good news as I settled into my favorite spot; it looks like Chewy Peanut Butter Cookie will be arriving as soon as they run out of Southern Pecan Pie. That was definitely music to my ears! I shared with him my woe of arriving at Hawks Prairie only to have the Cinnabon rug swept out from beneath me, and he was also surprised about the sudden change in hours. It’s good news for them, though; anyone in Lacey or Olympia who wants to go to Menchie’s from 12-2pm will have to go to Capital Mall. Since my sweet tooth satisfaction was already running behind schedule, I quickly made my way to the sample cups for a taste of the new arrival. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie is the sixth and final flavor in Menchie’s Holiday Dessert Fair promotion. Earlier this month customers were treated to Holiday Eggnog and Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie, neither of which I found appealing. I’m not a fan of Eggnog, and I don’t usually go for chocolate flavors; especially if there’s a fruity combination like chocolate cherry. I had been anticipating Oatmeal Raisin Cookie since I’m a big fan of Yogurtland’s Oatmeal Cookie, but I was a little apprehensive about whether or not the raisin flavor would be strong. The flavor is quite tasty, and the raisin was noticeable although it wasn’t overpowering. While it won’t be a Zelda favorite, it’s tasty and it became a quick contender for the cup. Out of the rest of the lineup, only two called out to me: Southern Pecan Pie and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. After sampling each, I was ready to pick up an Alvin The Chipmunk cup and start swirling.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie was the first flavor to arrive, followed by Southern Pecan Pie and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. A sweet trio like this deserves some even sweeter accompaniments! Since I initially thought I’d be having Cinnabon, I planned ahead and brought some of my secret stash of Cinnabon Morsels. It seemed a shame not to use them, so I set them aside and decided they should make an appearance at the table for Oatmeal Raisin Cookie. Southern Pecan Pie was joined by Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Chips while I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Cookie dough bites and whipped cream made their way throughout the entire cup, and I redeemed some of my Menchie’s Money which made my treat free. Time to add the coveted secret topping to Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, and then my collectible Alvin spoon was ready for action.

Another sweet and savory indulgence that satisfied every taste bud! I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was the first flavor to depart, and its taste was everything I could want; a perfect balance of cocoa and cream. Southern Pecan Pie was scrumptious and really enjoyed its chocolate topping as well as its neighbors. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie was a nice change and it paired well with the super secret Cinnabon Morsels that I had with me. Sometimes you need something a little special to elevate a flavor to the next level, right? As you might imagine, it wasn’t long before I was scraping the cup and licking the spoon clean. Soon my frustrations of the Hawks Prairie store and the big Cinnabon letdown were temporarily forgotten, and all I could think about was the yumminess I had just devoured. Don’t think that I didn’t call the Hawks Prairie store shortly after 2pm, though! I made sure to let them know that their most loyal customer was left out in the cold today and had no choice but to go to a different store. Times are rough for fro-yo shops in the winter, and I’ve seen quite a few come and go within the past few years. I hope that the Hawks Prairie location isn’t the next to go, but only time will tell.

Until we eat again….

Z-

 

 

 

Just When You Thought The Magic Was Over….

  

The rainy weather has moved in once again, and the wind has really picked up as well. It’s just the beginning of the rainy season for Washingtonians, so we’re in for a long ride. With no sign of the stormy weather letting up today, I decided to stick with my nearest fro-yo option today. As much as I would have enjoyed an encore performance at Menchie’s Tacoma Mall, sometimes Mother Nature dictates otherwise. As the rain continued to pour, I dug out my galoshes and canoed my way to Menchie’s at Hawks Prairie.

Guess how many people were there today? Two; me and the manager. It’s not that surprising since there was a monsoon outside, so I have a feeling the shop will be very slow today. That’s okay because I prefer to have it all to myself, plus it gives me a chance to visit with the manager. As we caught up on the latest happenings, I took a peek at today’s lineup in the hopes that they would still have Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. I knew the odds were in my favor because this location is notorious for not having the new promotional flavors on their scheduled release dates, and true to fashion Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is still available and the newest release (Southern Pecan Pie) has yet to make an appearance. That’s good enough for me! Both are tasty, but out of the two I’d rather have Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. As I looked at the rest of the lineup, I had a taste for two in particular: Dreamy Dulce de Leche and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. I quickly sampled each, but I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was a little on the icy side and didn’t pass the quality test. That was too bad, but at least Dreamy Dulce de Leche was creamy and wonderful. I gazed at the rest of the lineup for a third possibility, but the only potential candidate was Live From New York Cheesecake. The rain continued to pour, but I was quite content with what I was about to encounter. As I made my way to the cups, there was an exciting surprise waiting. This location recently found two cases of last year’s color-changing cups, so customers currently have a choice between having the new collectible Alvin & The Chipmunks cup or a magical color-changing Halloween cup. As much as I love Alvin & The Chipmunks, it’s been over a year since I had the chance to use a color-changing cup and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers. Time to let the magic begin!

