There's a New Yogorino in Town!

Ok, so full disclosure, I work at Yogorino so this post is going to be a bit biased. I hope you'll forgive that and just be excited about this announcement like I am.

There is a new Yogorino now open at 12th and Walnut! The soft opening this past weekend was well attended and well received. The grand opening this Wednesday is sure to be one of the biggest events in the frozen yogurt community.

Yogorino is an Italian company which made its debut in the United States a little over two years ago right here in Philadelphia. While it is still not well known throughout the country the company is slowly opening up new locations as itbegins its quest to bring real, Italian frozen yogurt and gelato to the American market.

The newest Yogorino to open is also here in Philly. However, this store is different than all the others opened in the US so far. This store is the first to offer both frozen yogurt and gelato. For the soft opening this past weekend there were over 10 flavors to choose from including Bacio, Chocolate, Pistacchio, Pastrocchio Wafer, Tiramisu, Barley, Dark Cherry Pastrocchio, Fior di Latte, Stratchetella, Nutella Pastrocchio, Hazelnut, and Raspberry in a free gelato giveaway. Customers flocked to the store and were treated to gelato that some called "to die for," and "pure perfection." One enthusiastic customer even said "It's as good as the gelato I had in Italy, if not better." While I've never been to Italy, this gelato made me feel like I was getting a little taste of Italy. I wanted to try all the flavors but was only able to try three because I felt bad eating more when there were so many people in line anxiously awaiting their free gelato.

Each flavor of the gelato is created by mixing a simple, creamy, delicious base flavor with different added flavorings and mix-ins. One flavor that I tried and fell in love with is called Pastrocchio Wafer which added chocolate wafers and a decadent chocolate swirl to the base flavor. It was the perfect mix of chocolate, wafer and the delicate flavor of the gelato. The other two flavors I had were Hazelnut and Nutella Pastrocchio. They were both excellent as well the first being a subtle and tasty hazelnut flavor with chopped hazelnuts on top and the second being basically gelato with a Nutella swirl. (Need I say more?)

Yogorino's yogurt is already regarded as some of the best in Philly (In fact it won Best of Philly in 2010). With the new addition of gelato it is gaining an even bigger reputation for its sinfully delicious Italian confections. Yogorino takes its products seriously. They even flew in an Italian gelato artisan to teach us how to make the gelato. Let me tell you, this guy is the real deal. He doesn't speak a word of English so he needs a translator (my boss speaks Italian so she fills this role) and he really knows what he is doing. He treats the gelato like he would treat his child, with care and love, gently folding in the chocolate, softly mixing in the wafers and other additions. I was so pleased to see him at work that I was speechless. The concoction would go in and just minutes later out came this beautiful snowy white gelato. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water.

For those of you who already know and love Yogorino, trust me, you are going to want to check this place out. The new store is bright and has a very cool feel to it; I could spend an hour just looking at it and marveling at its beauty. Plus, with both the yogurt you already know and love and the addition of gelato, how could anything be better?

For those of you who have never been to the old Yogorino, take a trip downtown to 12th and Walnut to see this place (and eat the gelato and yogurt of course!). You will not be disappointed, I promise.

The grand opening today, Wednesday the 26th so make sure you get over there and check it out! Regular hours will begin starting that day so head on over this weekend too if you want.

Yogorino
1205 Walnut Street
www.facebook.com/yogorinophilly