16 Handles recently opened in Coolidge Corner. We stopped by one afternoon after shopping at Trader Joe’s. TJ’s on the weekend is like the 7th circle of hell, no joke: it’s crowded, people are leaving carts in the middle of the aisle and walking away, people are bumping into you, people are oblivious that there are other people in the store and then there are people who are just “browsing” when you just want to get 3 items….oh and those who just want 10 servings of the free sample.

Here is just a sampling of their flavors: Birthday Cake, Chocolate Love Affair, Coffee Break, Cookies And Cream, Eurotart, Graham Cracker, Green Apple Sorbet, Mango Tango Sorbet, NSA Blueberry Tease, NSA Irish Mint NSA, Southern Praline, Peanut Butter Confession, Pomegranate Tart, Salted Caramel, Toasty Marshmallow, and Vanilla Sky

Self serve frozen yogurt is nothing new to Coolidge Corner, but they have way more flavors that Berry Freeze. I went for the peach and vanilla frozen yogurt with the cheesecake and the crumb topping. Just what the doctor ordered to get me out of my funk.

You pay be weight, so be careful of all those heavy toppings. They have a small seating area in the front so you can relax and enjoy your treat before you go out and brave the cold weather! The cashier was friendly and the space was very clean. Two thumbs up for 16 Handles, can’t wait to go again!

16 Handles

(Coolidge Corner) 1309 Beacon Street Brookline, MA 02446

Sun-Thr 11:30am-10:30pm
Fri–Sat 11:30am-11:30pm

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After dinner at Shabu Zen, we roll over to Mixx-a self serve frozen yogurt bar. I have previously avoided it because there are never any parking spaces out front. I have to admit that self serve frozen yogurt bars, or self service anything, aren’t really a novelty to me. If I’m paying to be out, I’d like someone to make it for me. And let’s be honest, people get very confused at self service lines. Think about when you go to the grocery store, and you always get stuck behind that person who has never checked themselves out before, or when you’re at CVS and something went wrong and there is no one in sight to help…exactly!

Frankly, for frozen yogurt places…I think that someone making it for you is a good thing… because then you don’t have to worry about self control. Left to you own devices, like my friend above, you end up with a 20lb frozen yogurt that costs you $20 because you’ve put so many toppings on it. Mixx has an abundance of rotating flavors. Pick a size, pick your flavor and then pick your topping. And then you have to think about what is the line protocol. If the person in front of you is slow, or getting things you don’t want, can you cut in front of them or do you have to wait in line?

My other friend got this train wreck of a frozen yogurt. So here’s the thing, there are  people behind the counter who are refilling the toppings and trying to keep things clean…and yet, when I got home and was about to dig into my frozen treat….I find A HAIR, a long blonde one (and I’m not blonde)! Are there different health codes for places that are self serve rather than full serve? After having a few bites of my friends’ frozen treats, I deem that the frozen yogurt is fair, but not amazing. Go back…probably not.

Mixx Frozen Yogurt

66 Brighton Ave
(between Chester St & Fordham Rd)
Allston, MA 02134

http://www.mixxboston.com/

Mon-Thu 2 pm – 11 pm

Fri 12 pm – 11 pm

Sat-Sun 11 am – 11 pm

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Pinkberry opened on Newbury Street last week, its second location in Massachusetts (the other is in Hignham).

Saturday was a little chilly for ice cream, but we thought since we were in the area that we would check it out. The line was out the door, up the stairs, and halfway down the block. I love pinkberry-but this made me rethink just how much. Is it worth a 10 minute wait??

We were already there, so we waited. The decor inside is minimal but modern. There are a few tables to sit out, and a few more outside, but not nearly enough for the crowds that were there this weekend.

They were giving out free samples while people waited in line to make the wait more bearable. I saw these people walking out with “mini” cup sizes…it’s like a shot of yogurt…really? I feel like you mind as well order a tablespoon of yogurt….(I applaud anyone who has that much self restraint!)

Here’s the conversion:

CA Nutritional Facts | Frozen Yogurt
Serving Size 1/2 Cup | 100 g*

Percent daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutritional information varies by state.

The original has 29 calories per ounce. Which sounds good-but add on all those toppings and 29 calories goes out the window!

They had original, chocolate, their season pumpkin, and seasonal pomegranate. They have a topping bar with almost any kind of topping you can think of, fresh fruit, nuts, granola, chocolate chips, and fruity pebbles.

I get a small original with strawberries and a waffle cookie. Yum! I remember why pinkberry is my favorite frozen yogurt place. The original tastes more like yogurt than its competition (berry freeze, berry line etc.) What’s in this yogurt? Here are the ingredients:

Original
Nonfat milk, sugar, cultured pasteurized nonfat milk with live and active cultures, contains less than 2%: cultured nonfat milk powder, fructose, dextrose, natural flavors, citric acid, guar gum, maltodextrin, mono-and diglycerides, starch

So stop by-I’m sure the crowds have died down by now, and make sure to pick up a frequent buyer card-when you buy 10 you get one free!

Pinkberry

Newbury Street
288 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115

www.pinkberry.com

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