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was the first to arrive on the scene, followed by Live From New York Cheesecake and Dreamy Dulce de Leche in a ratio of 50-20-30% respectively. The trio was off to a great start, but there were still a few sweet additions that were needed. Dreamy Dulce de Leche was given a small chunk of chocolate while Live From New York Cheesecake was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I had a special topping in mind for Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, so I planned ahead and brought a special stash of Cinnabon Morsels which would get added at the table. A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, right? There was one other order of business before hitting the scale, though; cookie dough bites and whipped cream made their way throughout the cup and then it was time to pay. After today’s discount, my total was only $0.67; not bad if I do say so myself. It seemed only appropriate that since I had a color-changing cup I should pick a color-changing spoon as opposed to a red Alvin the Chipmunk spoon. I grabbed my favorite table, added my secret stash of Cinnabon Morsels, and then it was time to take the first bite.

As expected, this was scrumptious and definitely worth getting soaked for. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory with a wonderful spice-induced flavor, and it was elevated even more with the special Cinnabon topping. Nothing like some gingerbread to get into the holiday season! Live From New York Cheesecake was mild but still had that special something, probably because of its PB topping. Zelda love love loves her Peanut Butter, and one way or another there will be PB in the cup whether it’s fro-yo or a topping. Dreamy Dulce de Leche was smooth and indulgent, satisfying all of my sweet caramel craving dreams. Chocolate and caramel? Ooh that’s a sinfully sweet combination that I can’t pass up. Bite after bite of pure decadent bliss, Zelda’s taste buds were over the moon and there was no looking back.

Surprisingly, there ended up being a few other customers who came in while I was eating. That was quite unexpected for both myself and the manager since this is the kind of weather that usually keeps customers away, but the fro-yo cravings don’t stop just because the weather is less than desirable. Whether you choose to answer them or not, that’s a different story. I’ve driven through snow storms and icy roads all in the name of Peanut Butter, so a little bit of rain and wind is nothing. I don’t know about you, but I’m not prepared to suffer the wrath of ignoring my sweet tooth!

Until we eat again….

Z-

 

Move Over Pumpkin Pie, It’s Pecan Time

   

   

   

It’s Monday once again, and no one usually looks forward to the start of the week. The only time Mondays are appealing is when there’s a holiday or a new fro-yo flavor. Just my luck, there happens to be a new flavor at Menchie’s as of yesterday! I know better than to pin all of my fro-yo hopes on a new flavor, so there has to be a backup plan that involves Peanut Butter. My strongest PB option at the moment is Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall, plus they have another one of my favorites. Sold! The weather may have been cold and windy, but it wasn’t going to keep me from a special dessert. Back to the mall for a noteworthy adventure!

There were two other customers when I arrived, so evidently the damp day didn’t keep everyone away. The team member welcomed me in as I grabbed my favorite table, and then I was anxious to see what yummy things awaited me. The holiday promotion began two weeks ago and has launched three flavors so far, one of which has already departed. Chocolate Mint Creme made with Andes is one of the lucky ones that will be in all month, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was only in the store for two weeks and departed to make way for today’s arrival of Southern Pecan Pie. It’s too bad because I really like Spiced Gingerbread Cookie whereas I’m not a fan of mint flavored fro-yo. That’s the breaks, though! Luckily for me Southern Pecan Pie is yummy, although I have to say that I didn’t get much of a nutty flavor. It’s very sweet and it almost reminded me of a maple flavor more so than pecan. It’s been years since I’ve had pecan pie, but this didn’t really taste like pecan pie to me. If I didn’t know what the flavor was, I probably wouldn’t be able to identify it in a blind taste test. It was still yummy and a definite contender, so that’s what really matters. I already knew what my two main flavors would be, so a quick quality check ensured their place in the cup and then it was time to create.

