Business Sat Jul 07 2007

Pinkberry Madness

It's so addictive that some people refer to it as "Crackberry" and although it hopped from the west coast (in L.A., where it all began) to the east coast earlier this year, opening 3 locations in New York City, I don't see the frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry coming to Chicago any time soon. I could be wrong, though. Cupcakes hit the windy city hard after taking off in L.A. and New York, so anything is possible. In any case, we Chicagoans are not as likely as New Yorkers or Angelinos to break down the doors of a food establishment offering such "healthy" treats. There is a whole controversy brewing over what exactly is in the sweet substance Pinkberry hawks in 5 oz., 8 oz. and even 13 oz. tubs.

The company claims it's "pure and natural" yogurt and sweeteners, but several lawsuits have been filed contending it's not actually yogurt after all. This weekend I tried it for myself and witnessed the craziness that is the Crackberry addiction at the location I visited in L.A. The product comes in only two flavors (original and green tea) but there are 18 toppings to choose from, including everything from Cap'n Crunch cereal to fresh mango. It is light, tangy and more interesting than your run-of-the-mill frozen yogurt, but have I been fighting off nasty cravings since I finished my first taste 4 hours ago? Hardly.

— Dana Currier / Comments (1)