RSS FEEDBy Angela Kim Editor's Note: While Suzanne is recuperating from knee surgery, several In Good Taste readers have agreed to share their food thoughts and experiences.A couple of Tuesdays ago during the spell of fake summer we had, some friends and I found relief from the sudden heat on Broadway in Fells Point, where two wonderful kinds of frozen treats can be found.The first is the California-style (or Korean-style, depending on who you ask) frozen yogurt at the newly-opened Mr. Yogato. The frozen yogurt craze started in the U.S. with the Pinkberry chain, which unfortunately only has locations in California and New York. More tart than traditional American frozen yogurt (light ice cream), Mr. Yogato offers two original flavors: tangy and creamy; and two flavors of the month: currently strawberrio and chocolato. The creamy flavor is more like the TCBY that everyone is used to, but try the tangy!! It's a wonderful base for the wealth of fun and unusual topping options that range from nostalgic cereals to balsamic vinegar to even chopped Berger cookies!My favorite combinations are Cap 'n' Crunch cereal and sliced strawberries (with the tangy yogurt, it makes for kind of a frozen milk and cereal with fruit), or fresh, plump raspberries with oreo crumbs. The Broadway location is technically the second, after the first store opened near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. But don't use the dreaded "C" word to describe the stores. It's not a chain, said Fell Point owner Jessica Jensen. Jensen and D.C. store owner Steve Davis are both rocket scientists at a company called SpaceX. Davis is helping close family and friends open their own locations of Mr. Yogato, Jensen said. The rocket scientists "with a craving," as they refer to themselves, inject a sense of "fun and goofiness" to the store, and visitors will get a kick out of the many different wacky ways to get a discount.The other, less goofy but equally delicious, option across the street from Mr. Yogato is the amazing european-style gelato at Pitango Gelato, made on the premises with organic ingredients from a Pennsylvania farm. The flavors change with the seasons and availabilty of ingredients. The classic nut, coffee and chocolate flavors are fabulous (try the spicy chocolate, which has an interesting and very pleasant kick for the back of your throat). But the fruit flavors are in some ways even more remarkable to me, as a really satisfying but somehow still good-for-you dessert. Something about the gelato-making process produces clean but rich flavors that really capture the essence of the highlight ingredient, whether it's strawberry or granny smith apple or Sicilian almond. In addition to the gelato, Pitango offers Zeke's local coffee and espresso. One of these days I'm going to splurge on the affogato, espresso poured over gelato, to enjoy the best of both worlds.While Mr. Yogato is expanding north from Washington, Pitango Gelato is expanding their success south, with plans to open locations on P St., near the original Mr. Yogato location in D.C., and also at the Reston Town Center in Virginia.The additional good news about frozen yogurt and gelato? Both are lower in fat and calories than ice cream and the stores are open late every day so you can get your cool fix of almost guilt-free treats on long summer nights.Mr. Yogato, 723-A S. Broadway. Store hours: Sunday - Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Friday - Saturday: 11:30 a.m. - MidnightPitango Gelato, 802 South Broadway. Store hours: Noon to 11 p.m. on week days; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.
Angela Kim is senior web producer at Congressional Quarterly. She lives in South Baltimore with her husband Mike and new puppy, Lemony Snicket.