Creamy Peanut Butter was joined by Southern Pecan Pie and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll to make a sweet and scrumptious delight. A powerful trio this was, and all it needed was a few tasty trinkets. Creamy Peanut Butter was accented with Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips, Southern Pecan Pie received a light dusting of graham cracker crumbs, and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was in its own sweet bliss because it was drizzled with cream cheese icing. It also had another topping that would be arriving once I sat down at the table, but that’s something I’ll get to in a moment. For the entire cup, cookie dough bites and whipped cream were added before redeeming a 50% discount through the Pirq smartphone app. Awesome! I grabbed my spoon and headed to the table, and that’s when the highly coveted Cinnabon Morsels made their appearance. The promotional topping ran out a few weeks ago, but I took home a cup for future Cinnabon encounters and I always bring it with me. After they made their appearance, I was ready to indulge.

I was in heaven from the first bite! Creamy Peanut Butter had such decadence that dazzled me through and through. I can never get enough of this amazing flavor, and it’s an encounter like this that made me fall in love with it in the first place. Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the second favorite of the day, enrobed in its specially themed toppings. Every bite was tantalizing, and I was quickly in a state of fro-yo euphoria. Southern Pecan Pie was succulent and had a sugary sweetness, blending well with both of its neighbors. It was the smallest portion of the three, but it held its own very nicely. Graham cracker crumbs were a perfect accent considering this was a “pie” flavor even though it didn’t make me think of pecan pie per se. I tried to make the cup last as long as possible, but all good things eventually come to an end. I guess it’s a good thing for me that there’s always another adventure waiting in the wings, so let’s hope it’s every bit as amazing as Monday’s was!

Until we eat again….

Z-

Going Bananas For Taro

   

    

Sunday brought a nice amount of sunshine, although it was still bitterly cold. It may not have been the warmest of days, but it was a great day to visit the land of yogurt! After my usual Sunday lunch at my favorite restaurant in Tukwila, I made the drive to Yogurtland in Kent for a chilly dessert.

The manager welcomed me in, and it was nice to see her since it had been a few weeks. Most of the time the assistant manager is there on Sunday, so I don’t always get a chance to visit with the manager. I’m one of her favorite customers, and we always have a great time chatting. She filled me in on a few interesting things today, one of which is an upcoming flavor change. Since there’s a disappointing holiday promotion this year, some of the former seasonal favorites are available to order. Knowing what a fan I am of one in particular, she jumped at the chance and ordered it. After a long absence I am excited to report that Cookie Butter will be arriving in the next few weeks! That’s fantastic news and it helps to ease the disappointment of this year’s holiday bust. Maybe there is a Santa Claus this year after all. After getting the great news, my sweet tooth was ready for a taste of something yummy.

This location has 12 flavors, so it’s a little limited compared to most Yogurtland locations. The holiday promotion began last Monday and brought back two returning favorites: Cranberry Raspberry Tart and Bananas Foster. I don’t really go for fruity flavors and I definitely don’t care for tart flavors, but I am rather fond of Bananas Foster. It has cinnamon in it, so I imagine that’s why. I knew it was a likely contender today as was another autumn favorite; Pumpkin Pie has been in since the fall promotion started in September, and it will remain through the end of the month. I sampled both to make sure they hit the spot, and each got a thumbs up. A favorite of mine caught my eye today, Taro. I took a quick taste and found it to be perfect, so I was ready to create my masterpiece.

Bananas Foster got the party started, and then came Taro and Pumpkin Pie. Toppings were plentiful, beginning with Bananas Foster which received graham cracker crumbs and NSA dark chocolate bits. Taro was joined by crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Pumpkin Pie saw carob chips and cinnamon toast crunch cereal. For the big finish, cookie dough bites and whipped cream were added throughout. When I was here last Monday the whipped cream dispenser was broken, but they have since gotten a replacement. Thank goodness because Zelda can’t stand to be without her fluffy topping! And the bonus of the day was that it was completely free. Let’s hear it for free fro-yo! If that’s not exciting enough, the shop still has some of the Candy Crush spoons from the summer “Sweet Treats” promotion. Zelda scored another collectible blue spoon today!

