Review: Red Mango

Today is my Mom’s birthday.

She was born in Paris.

On Bastille Day (the French version of Independence Day).

So every year on her birthday, they set off fireworks.

Pretty cool, right?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

After I picked up Madeline from camp, we headed down to join my Mom for lunch and a frozen yogurt.  One of my co-workers, Jaclyn, has been raving about this new place that opened up near my parents, Red Mango.  I remember seeing the “coming soon” signs, but never having been to a Red Mango before, it didn’t really mean much to me.

Apparently I was about to be schooled.

Jaclyn had gone to them a bunch of times in the city, and in the past week has driven 25 minutes one way just to go to this new (and much closer) location.  They’re that good, she said.

All self-serve.  All natural.  All non-fat.

When you walk in, you go to the back of the store and choose your container.  The sizes are big and very big.  A slick marketing ploy to get you to really load up, if you ask me.  You know, since they charge by the pound on your finished concoction.

They had some 7 or 8 different flavors.  I immediately knew I was going for: Light.  Refreshing.  Tropical.

The fact that I spied coconut frozen yogurt, along with pineapple, certainly helped steer that choice.

Then you pony up to the toppings bar, and that’s where the fun begins.  And where you can go really wrong, making something seemingly healthy into a gluttonous mess.  Everything from M&Ms and gummy bears to chocolate chips, fresh fruit and nuts.  All their fruit is fresh, never frozen.

I went with raspberries and pineapples, and then added their granola mix.

Madeline went with dulce de leche and strawberry frozen yogurt, topped with sprinkles, M&Ms and gummy bears.

My mom went the chocolate and heath bar route.

I loved mine.  It was exactly what I wanted: clean, light, tropical.  An umbrella drink, some sand in between my toes and I could swear I heard the Caribbean waters lapping away.  You know, until reality came back to bite me.

My mom wasn’t a fan of hers, but I have a theory on that.  Her flavors were more heavy and rich, and I think you go in for that first bite, expecting it to be sweet and rich, and then surprise!  It’s not because, after all, it’s still non-fat frozen yogurt.  So she’s not a convert yet, but I suspect will give it one more shot.

I’ll definitely be back.

Our our way out tonight, Nick was flipping through the pictures I took on the camera and spied the Red Mango ones, demanding to know where I went with his sister.  And without him.

“Mom, don’t tell him.  That’s our girls trip secret!” Madeline quickly yelled.

I told her earlier that we couldn’t tell him because then he’d get upset.  He swears that we plan all sorts of fun things to do without him when he’s at camp.  I swear that’s not the case, but these pictures certainly didn’t help.

So I told him we’d go back Saturday night.  Mystic is coming over for dinner.  I think he needs to be introduced to Red Mango.  He has a thing for a frozen sweet treat after dinner, and this is just the thing.  Or so we shall soon find out.

If you haven’t been yet, do check them out and (hopefully) find a location near you.

July 14, 2011 – Bonus Photos

Apparently now when we’re hot, the easiest way to cool off is to open the window and pant like a dog. You know, because she shrieks if I want the windows closed with the air conditioning on.

“Mom, was I in that picture?”

Yes, of course.

“Mom! Why? You should have told me. I would have smiled!”

Well, Nick, if you weren’t in the picture, there would be a random shot of two mysterious hands holding up the plates. That would just be weird.

HGTV darling Sabrina Soto has a new line of plates available at Target and I wanted to stop by and check them out. I love the flower one on the right, and there is another similar turquoise flower one. Unfortunately we left them at Target. They’re melamine, and the O’Malley household doesn’t do melamine. Now to just stay away from the pale turquoise plates that AREN’T melamine, and I’ll be set.