Thursday, November 30, 2006

The Lowdown: Pinkberry Demystified

Out Pinkberry-ing Pinkberry: Cracking the “Crack Berry” Code


It ain’t pink, and it ain’t made of berries… but somehow, you want it—even though they’ve lied to you.



If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you haven’t been on the stretch of Huntley Drive just south of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, where parking has become impossible due to people swarming over in crazed droves to Pinkberry Yogurt—purveyor of “all natural frozen yogurt.” Sherry Hwang, owner of the explosively popular yogurt shop has recently expanded her business, opening 30 new branches in the last few months. All this is astounding when you realize that their entire product line consists of yogurt in 2 flavors: Original, and Green Tea.

I had my first taste of Pinkberry’s a month ago when a one of the shops opened in Westwood. As I eagerly watched them dispense the yogurt into a Styrofoam cup, I found myself wondering in anticipation what exotic and mind-blowing flavor Mrs. Hwang had stumbled upon.

Imagine my disappointment when my first spoonful failed to produce instant euphoria! Instead, the tangy lactose flavor struck me as instantly familiar.

A popular type of drink in all East Asian countries is the plain yogurt-based beverage. How else do you think whole nations of lactose-intolerant Asian people get their drinkable calcium (yogurt is generally easier to digest than milk)? It comes in bottles, in cartons, as concentrates, in powder form…. and it’s terribly commonplace. To me, it tasted as if Ms. Hwang had poured a batch of this into a frozen yogurt maker, and I couldn’t see how anyone of an Asian background wouldn’t figure this out this instantly.



And I was right! Pinkberry’s wild popularity, paired with its easily replicable yogurt recipe, immediately spawned many imitators—many of them Asian. As an aside: Rumors also began circulating on the internet that the Pinkberry proprietor had stolen the recipe from a hard-working Korean family that owned a shop called Red Mango. In most places, you’ll see it advertised as “natural yogurt” or “Italian yogurt.”

So now, when you have a hankering for “Original” flavored frozen yogurt, you have the option of visiting Fiore Yogurt in Little Tokyo, Kiwiberri (multiple locations), or a dozen other imitators all over Koreatown who have cracked the Pinkberry code with no effort at all.

But for my money, the place that finishes what Pinkberry started is Beach Berries on the corner of Main and Walnut in Downtown Huntington Beach. The yogurt is the same flavor (of course), but the texture is noticeably smoother. Also, although Pinkberry offers sugary cereals and candy as toppings in addition to canned and fresh fruit pieces, Beach Berries stays true to the “natural” theme by only offering granola and fresh fruit – lovingly diced into darling little cubes—as yogurt toppings.

Time will tell if “natural” frozen yogurt is a passing fad, but you can bet there are about a hundred Asian yogurt-shop owners out there who are banking on the hope that it isn’t!

—Jennifer Chang

www.pinkberry.com

Pinkberry
868 Huntley Dr., WEHO, (310) 659-8285
3300 W. Sixth St., Koreatown, (323) 730-9889
7123 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 935-2958
10911 Lindbrook Dr., Westwood, (310) 208-3620
236 N. Larchmont Blvd., Midtown

Kiwiberri
8474 W. Third St., Los Angeles, (323) 951-0675.

Fiore
134 Japanese Village Plaza, Little Tokyo, (213) 626-0806.

Beach Berries
300 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA
(714) 960-7988

Ewwww. Tell Us It's Not So!



YUCK.


In checking out one of our favorite city sites, LA Observed, we came across a link regarding one woman's lawsuit against Kraft for selling guacamole that has less than 2% avocado content. "What else could it be," you ask?

According to a piece in today's Times business section, "Like much of the prepared guacamole sold in supermarkets, Kraft guacamole is essentially a whipped paste made from partially hydrogenated soybean and coconut oils, corn syrup, whey and food starch. Yellow and blue dyes give it the green color."