Yum! Taro was today’s highlight, and every bite was smooth and amazing. It’s a mild flavor, but it’s unique and I have been a fan of Taro for many years. It’s not the kind of flavor that you see at many places, but it is a permanent offering at the Bellevue location of Yogurtland. Unfortunately I don’t go to Bellevue too often, so I am always excited when the Kent store gets it in stock. Bananas Foster was a real treat, and it went well with its toppings. Aside from Bananas Foster, the only other banana flavor I like is Cinnamon Banana Bread but it hasn’t been in stock since last December. Maybe next year! Pumpkin Pie had a nice taste, but as much as I love it I haven’t enjoyed it as much this year for some reason. It’s too bad because it’s a great flavor that only comes around once a year, but it just hasn’t stood out as much this season. As with all of my cups, it wasn’t long before it was gone and my sweet tooth was satisfied once again…..for now at least. With another weekend coming to an end, it means I’ll have to fill my week with lots of tasty adventures. Where should I start?

Until we eat again….

Z-

It’s Back In All Its Cinnabon Glory!

   

Another rainy Saturday, but that didn’t stop Zelda from tracking down her beloved PB. Menchie’s at Tacoma Mall still has Creamy Peanut Butter for the time being, plus they brought back another one of Zelda’s favorites. They were definitely the most promising of options, so as the rain continued to fall I found myself searching for a parking spot at a rather crowded Tacoma Mall in hopes of something scrumptious. Persistence paid off, but would the reward?

The shop was empty compared to all of the stores inside the mall, but it wasn’t exactly the kind of day that would make someone crave a frozen treat (unless you’re Zelda). The team member welcomed me in and was wondering if she’d see me today since I’ve been in the last few Saturdays. I am quite the creature of habit after all, and when there is Peanut Butter that’s even more assurance that I’ll stop by. It probably won’t be around much longer, but at least it’s here today. To make things even better, the shop brought back one of my favorites yesterday: Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. It was one of last month’s featured flavors and has been disappearing and reappearing at a few locations lately; I’ve been tracking it down like a mad woman! This shop is also the only location that still has the cream cheese icing that was released with it, so that’s a major bonus. And if that’s not enough, I’m also a big fan of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie which debuted two weeks ago. Today’s the last day to have it at Tacoma Mall because the next featured flavor arrives tomorrow, so I have to enjoy it while I can. With three heavy hitters, there was no need to look any further. I still checked the rest of the lineup to make sure I didn’t overlook anything, but these were the only three that called out. After a quick quality check, my Alvin & The Chipmunks cup was ready to be filled.

Creamy Peanut Butter the first flavor to arrive, and it was joined by Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie respectively. Creamy Peanut Butter had the luxury of being joined by crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as well as Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by graham cracker crumbs as well as cream cheese icing, and then I moved on to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. When the flavor was released, there were two promotional toppings that coincided with it: Cinnabon Morsels and cream cheese icing. The Cinnabon Morsels ran out a few weeks ago, but I brought home a cup of them for my own personal stash, so they make an appearance at any and all Cinnabon encounters. Since they usually get added after I pay, I drizzled a little bit of cream cheese icing to Cinnabon before adding my final two accents of cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout the cup. After redeeming a discount through the Pirq smartphone app, I received a 50% discount on my order. Awesome! Time to grab a spoon and add the coveted morsels to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll. Perfecto! You know what comes next…..indulgence.

Wow, what a home run! Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll had an amazing savory comfort, and every bite made my tongue dance with excitment. Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the highlight of the two, but Spiced Gingerbread Cookie wasn’t too shabby in the least. Creamy Peanut Butter seemed to melt in my mouth and awakened every sense imaginable. My sweet tooth was in heaven! It’s a bit different compared to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, so it’s hard to say which of the two was my favorite today. I enjoyed both in their own special way, holding on to every bite as long as possible. Eventually I got to the last bite which was a mixure of Creamy Peanut Butter and Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, and then I was staring at the few remaining droplets and wondering where it had all gone. If there were a dreamy Saturday encounter to be had, this was definitely it. It’s going to take a lot to top this with Sunday’s adventure, so I’m already looking at my possibilities. Will it be a visit to the land of yogurt or a possible refreshment in Seattle? Or perhaps a return to Menchie’s to welcome in the next flavor? What will the taste buds ask for?

Until we eat again….

