Lighten up: Simi fro-yo shops hit sweet spot, sans fat

Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers YUMMY—Above, a frozen yogurt dessert with kiwi, raspberries, blackberries and nuts sits on the counter at Go Yogurt in Simi Valley, one of three frozen yogurt shops in the city. At right, Farideh Shams, owner of Peachy Keen Yogurt in the Simi Valley Town Center, shows off the ingredients she uses to make delicious frozen desserts. Frozen yogurt has become a cultural phenomenon, thanks partly to Pinkberry, whose tart swirls reignited the 1980s craze over the pillowy soft-serve dessert.

In the wake of this froyo mania, a number of stores have popped up throughout Southern California in the past few years, including three here in Simi Valley. The Acorn takes a look at what each sweet spot has to offer.

Peachy Keen

The newest addition to Simi's fro-yo scene, Peachy Keen opened in the Town Center at the beginning of January. Though the storefront is small, its minimalist décor keeps the space light and airy while pops of neon orange, yellow and green invite guests to step inside.

The menu is simple, with four nonfat offerings: Belgian chocolate, vanilla bean, original tart and no-sugar-added raspberry. The sugar-free spot rotates every two weeks: Up next is pomegranate, to be followed by strawberry.

All the flavors are creamy and smooth and the raspberry is sweet despite having no sugar. Original tart will please Pinkberry fans, though it might not be as tangy as the cult favorite, while the vanilla bean is a sweet surprise.

A 4-ounce cup ranges from 111 to 117 calories, allowing froyos to top their swirls without guilt. Choices include fresh fruit, like kiwi or berries; dry toppings like nuts or Captain Crunch; and mochi, a sticky Japanese rice cake.

Four sizes are available, from mini ($1.99) to large ($6.50). Any three toppings cost $2.50 extra. A waffle cone or cup can be added for 99 cents.

There is some seating inside the shop, but Peachy Keen's prime location in the mall makes it the perfect walkandshop dessert. Oak Park residents can look forward to spring when a Peachy Keen will open its doors in that community.

BEHIND THE COUNTER—Go Yogurt owner Chris Wellbaum has created a comfortable hangout—perfect for enjoying your frozen treat with friends. For a limited time only, mention or bring in this article to Peachy Keen and get one small frozen yogurt free.

Peachy Keen is in Simi Valley Town Center, on the east end of the mall between American Eagle and Urban Outfitters. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The phone number is (805) 581-2132.

Go Yogurt!

For the young-at-heart fro-yo aficionado, Go Yogurt! is the place to be. Opened 14 months ago in Sycamore Plaza West, the store's hip vibe comes from its modern yet futuristic feel: Imagine red and blue paint splattered on the floor, a ceiling covered in white cloud cutouts, a curvilinear toppings bar and a menu posted on two flat-screen TVs.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS—Haley Cole, 5, of Simi Valley peeks over the counter at the yogurt toppings during a visit to Golden Spoon with her mother on Monday afternoon. With ample seating inside and out—as well as three more flat screens for watching television—Go Yogurt! is a perfect late-night hangout.

The store's 10 delicious fatfree flavors include classics like vanilla and chocolate, as well as cookies and cream, banana créme and peanut butter cup— which tastes like natural peanut butter licked off a spoon.

But the perennial favorite is Go-Yo Original Tart. Balancing icy and creamy, tangy and sweet, it has a light, refreshing finish. Flavored tarts made with pureed fruit like blueberries, raspberries and peaches are also available on a rotating basis.

Those who are lactoseintolerant can jump on the froyo bandwagon too, thanks to a nondairy offering. This week it's a mango sorbet, and a Dole pineapple whip gets a rotation in the lineup.

The calorie count for both regular and nondairy flavors is 85 calories per 4-ounce serving. The sugarfree Splendasweetened option is 70 calories.

With an array of about 50 toppers, it can be hard to choose how to crown your confection, but standouts include cherries, mango slices, pomegranate seeds, Fruity Pebbles, Andes mints and Butterfinger pieces.

A small, one-topping cup costs $3.95 and a take-home quart is $6.50. For those not counting calories, any size can be made into a sundae for $1.75 extra.

In February, Go Yogurt! will expand its cool menu to include 50 flavors of shaved ice.

Go Yogurt! is at 2780 Cochran St., in the Albertsons shopping center. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The phone number is (805) 306-9255.

Golden Spoon

Opened in May 2006 near the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and First Street, the recognizable redandwhitetiled shop has developed quite a following in town—many weeknights a line spills out the door.

Perhaps this is because of Golden Spoon's reputation as "the ice cream lover's frozen yogurt." The shop stays true to its claim, with 12 fat-free creamy yogurts in richsounding flavors like vanilla custard, chocolate caramel, cookies 'n cream, chocolate malt and peanut butter.

Other flavor frontrunners include strawberry, reminiscent of a dinerworthy shake; cake batter, perfect for celebrating a birthday; espresso, full of all the java flavor without the coffee kick; and island coconut, a tropical treat that may even inspire a vacation.

Old-fashioned favorites chocolate and vanilla are also offered for those who like the comfort of tradition, while a simply tart flavor has been added to compete with the Pinkberrys of the fro-yo world.

Six sizes, from mini ($2.05) to large ($3.55) to quart ($6.25), are available. Sugar and waffle cones are offered for about $3.

Like other frozen yogurt shops, Golden Spoon will swirl together flavors and top them as desired, with fresh fruit or crunchy bits—think Heath Bar, Almond Roca or snow caps. But unlike other shops, Golden Spoon offers a variety of hot toppings, too, including marshmallow cream, caramel, butter pecan, spiced apples and hot fudge.

While these toppers threaten to counteract the low-cal benefits of the frozen yogurt, which here comes in at 88 calories per 4ounce cup, the deliciousness factor may be worth it.

So grab a trademark golden spoon and dig in.

Golden Spoon is at 1197 E. Los Angeles Ave., in the Starbucks building. The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The phone number is (805) 579-1980.