Hello, Pinkberry

[Entry updated and updated again below.]

I finally had to see/taste what the buzz was about. After patiently lining up at the newly opened Pinkberry in town that was so tiny it had only one table indoors, I finally got a medium-sized regular yogurt with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.

It was such a hot day the thing started melting even before I reached the car. After a spoonful or two, I get why fanatics fondly call it Crackberry: it was refreshingly tart like a yogurt should be. None of that sweet TCBY stuff. The fresh fruits are also juicy and bursting with flavor, which is always a plus.

Will I buy it again? Sure, even though it's pricy at nearly $5 for an 8 oz. cup with three toppings. Am I craving it? Not really, at least not as much as I crave the mango coconut or chocolate sorbet from Boule.

Update:

Pinkberry sued, might be ordered to 'fess up:

This week, a civil suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court by L.A. resident Bryan Williams, 48, who contends that Pinkberry's powdered mix lacks the "good" bacteria cultures found in yogurt.

"For lack of a better word, it's just dessert," said Williams' attorney, Michael Amir. "We're just asking for them to … tell the public the truth."

Pinkberry President Young Lee insists their product is "yogurt, absolutely 100%", yet references to yogurt have been scrapped from the official website. Hmm...

Eater L.A. has more on the Pinkberry controversy.

Update II:

Per Eater L.A., Pinkberry has new signage on its website, saying it will "investigate the claims against its product". What on earth does that mean? You're either real, natural yogurt or you aren't.

Label(s): Food
Tags: boule, pinkberry, yogurt, sorbet

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