Z-

13 Rules The Day

   

   

It’s Fro-Yo Friday the 13th! I’m not much into superstition, and I actually find the number 13 to be quite lucky. There are plenty of people out there who avoid black cats and walking under ladders, though. For my Fro-Yo Friday the 13th adventure, I decided to pay a visit to the crew at Menchie’s in Hawks Prairie since I hadn’t been there yet this week. They’ve always got a few flavors I crave, and they’re the most convenient option. Considering that it was raining cats and dogs outside, a short drive was much appreciated. As the afternoon arrived, a Menchie’s encounter was upon me.

I was the first customer of the day, and the manager greeted me with a big smile. It’s been a while since I’ve been in during her shift, and she has definitely noticed. We had plenty to catch up on, and it was perfect timing since the weather was so lousy. Not too many people think about fro-yo on a cold and rainy day, but the weather never stops me. As we chatted, I took a look to see what had changed since last week’s visit and noticed one big difference…..Creamy Peanut Butter has left the building! I knew it was coming, so it wasn’t a surprise and I had prepared myself for it. In its place was one of the featured flavors for the month, Chocolate Mint Creme (made with Andes). I’m not much of a mint fro-yo fan, so I didn’t give it a second thought and kept looking. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie is another featured flavor that I find rather appealing, so it was my strongest contender. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was my second leading option, and the sample found it to be just the way I like it (not too chocolatey). I also considered Dreamy Dulce de Leche, but caramel wasn’t calling me today like it usually does. Since I already had two dominant flavors, I looked at possible divider flavors and decided on Live From New York Cheesecake. Time to grab a cup and get to it!

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by Live From New York Cheesecake and I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream. As I pondered the toppings, I knew there had to be something special and I started with chocolate. I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was given crushed KitKat and chocolate chunks while Live From New York Cheesecake was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I planned in advance for Spiced Gingerbread Cookie because there are only a couple of toppings I really like to use, and neither are available at this location. Both of the two in question are promotional toppings from last month’s Cinnabon flavor, and Zelda just so happens to have some of the last remaining Cinnabon Morsels in her possession. Since they make their appearance at the table, I added my usual go-to toppings of cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout the cup and after today’s discount the cup was only  whopping $0.13. How’s that for a coincidence? Fro-Yo Friday the 13th for $0.13! The shop still has some of the color changing spoons as well as the new Alvin the Chipmunk spoon, so I grabbed one of each and claimed my favorite table. A girl has to have her choice of spoons, right? The last order of business was to add the super secret Cinnabon Morsels to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, and then it was ready for tasting.

I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was the first flavor to leave the cup; it was rich and well balanced, satisfying my chocolate cravings. Live From New York Cheesecake was mild yet sweet, and its PB topping really gave it pizzazz. Zelda loves her PB, and if I can’t have Peanut Butter fro-yo then you can be certain that there will be a PB topping. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was savory and scrumptious, and the Cinnabon Morsels were a perfect accompaniment. Had the cream cheese icing still been available, I would have gone with that as well. It ran out within the last week, so it’s becoming a little more scarce and Tacoma Mall is the only location that still has it (as of Wednesday). Before I knew it, I was taking the last few bites and licking the spoon clean. What a way to spend a rainy afternoon!

The shop only had two other customers while I was there, and it was rather funny because one of them reciognized me as soon as she walked in. She was a lady who had been at the Capital Mall location on Tuesday and we were casually talking about flavors etc. Dreamy Dulce de Leche came up in conversation and the fact that Capital Mall hasn’t had it lately, so I mentioned that Hawks Prairie keeps it as a permanent flavor. Well, wouldn’t you know it? She took my advice and came in today just so she could have it. It was ironic that we were both here at the same time, so we both got a kick out of that. Great minds think alike, right?

Until we eat again….

Z-

Refreshment Anyone?

It’s Thursday and you know what that means…..Zelda is back in the Emerald City for her weekly visit! I always enjoy a trip to Seattle, and now that there’s a new fro-yo option it’s even more exciting. Refresh Frozen Yogurt & Espresso opened in September in the Capitol Hill district, and it offers 16 flavors of yogurt and gelato. I’ve been fortunate because they’ve had such a great lineup of flavors every time I’ve been in, so there’s always something to tempt me. Even though it was another cold and damp day, that didn’t stop me from wanting a “refreshment”.

