MIAMI-DADE ROUNDUP
California yogurt craze travels east

BY JAWEED KALEEM
jkaleem@MiamiHerald.com
Frozen yogurt is making a comeback, but the latest batch is tart rather than sweet, often topped with fresh fruit or granola.
The craze began in West Hollywood, Calif., in 2005 with Pinkberry, which has grown to more than 40 Southern California outlets and attracted competitors including South Korean import Red Mango.
South Florida has neither, but with names such as Blissberry and Red Kiwi, our shops are similar in taste and minimalist decor. Here's a sampler. (All offer free wireless Internet service.)
YOGURBELLA
Tucked in the CocoWalk shopping center, Yogurbella seats about 10 at small white tables. Frozen yogurt comes in plain, green tea and lemon flavors, and toppings include chopped fruits, coconut flakes and Oreo cookies.
Try the Bella Snow Ice, shaved ice and frozen yogurt topped with fruit and sweet cubes of rice cake drizzled with condensed milk. Smoothies include the Berry Bella, a mix of yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and apple juice. A small (5-ounce) plain frozen yogurt with no toppings is 90 calories.
Yogurbella, 3015 Grand Ave. No. 110, Miami; plain frozen yogurt $3.50-$16.50, green tea $1 extra, toppings $.95 each, snow ice $5.50-$7.20, smoothies $5.50; noon-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday-Saturday; 305-567-2020, yogurbella.com.
RED KIWI
Around the corner from Yogurbella is Red Kiwi, an even smaller outpost with neon green walls and a handful of outside tables on a busy retail street. Frozen yogurt flavors include plain, strawberry, green tea and peach. Pomegranate is among the toppings -- one we didn't find elsewhere.
You get more bang for your buck here, with more frozen yogurt and fruit at a lower price than other cafés. The smoothies -- frozen yogurt, three fruits and a choice of orange or apple juice -- are heavy on the yogurt, but improve in consistency as they melt. A small (5-ounce) plain frozen yogurt is 100 calories.
Red Kiwi, 3117 Commodore Plaza, Miami: all flavors frozen yogurt $3-$10, toppings 95 cents each, smoothies $5.75; 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday; 305-446-2696.
THAT COOL
YOGURT PLACE
Just a block from Whole Foods and a stone's throw from a vegetarian restaurant, That Cool Yogurt Place targets the health-conscious South Beach eater. Large windows let in lots of sunlight and walls are covered with large photos of fresh fruits. Outdoors, there's plenty of seating.
Yogurt flavors include plain, kosher chocolate, pineapple, pistachio and peanut butter, with a new flavor substituted weekly. Waffles, cereal with milk, apple and blueberry pies, packaged salads, drip coffee and bottled juices are also available. A small (4-ounce) plain frozen yogurt has 118 calories.
That Cool Yogurt Place, 959 West Ave., Miami Beach; frozen yogurt $3.29-$7.49, toppings 99 cents-$1.99, smoothies $3.99-$4.99; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 305-673-5588, coolyogurt.com.
BLISSBERRY
Blissberry took over the Alton Road location of Dippin' Dots, the flash-frozen ''ice cream of the future'' popular in the late '90s. Origami-style lights hang indoors, white leather futons line one wall and faux-wooden seats are built into another.
The Fruity Pebbles-like topping goes well with the blueberry frozen yogurt, which is offered in addition to plain, chocolate and green tea. Try the Chocolate Covered Oreo Bliss smoothie, a mix of chocolate and plain frozen yogurts plus Oreo cookies. A small (4-ounce) plain frozen yogurt is 88 calories.
Blissberry, 1650 Alton Rd., Miami Beach: frozen yogurt $2.50-$6, green tea $1 extra, toppings 95 cents each, smoothies $6-$7; noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday-Saturday; 786-623-5660, blissberryyogurtbar.com.
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