La' Berry Frozen Yogurt & Java Cafe Offers Unique Options

By Gary Nager

We know we’ve told you about quite a few new frozen yogurt and/or ice cream places in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa the past several issues, but owners and Wisconsin natives Linton Paterno and his mother Annie promise that a visit to the new La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt Café, located in the Trout Creek Commons plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (next to Burger 21) in New Tampa, is still a unique experience.

Both Annie and Linton have worked in restaurants their entire working careers — a combined 65 years of experience. And Linton, a frozen yogurt fanatic, promises that there are several differences between La’ Berry and the other yogurt shops in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa.

“For one thing, La’ Berry (the corporation) promises that you won’t find our yogurt anyplace else in Florida and all La’ Berry cafés, including ours, make the yogurt fresh every day,” Linton says, noting that the biggest difference is that 90 percent of other frozen yogurt shops purchase their product pre-frozen. “We believe you can really taste the fresh-made difference.” The Georgia-based company, which started in the business in 2010, today has seven locations, although the New Tampa store is the first in Florida.

La’ Berry’s creamy, unique frozen yogurt (my favorite of the rotating flavors so far are the peanut butter and banana) also is used in the shop’s delicious smoothies. And, the selection of 80 amazing toppings includes everything from Pop Tart pieces to chocolate “rocks,” and fresh strawberries and raspberries to hot fudge, hot caramel and a dozen other sauces, even a spicy siracha sauce that college students love!

Customers can even customize their own smoothies, choosing their own favorite “froyo” flavor, toppings to mix in and even “boosters,” such as regular and vanilla whey protein, collagen “fresh face,” weight-loss fat burner, fiber blend, multi-vitamin & mineral blend, high-energy blend, and “Doctor’s garden.”

And, also available exclusively at La’ Berry is Chloe’s Fruit Soft Serve, which has only three ingredients — fresh fruit, filtered water and a touch of organic cane sugar, to prevent the product from freezing. La’ Berry offers a rotating variety of at least two Chloe’s Fruit Soft Serve flavors, all of which are non-dairy and also fat- and gluten-free.But, Linton says that best of all, “It’s delicious!”

Don’t Forget The Java!

Annie, an avowed coffee lover, says that no other shop in Florida carries her favorite Door County Coffee. Founded in 1993 and located “in the heart of Door County,” in Forestville, WI, the company’s website says you will find a 20-year tradition in every delicious drop of Door County Coffee. Door County offers more than 100 freshly roasted coffees including regular, decaf, a variety of flavored coffees, Fair Trade organic coffee and the company’s popular seasonal coffees.

“I know a lot of parents who come in with their kids enjoy having a latté or a cup of flavored coffee, and the reaction so far to our Door County Coffee has been great,” says Annie. “I knew it would be. The coffee is very smooth and we always have a regular roast, decaf and a daily featured flavor.”

La’ Berry’s Java Café menu also offers espressos, cappuccinos, lattés, macchiatos, and a flavored coffee of the day, depending upon the season. The current flavors, at our press time, include blueberry cobbler, cinnamon sugar biscotti, orange crème and vanilla crème brulée. And, for those on the go, you can enjoy your coffee in La’ Berry’s trendy café, or get your java on the run and pull into the shop’s designated “Coffee Addict” parking spot. “We will come out, take the order and deliver it to your car,” Annie says. “You can even call ahead (phone number and address below), so we can bring it out to your car as soon as you arrive!”

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Java Café is open Monday.-Thursday., 7 a.m.-10 p.m., 7 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday. It is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr., next to Burger 21, on BBD in New Tampa. For more information, call 345-8537 or visit LaBerry FrozenYogurt.com. See the ad on page 31 for great coupon specials, including buy one, get half off on frozen yogurt, 20-percent-off your entire check or $1 off an order of $4 or more.