I was the only person in the shop, and I received a warm welcome from one of the managers and a team member. Both are usually here when I come by every week, and they always look for me on Thursday. Today they were in the process of perfecting one of their coffee beverages, testing out two different chocolate flavorings. I don’t think their coffee business has taken off as much as they were hoping, so they’re looking at different ways to draw more people in for hot beverages. It’s tricky in a city like Seattle where there is already so much competition for coffee. With the shop being across the street from Seattle Central Community College, they’re hoping to appeal to students who are always in need of a caffeine boost to help them get through their studies. They definitely have a good fro-yo fan base, though! Speaking of which….that’s exactly what lured me in, and there were plenty of yummy options as usual. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough has returned, so I gave it a quick taste as well as Cookies n’ Cream. Neither of them really struck my taste buds today, but that’s okay because there were plenty of others to choose from. Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel was not available last Thursday due to a machine malfunction, but it was back in the mix today and destined for my cup. I took a taste of Southern Butter Pecan which is another flavor I usually get, but today’s sample didn’t taste as good as I had hoped. Fortunately White Chocolate Mousse and Old Fashioned Peanut Butter were every bit as irresistible as usual, so I didn’t have to look too far. Time to fill up my cup!

Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel was joined by White Chocolate Mousse and Old Fashioned Peanut Butter in a 40%-20%-40% ratio. This was already a scrumptious indulgence, but it still needed a few accents for perfection. Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel was paired with crushed Twix, White Chocolate Mousse was adorned with miniature dark chocolate chips, and Old Fashioned Peanut Butter was given slivers of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups minis. For my finale, I always complete my creation with cookie dough bites and whipped cream throughout. After a healthy dose of both, it was ready for a spoon!

Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel was today’s highlight. It’s sweet with a light savory flavor, and it reminds me of Salted Caramel Pecan from Yogurtland. Anything with caramel is always a treat, and this is by far my favorite flavor at Refresh. White Chocolate Mousse was stunning as always, and it embraced its chocolate chip topping. Typically I’m not a fan of white chocolate anything, but this flavor is the exception to the rule. Old Fashioned Peanut Butter was bold and delicious, and having a PB topping took it to the next level. It’s no surprise that the cup was empty within a few minutes, and my sweet tooth was satisfied yet again. Another memorable visit to the Emerald City, and now it’s time to look forward to the next adventure. Did someone say there’s a weekend on the way? I’m certainly ready for it!

Until we eat again….

Z-

A Special Veteran’s Treat

It’s Wednesday, but it feels like a weekend because it’s Veteran’s Day. A mid-week holiday is always a good thing! In honor of the holiday, I invited my favorite veteran to join me on my adventure today and it just so happened that Menchie’s is offering a free yogurt to veterans as well as active duty and family members. If there’s free fro-yo, you can bet I’ll be there! The Tacoma Mall location has a great lineup at the moment to include my beloved PB, so after a fun morning of shopping holiday sales and enjoying a complimentary lunch it was dessert time at Menchie’s.

The shop was bustling with military families when I arrived, and I think this is probably one of the busiest days I’ve seen at this store. I was surprised that my favorite table was open, so I grabbed it before anyone else had a chance to. My friend was working today, so she welcomed me in amidst all of the hubbub and we chatted in between customers. We always enjoy our visits, and I try to drop by when I know she’s working. Once the shop quieted down, I ventured over toward the sample cups to see what looked tempting. So many choices! I didn’t see anything different since my visit on Saturday, so that made the choice a simple one. Three flavors called out to me, and they all passed their quality check even though Creamy Peanut Butter was not so creamy and was a little firmer than it should have been. The other two were ideal, but this one was slightly less than perfect. I guess PB might have the minority of the cup for a change.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was joined by Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie and (not so) Creamy Peanut Butter. Whenever I have bold flavors in the cup, it’s nice to separate them with a milder divider flavor and Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was perfect for the task. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie had the pleasure of being adorned with Cinnamon Toast Crunch (from Zelda’s personal stash) as well as cream cheese icing, Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Creamy Peanut Butter was given a chocolate accompaniment in the form of Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips. For the finale cookie dough bites and whipped cream were generously distributed throughout the cup to make it complete, and the cup was free thanks to the generous Veteran’s Day offer. With a collectible Alvin the Chipmunk spoon in hand, I was ready to savor the reward.

