I Stop for Yogurt Stop

Although I’ve been visiting family in Southern California for the past ten years, every trip still brings new experiences – restaurants to test, shopping to explore, or activities to embark upon.  Over spring break this week, my brother led us to a new dessert destination après sushi.  We walked right past Millions of Milkshakes (where the paparazzi was gathering as Niecy Nash was busy creating her own milkshake) to a slightly healthier yet just as delectable delight on Santa Monica Blvd – Yogurt Stop!!  Let me just say that we need one of these in Illinois!!!!

Do you have to feel guilty after eating here?

Not at all!  Your diet will benefit with the live active cultures that Yogurt Stop includes in its yogurt recipes.  Each and every flavor is either low or non fat . . . music to my ears!  Even lactose intolerant folks can stop here as this smooth, sumptuous delight is a fantastic calcium alternative.

So what makes Yogurt Stop different from any other frozen yogurt place like Pinkberry or Red Mango?

The choices, the choices, the choices.

There are five “Forever Flavors” that they offer each and every day, including my favorite – I’m Comin’ Out Cake Batter!!  It makes me feel like I’m 6 years old again when I hung around the kitchen to lick the bowl and spatulas after my grandma baked her infamous goodies.   The four other regulars are:  Milk My Harvey Chocolate, Fierce French Vanilla Bean, Original Weho Tart (you’ve got to taste this!!), and Peanut Butter Princess.  There are 35 Rotating Flavors that they offer regularly to wet our palettes.  These include non-dairy SuperModel Mango Sorbet,  Pumpkin Party Patch, no sugar added Blueberry Beauty Tip, and Get Lucky Irish Mint.

Bonus → Yogurt Stop provides cute mini spoons and cups for you to ‘taste-test’ each flavor so you know what you’ll be sinking your teeth into!  It still won’t make your decision much easier; trust me, I wanted some of each!

Double Bonus →You can add as many different flavors in your cup as you wish.  It’s Pump It Yourself:

What about the toppings?

This is what makes Yogurt Stop truly unique.  First, their three signature toppings (created by Cake and Art) are not your every day chocolate syrup:  Red Velvet Cupcake Crumble, Weho Chocolate Brownie, and M & M Sugar Cookie Crumble.  Is your interest piqued yet?!

How about Captain Crunch? Roasted Almonds? Oreos? Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Chips? Gummy Bears? Crunchy Granola?  I could go on and on . . .

Guess what I chose for the top of my yogurt??  Fresh fruit toppings . . . strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.  In our party of six, I can proudly say that my yogurt container was the heaviest.  The very nice cashier assured me that it’s the fresh fruit that makes the weight so much more!!! LOL!

Grading Girl gives Yogurt Stop an A+ for healthful, natural ingredients, funtastic choices, and tasty yogurt that makes me hum!!  I will definitely be back this summer!!

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GG Eats Out – Westwood Doesn’t Win

New restaurants seemingly open their doors monthly around here.  Westwood Tavern is a recent addition to our neighborhood and I was anxious to taste test.  I passed it up many times as the building was being remodeled (the location housed two fallen eateries prior to Westwood).  There is a beautiful outdoor bar and two cozy, outdoor fireplaces that intrigued me. That intrigue fizzled soon after walking through the door.

My initial welcome included a blast of cold air coming from the apparent air conditioner surprisingly blowing in October.  No matter where I moved within my booth, I couldn’t escape.  I was offered a new table but it was right next to a back door that, for some reason, was frequently in use.  Strange.

Being the sushi fanatic that I am, I ordered sushi as an appetizer for our table – the spicy tuna rolls, one of my favorites.  I read reviews online that Westwood’s sushi is wonderful so I was hungrily anxious.  The first bite revealed the disappointing truth – I was about to pay double for the exact product I buy at my local Trader Joe’s; it was definitely not fresh sushi, just decent, prepared sushi.  I guess you get what you pay for (the $6 price tag is low for restaurant-quality sushi).

When I first perused the menu, I kept turning it over expecting to find more.  Yes, the prices are fairly low but there really isn’t much variety:  sushi and a handful of other appetizers, flatbread, four salad choices, four sandwich choices, and tacos.  I ordered the fish tacos.  They were definitely decent but nothing to write home about . . . or to write on GG about.

In fairness, this is a great place to gather with friends to watch the game.  Big screen T.V.s abound on every wall and the custom beer taps will enhance the mood.  Westwood features a unique table tap beer system at six of the booths in the bar. This could be a unique draw to the venue.

If, however, you are looking for a satisfying dinner or a romantic place to take your honey, you will want to look elsewhere.  Grading Girl tasted and gives Westwood a B- for food quality and typical sports bar atmosphere.  I will return to watch a game some time . . . just not with an empty stomach.

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Pinstripes – Bowling for the 21st Century

This weekend I held a surprise birthday party for my daughter at a new venue – Pinstripes Bowling Bocce Bistro.  Not only was she completely surprised (te-he!) but the night was a huge success.  The service was attentive, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was inviting both for my daughter’s teenage friends as well as us (slightly) older folks.  I promised the manager I would write a review expressing my satisfaction.  This is an easy one for me; I’m recommending this place to anyone planning a work meet-up, party, or just looking for a unique place to have lunch or dinner.

Pinstripes is one of the those places that impresses you as soon as you walk in.  Before my daughter and her friend made their grand entrance, the manager had a ‘hiding’ place ready for me to gather the guests near the six bocce courts, complete with balloons and pitchers of drinks (lemon water, of course, for the PG crowd).  Once my daughter overcame her shock, a server came over to explain the game of bocce to our group.  The guys and girls gigglingly (did I just make up a word?) played for about 50 minutes before we were told our bowling lanes were ready.  We moved to the most inviting set of 18 bowling lanes I’ve ever seen, complete with couches and pink bowling balls.  GG was in heaven!!!!  (Don’t worry, there were blue balls for the guys too).  The kids punched their names into the computerized scoreboards that meticuously kept track of each player’s records and began.  As they initiated the game, the servers brought out the food on the waiting table-clothed, flowered buffet: Caesar salad and Margherita pizza.  The kids inhaled the food as they played.  For dessert, a pleasing, large plate of brownies and cookies with candles was presented to the birthday girl.  Yumm!!!

While the kids bowled, my friend and I mosied outside to the bonfire.  It was a beautiful night and the outdoor garden area was cozy and inviting.  They even provide blankets if you are cold!!  A gentleman sang and played guitar accoustically as couples cuddled, families played bocce, and friends socialized.  My friend and I decided to taste the Italian/American cuisine I heard so many raves about.  We split the tenderloin sliders and then enjoyed the ahi tuna salad.  Let me just say that the sliders lived up to their name – we had no trouble sliding the melt-in-your-mouth tender steaks drizzled in a tasty sauce, wrapped in a tasty bun.  I’m picky about my ahi tuna since I frequent California, and crave the fresh fish sushi found there.  This tuna definitely passed GG’s test; I’d order it again.  Next time, though, I have to try the lobster b.l.t.!!

Besides bowling, bocce and the bonfire, Pinstripes has a sports bar area complete with large screen T.Vs (large screen T.V.s are also in the bowling areas), a wine cellar, and rooms upstairs for parties from 20 – 600.  Talk about a unique wedding that guests would certainly appreciate.  Fun!  GG gives Pinstripes an A for universal appeal to young, old, and in-between.  Suburbanites often complain of the same ol’ movie and dinner evening.  Pinstripes provides that unique dining and entertainment venue we’ve been waiting for!!

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