New Tampa’s Yogurt Wars Heat Up!
For those of us who thought we preferred ice cream to frozen yogurt, here’s a kick in the pants — the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area is now home to no fewer than four gourmet frozen yogurt shops and the yogurt is so delicious, you’d swear you were eating a fattening, premium ice cream and not a low-fat or even non-fat yogurt.
The first such “yogurt bar,” which opened more than a year ago as You Say When Frozen Yogurt Bar in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, may be on its third different name, but MochiBerri continues to be a success in the mall.
But, since then, we’ve already seen (and told you about) Frogury, which opened a few months ago in the same plaza as Five Guys Burgers & Fries (and L.A. Fitness) just south of County Line Rd. off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.
Since December, however, those two originals have now been joined by two delicious newcomers, one of which has a name — You Say When — we’ve already mentioned, but is now located between Planet Beach and Boston Market on BBD. Less than a half mile north of You Say When, CherryBerry recently celebrated its Grand Opening with a New Tampa Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting (see page 18) in the space previously occupied by Hudson Cleaners in the same Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza as Best Buy.
Long-time Neighborhood News readers know how much I love my ice cream, especially Bruster’s (see pages 44-47), but I have to admit that I’m already kind of hooked on low- and no-fat flavors like Dulce de Leche at You Say When and the white chocolate yogurt swirled with peanut butter yogurt at CherryBerry, topped with real hot fudge (You Say When) or Ghirardelli white chocolate sauce (CherryBerry), plus fresh raspberries and strawberries, white chocolate chips and more.
At more than 40 cents per ounce and the average serving size between 7-10 ozs. (I try to keep mine at 4-6 ounces, including the weight of all my toppings), it may not be cheap to become a frozen yogurt-a-holic, but it’s at least a delicious addiction.
For more information, visit CherryBerry (18091 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.) at CherryBerryYogurtBar.com or call (801) 598-9688. For You Say When (17505 Preserve Walk Ln.), call 971-2103 or visit YSWYogurt.com.
The Baker’s Gallery Opens In Pebble Creek Collection
But, what if you have the kind of sweet tooth that requires a gourmet cupcake, cake or cheesecake to satisfy it? I suggest visiting my new friend Alexandra Auguste and her equally friendly family at the new Baker’s Gallery in the Pebble Creek Collection, behind Kobe Japanese Steakhouse.
The Baker’s Gallery is a delicious and quaint little bake shop which features a dozen different flavors of truly gourmet cupcakes — from my favorite chocolate dream and espresso to mango and the top-selling red velvet chocolate chip.
The shop also features outstanding cheesecakes, whole cakes and even special occasion and wedding cakes that absolutely are works of art. Alexandra has a few on display in the store, but you have to see them to believe them.
The Baker’s Gallery also sells great hot coffee by the cup, baking accessories and tasty homemade Jamaican meat patties in a flaky pastry “wrap.”
For more information, visit the Baker’s Gallery (19651 BBD) or call 973-9966.
Drake’s Place Now Open In Santo’s Space
A couple of issues ago, when we told you that Santo’s Italian Grill, located in the Pinebrook at The Grove shopping center on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, had closed, we also mentioned that another restaurant was getting ready to open in the same space.
Well, the new restaurant, open for a month or so at our press time, is called Drake’s Place, which is a full-liquor neighborhood sports bar and grill, and from what I’ve sampled so far, the restaurant’s large and varied menu is worth checking out. I had only eaten there twice so far at our press time, but both the blackened chicken sandwich and the bacon cheeseburger were excellent, as were both the crispy fries and homemade cole slaw.
Look for a complete review of Drake’s Place in a future issue.
Drake’s Place (27429 S.R. 54) is open every day for lunch and dinner. For more information, call 973-8304 and please tell Bridget the owner that the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you! — GN
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