Spiced Gingerbread Cookie and Soft-Baked Sugar Cookie were today’s highlights, and every bite was a dream. I love the savory presence of Spiced Gingerbread Cookie, and it always goes so well with cream cheese icing. The icing is a former promotional topping that was brought in for Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, so it’s only here for a short time and the shop is almost out. I don’t know how I’ll survive after it’s gone, but I’m sure I’ll manage. It really adds a nice touch to some of the autumn flavors, so it will really be missed. Creamy Peanut Butter may not have lived up to its name today, but it’s hard to say anything bad about my favorite flavor. Since it wasn’t a perfect 10, it was the first flavor to exit so that I could focus on the two creamier offering. Talk about saving the best for last! It wasn’t long before the cup was empty and staring back at me, and my sweet tooth was once again satisfied. With the holiday coming to a close, there are just two short days until another weekend rolls around. And something tells me that tomorrow will find Zelda in the Emerald City! Who’s up for a refreshment?

Until we eat again….

Z-

Warm Cinnabon Comfort On A Cold Day

  

   

Tuesday brought extremely cold temperatures, but it wasn’t going to stop Zelda from enjoying her favorite frozen dessert. I had it on good authority that Menchie’s at Capital Mall still has Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll for a couple of days, so I knew that was where today’s adventure would lead me. Until recently the Hawks Prairie store also had it, but they finally took it out a few days ago. Now it seems that Capital Mall is the only Cinnabon game in town, and that’s good enough for me. I planned my morning so that I would be on the west side of Olympia when fro-yo hour approached, and Menchie’s was calling my name.

The manager welcomed me in, and the shop was empty. It wasn’t exactly the most inviting weather for fro-yo, but some of us just have to have our daily indulgence no matter how low the temperature outside is. I certainly don’t mind an empty shop because there’s nothing I dread more than a crowded shop when I’m creating my masterpiece (except maybe for icy fro-yo). I grabbed my usual table and chatted for a while before eventually making my way to the sample cups. In addition to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll, I had my eye on a couple of other flavors. The shop always keeps I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream as a permanent flavor in the lineup, so that was one of today’s other contenders in addition to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie which made its debut earlier this month. After a quality check of each, the trio was decided and my cup was ready to be filled.

Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was the first flavor to arrive, followed by I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. The majority of the cup was awarded to Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll at 50% while I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream was a modest divider flavor at 20%, and Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was given the remaining 30%. The trio was looking so scrumptious, but it still needed a few forget-me-nots. Those of you who have shared in my adventures before know that Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll is best enjoyed when it has its signature toppings of Cinnabon Morsels and cream cheese icing. Oddly enough, the owner of this location is not a fan of either topping and chose not to order them. Are you kidding me? Why is it that owners tend to stock flavors and topping based on what they like as opposed to what the customer likes. It’s a real tragedy in my opinion, and it calls for drastic measures. No, I don’t carry a vial of cream cheese icing with me although I probably should since it goes so well with Spiced Gingerbread Cookie also. I do however carry a small stash of Cinnabon Morsels whenever I know I’m going to have a Cinnabon opportunity. When the Tacoma Mall location started to run low, I made sure I brought home a cup of this scrumptious topping for future Cinnabon encounters. They’ll make their appearance after I sit down at the table, so for now I continued on to I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream which was paired with crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey’s Special dark chocolate chips before adding Cinnamon Toast Crunch to Spiced Gingerbread Cookie. For the finale, cookie dough bites and whipped cream were added throughout the cup before heading to the scale. As good as it sounds, it was about to get even better. After redeeming some of my Menchie’s Money, today’s treat was totally free. Let’s hear it for free fro-yo! As I took my seat, I broke out the coveted stash of Cinnabon Morsels and then it was complete. Let the eating begin!

Ooh, I love a good savory combo like this! Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll was every bit as mouth-watering as always, and its super secret topping was the missing link to make it irresistible. Spiced Gingerbread Cookie was another wonderfully savory choice, and having Cinnamon Toast Crunch was a nice complement. You can never go wrong with a little bit of cinnamon and sugar, especially when the savory holiday flavors are involved. For my chocolate fix, I Dream Of Cookies ‘n’ Cream had exactly what I craved and it was the perfect balance of cocoa and cream. I don’t really like flavors that are over chocolately, so this one was perfect. Between my three choices, my taste buds were in heaven and I soon forgot just how cold it was outside. This was comfort food in a cup! Eventually I reached the end and had to brave the cold once again, but it was definitely a worthwhile endeavor.

