Summer at Pinkberry

I've blogged about Pinkberry before, but I needed to add a new post because I'm pretty certain the new summer flavors were created especially for me.  I don't know how they managed to get into my head, but they succeeded in choosing two of my very favorite flavors of all time: watermelon and salted caramel. 

In addition to the standard flavors available (original vanilla, chocolate, pomegranate,and  coconut), seasonal flavors are added to the mix every few months.  Watermelon temporarily replaced the mango flavor for the summer, but fear not, mango will be back. Much like the mango, the watermelon is fresh tasting and a little on the tangy side.  If you like yogurt, you'll LOVE this, but even if you don't, you'll still love it. 

On the complete other side of the spectrum is the salted caramel.  Sweet and salty all at the same time, it's absolutely delicious.  If you prefer the chocolate to the vanilla at Pinkberry, you'll love this summer flavor.  I tried it with crushed sugar cone and a sprinkling of salt on top.  Yum doesn't really begin to describe how much I loved this.

As I mentioned in my last post, I love all the fresh fruit toppings available at Pinkberry, but for those of you wanting to indulge there are plenty of sweets to satisfy you.  After swirling and topping your treat, the staff always passes your dish to you with two hands, as if they are presenting you with a gift.  Speaking of staff, they work very hard at Pinkberry, preparing the toppings fresh every day, plus making brand new batches of every flavor every single morning.  No left over fro-yo here.  The machines are completely emptied, cleaned and disinfected every single night.  I'm not sure I ever gave too much thought to this before, but I like the idea of everything being completely fresh. 

Owner Jamie Karsen, a Fairfield-based former corporate CEO turned dessert purveyor, says a second Connecticut Pinkberry is on tap to open in Greenwich soon.  I'm just glad Fairfield got in on the action when it did.  For me (and my kids), dinner at Colony Grill and a hop next door to Pinkberry for dessert sounds like just about the most delicious Fairfield family outing!

Open daily 11:30am-11:00pm
1512 Post Road
Fairfield, CT 06824-5911
(203) 292-9366
Website

Restaurants: What's Shakin' in Fairfield

Lots of exciting food news in Fairfield this summer!

Perhaps the most highly anticipated opening is that of Shake Shack on the Fairfield/Westport border (across the street from Home Goods).  For those of you not familiar with Danny Meyer's "roadside burger stand", it's a whole lot more than just great shakes (my friend Anne over at SuzySaid promises the caramel shakes are the best on earth!).  I can also tell you the burgers are fab-u-lous.  My husband works across the street from the original location in Madison Square Park, which opened in 2004 and became an instant hit with the New York lunch crowd and especially my family.  The lines start forming around 11am and continue throughout the afternoon.  I like to order the namesake "ShackBurger" which is a burger (single or double) made from a high-quality, vegetarian-fed, hormone-and-antibiotic-free blend of meats, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and "Shack Sauce" on a soft, yummy bun.  I usually get fries and a black-and-white shake to go with it, which all together runs around $12.  Shake Shack will hopefully be opening early this summer---but the sooner, the better!  Can you tell I'm VERY excited????

A few other exciting Fairfield soon-to-be-openings:

Bon Appetit Creperie is under construction on the lower level of the Billy's Bakery building on Black Rock Turnpike. If their crepes are anything like the ones I had on the streets of Paris or even the ones I used to get from a little hole-in-the-wall near Washington Square Park in NYC, Fairfielders are in for a TREAT. Details to follow!
Bodega is opening later this week at 1700 Post Road in the former What's Cooking location (the grey plaza across the street from St. Thomas RC Church). Tacos, margaritas, and more, which will be a great addition to Fairfield's food scene.  Early pre-opening buzz is that everything is excellent!  Rumor has it we're also getting a Chipotle soon as well!  Keep your ears and eyes open!

By now you've probably all heard that Whole Foods  finally opened June 3rd on Grasmere Avenue in Fairfield (right next to Home Depot).  Amazingly, I'm the only one in my family who has yet to venture over there, but I'm very excited for what is always a great selection of organics, prepared foods, great produce, and bulk-foods!

If you have any buzz-worthy food items in and around Fairfield, leave a comment or drop me a line at tracy@thesecretingredientonline.com!

For more information on my cooking classes go to www.TheSecretIngredientOnline.com , or to read my recipe blog, go to www.seasontotasteblog.wordpress.com.

Happy summer!!