Send your favorite guacamole recipe to editor@hungrycity.com, along with your mailing address and the first 5 recipes we get will get a free copy of our new edition of Hungry? Los Angeles. While there may be some lousy guacamole in LA, at least we know it's made from avocados!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Be Cool, Give Thanks


If you're reading this post, you're probably looking for a great place to eat. We've got lots of suggestions and hope you find exactly what you're looking for, but please remember (and not only at Thanksgiving) the people who don't have enough to eat.

Check out the Second Harvest website to search for a foodbank in your area and give a little. You'll be glad you did.

—Your friends at the Hungry City Guides

Monday, November 20, 2006

The Lowdown: Pizza Next Door in Downtown


With Lamonica’s gone from Downtown and me not being impressed yet with its replacement Los Angeles New York Pizza, I am glad that just about a half a block away is some of the yummiest pizza for miles around, yes, right in Downtown. What am I talking about is Pizza Next Door on 8th right smack between Flower and Figueroa (Fig. for those of us down here).

It’s a small walk-in shop owned and operated by the same guys at Nazo’s Bakery just two doors down. When you go into Pizza Next Door, make sure you get one of the most popular items on the menu, the eggplant pizza. I know, some of you are thinking, eggplant, ugh. I’m the same way, eggplant is not my favorite vegetable, not by a long shot, but this concoction they’ve come up with is absolutely awesome, along with the eggplant it is blessed with fresh tomatoes, garlic, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Unfortunately, due to the giant blowup of their write-up in the new edition of Hungry? Los Angeles in their window, others are on to the eggplant secret and they're often out (which is why you're looking at a photo of their pepperoni and sausage slice--also good). But if you can wait a few minutes, they'll make the eggplant pie--special for you.

Suffice to say, drop in and get one of their lunch specials, either 2 slices and a drink or a slice, small salad (decent size) and a drink for $5.75 (at the time of this printing). Try and beat that anywhere downtown.

Before I sign off, I want to thank the HungryCity crew for letting me contribute to this blog on some of the great eats I come across. I’m, by trade a bean counter, who loves cheap eats and consequently love Hungry City. Thanks guys and thank YOU Pizza Next Door.
—Cord Nuoffer

New York Pizza Next Door
806 W. 8th St. #B, Los Angeles 90017
(213) 622-6595
Mon-Sat.: 11 am-9 pm

Sunday, November 05, 2006

The Lowdown: The Oinkster in Eagle Rock



Turn up those Golden Oldies, hop into your T-bird, and head over to The Oinkster. Just opened on hip Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock, the 1950s-inspired restaurant is sure to be your new favorite--especially if you're an Oxy student living right down the street.

While Eagle Rock is now home to lots of great restaurants, The Oinkster is unique in that it manages to combine many of their best qualities under one A-line roof. A fusion of retro and modern cuisine, of fast food and gourmet dining, and of hipster and family-friendly clientele, The Oinkster has it all.

The Oinkster’s $10-and-under menu offers 1950s diner-style seasoned burgers, tasty fries, thick milkshakes, and delicious ice-cream sundaes served up in a fun, retro atmosphere. Though specializing in the era of poodle-skirts and letter-jackets, The Oinkster also manages to do credit to the tastes of the new millennium. The restaurant’s surprisingly extensive menu offers numerous alternatives to the traditional burger and fries combo, with options including Thai chicken salads, veggie burgers, and variety of bakery delights. While reviews have been mixed so far, the food quality is getting more consistent and the service is also better. But forgot the reviews: I can’t get enough of the peanut butter and jelly cupcakes!

The Oinkster also provides the option to dine in or to take that meal to-go. If you do decide to eat at The Oinkster, you’ll be more than comfortable. Red booths and glossy tables allow for 50 to eat comfortably inside, and a cute outdoor patio provides space for 50 more. Sit down and enjoy the people watching (everyone from fashionistas to school kids) or grab lunch for the office.
—Tessa Basford

The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, 90041
(323-255-oink)
for fax orders: (323) 255-6464