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….