When I was a kid, I spent many a summer afternoon at the local Putnam Pantry. The idea of making my own ice cream sundae was appealing. I could have whatever I wanted! There are still a few Putnam Pantries around, but the one near where I grew up has long since closed.
When I was in California with some friends a few years ago, we went to Pinkberry quite a few times. It's a similar concept - choose your own toppings - except with Frozen Yogurt, and the employees put the toppings on for you.
I lived in Brookline for a while, and there was a place right down the street from my apartment called Chill. It was yet another "Choose Your Own Toppings" place. Like Pinkberry, their specialty was "Tart Yogurt".
Other places that I discovered while living and working in the Boston area were BerryLine, Red Mango, and Mixx. Red Mango is another place where the employees put the toppings on for you. Mixx is do-it-yourself style. It was a hit among my old co-workers. A couple of us would take Fro-Yo breaks 3, maybe 4 times a week. My biggest problem with Mixx, was that the frozen yogurt was extremely watery.
I now live where I grew up, in a suburb north of Boston. Since I no longer live in the city, I have been on the lookout for a fro-yo place in the suburbs that I can go to when I'm not in the mood for a train ride into Boston. Last night, I was talking to a couple of the girls at work who both highly recommended Orange Leaf in nearby Andover, MA.
I headed over there this afternoon when I finished up at work. The girls were right! Orange Leaf was excellent. They have a wall of flavors to choose from. The flavors range from original tart to fruity to sweet. I got a mix of Brownie Batter and Wedding Cake. It was sweet and fresh, and not at all watery. I topped it with brownie pieces, crushed Andes mints and hot fudge. Everything on the toppings bar was fresh, and it seemed as though it was only recently refilled as all of the toppings compartments were filled to the brim.
This was a great place to go grab a snack. It's an easy drive from home, and there are plenty of parking lots in downtown Andover. This is a place that I'll definitely frequent, and I recommend that you do too!
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