With summer in full swing, many hot, hungry, and health-conscious Brentwood residents are on the lookout for ways to satisfy their sweet tooth without compromising their waistline during swimsuit season.
Thankfully, several local establishments are committed to offering a tasty solution to this conundrum in the form of frozen yogurt. Slightly more tart and considerably lower in fat than regular ice cream, frozen yogurt is the perfect balance between decadent dessert and healthy treat.
Some of the lightest and most refreshing frozen yogurt can be found at Pinkberry, located at 11711 Gorham Ave. just off of San Vicente Boulevard. Pinkberry, which constantly rotates seasonal flavors, currently offers six varieties of yogurt, including chocolate, mango, and watermelon. Sizes range from the mini (3 oz) to the take home ounce (25 oz).
While luxe toppings such as peanut butter crunch and lemon bar crunch cost an additional fifty cents per serving, there is no limit on standard toppings, which include organic fresh fruit, a bevy of dry toppings, ranging from Cap’n Crunch to sliced almonds, and unique liquid toppings, such as balsamic glaze and watermelon puree, as well as the more traditional caramel, honey, and chocolate sauce. As part of a recently expanded menu, Pinkberry now offers smoothies, fruit parfaits, and fruit bowls.
Yogurtland, though similar to Pinkberry in its selection of toppings and texture of yogurt, offers not six but sixteen flavors of yogurt. Depending on the time of year, customers can find anything from Dragon Passion Tart to Devil’s Food Cupcake Batter to Madagascar Vanilla.
The store’s self-serve setup, in which customers pull on spigots to swirl yogurt into either 16 oz or 24 oz cups and scoop on toppings from an impressive toppings bar, allows each customer to create their own custom frozen yogurt concoction.
The self-serve concept, combined with a warm, friendly atmosphere and ample seating, make this the ideal location for enjoying a sweet treat with friends or family. Yogurtland is located at 11706 San Vicente Boulevard with parking available in the rear or on the street by meter.
Of course, nothing beats good-old-fashioned ice cream, and no other establishment serves it up quite like everyone’s local favorite, Sweet Rose Creamery at the Brentwood Country Mart. Incredibly thick and delightfully creamy, the slow-churned ice cream is made from scratch daily, as are all of the toppings, sauces, and waffle cones.
The most popular flavors include Salted Caramel, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Verve Coffee. Sweet Rose Creamery also offers a variety of dairy-free flavors, such as the Toasted Almond and Black Sesame, for those with lactose intolerance or, perhaps, more adventurous taste buds.
The homemade ice cream serves as the base for other frozen desserts, including the Cream Soda Float and the Niman Ranch Bacon Sundae.
Perhaps the most novel place for a frozen dessert is Brentwood’s brand new Sweet Crush Ice Bar. What it offers is lighter than both yogurt and ice cream: snow. The snow is water or milk-based dry ice that is shaved paper-thin and the texture will provide a new culinary adventure for even the most experienced. Sweet Crush offers 16 flavors including chocolate, mango, mojito and green apple ginger and the usual toppings bar. There are three sizes: kids, normal and large.
The ambience is as adventurous as the dessert. The interior resembles an ice castle with snowflake cutouts on the wall with an ever-changing light show. In the back is a fireplace and a kids’ area with games on two iPads. Sweet Crush is located at 11753 San Vicente Blvd.
So whether you crave ice cream, frozen yogurt, or other delicious treats, Brentwood is sure to satisfy all your frozen dessert needs and help you beat the summer heat.