Until we eat again….

Z-

Tis The Season For Scrooge

     

The week has begun and so has another holiday promotion at Yogurtland! That’s certainly something to brighten up a Monday, and Zelda definitely wasn’t going to miss out. I’ll admit that this year’s promotion pales in comparison to the past three years, but it’s still worth ringing in. As the morning progressed, I made the lengthy drive to Kent for a holiday adventure in the land of yogurt.

The shop was empty, and I was greeted by the sight of new promotional decor. The theme this year is “‘Tis the Season To Share Real Rewards” and it encourages customers to refer their friends to Yogurtland’s Real Rewards program in order to earn free yogurt. The more friends you refer, the more free fro-yo you can earn. It’s not exactly the most exciting promotion, and it won’t do you much good if your friends are already Real Rewards members. At least it’s something, though. I look forward to the holiday promotions mainly for the flavors, but it’s a meager offering this year. The past three years have averaged 10 holiday flavors, and there was one that even had 12. Now that’s what I call a holiday promotion! This year there are four, and only one is a new flavor. I’m not sure why Ebenezer Scrooge decided to show up and steal Christmas, but I feel like I woke up on Christmas day to find a lump of coal in my stocking. Since there are only four flavors, two arrived today and the other two will arrive next month. There will also be a special topping as of next week: Pumpkin Bites are making their return to go with Pumpkin Pie, but the odd thing is that the flavor has been in stores for two months already and will be leaving in early December. It’s a little bit of an afterthought if you ask me, but better late than never I suppose. As for today’s new arrivals, Cranberry Raspberry Tart and Bananas Foster are back in stores for the next four weeks. I’m not a big fan of tart flavors, and the same goes for fruity ones as well although I do enjoy Bananas Foster. It’s one of the few banana flavors that I like, the other being Cinnamon Banana Bread (another Yogurtland flavor). Bananas Foster was destined to find its way into today’s cup, so I looked at my other options and took a quick sample of the top contenders: Taro and Pumpkin Pie. Both passed the test, but out of the remaining eight flavors nothing stood out so I grabbed my cup and started to create.

Bananas Foster was joined by Taro and Pumpkin Pie to make a colorful combination. There wasn’t enough richness from the flavors themselves, so chocolate was the first order of business. Bananas Foster was adorned with NSA dark chocolate bits as well as a light dusting of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal while Taro was the happy recipient of crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; Pumpkin Pie was livened up with carob chips and another round of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal made its way to this side of the cup as well. What can I say? It’s a great topping! As a rule, all of my creations are topped with cookie dough bites and whipped cream, but the whipped cream dispenser is currently broken. What is it with Yogurtland’s whipped cream dispensers? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve encountered a broken dispenser over the years. Whether it’s here or at the now closed UW and Capitol Hill locations, the dispensers have had a rough run and have seen more issues than you can imagine. This is just the latest in the whipped cream saga, so Zelda had to forgo her fluffy topping today. There were still plenty of cookie dough bites, so they were scattered throughout and then I was presented with a blue spoon from the summer “Sweet Treats” promotion. My favorite table was waiting, and it was time to savor the season (so to speak).

I started with Bananas Foster and it was just as flavorful as all of my past encounters with it. I think the reason I enjoy this flavor is because it’s made with cinnamon and vanilla, and we know how Zelda loves her cinnamon flavors. If it were just a regular banana flavor, I probably wouldn’t even bother sampling it but the cinnamon adds a level of appeal and makes it a little more exciting. Taro was delicious, but its texture was firm and bordeline icy which had an impact on how much I enjoyed it. For that reason, it was the smallest portion in the cup. Pumpkin Pie was tasty, but I’ve definitely had my fill of everything Pumpkin for the season. Typically it’s a flavor I always enjoy in the fall, but this season it hasn’t hit the spot like previous years and I definitely won’t be sad when it departs next month. The cup itself was appetizing, but the whipped cream was definitely missed. It seemed like no matter how good everything tasted, something major was missing. Not exactly the way I wanted to start the week, but at least it gives me something to hope for. I have a feeling tomorrow will find me back in familiar territory at Menchie’s where I’m sure there will be plenty of whipped cream as far as the eye can see. The only question is which location and which flavors to crave?

Until we eat again….

Z-