Tasti D-Lited: Flavors, Reviews

@TastiDLite Announces 1000th Follower Contest

2009-05-21T00:40:00.004-04:00

Tasti has been all up on the Twittersphere for just over a year now--it's clearly a huge priority (rightly so) for the online team. They've been using the account to interact with customers, announce store openings, hold contests, post photos, ask questions, and more. The team has been running the account quite effectively.

For some reason, the follower count hasn't quite hit the growth I'd imagine they are hoping for. The rather personality-less Pinkberry account has almost four times the followers (in less time). It's especially perplexing given the fanatic relationship customers tend to have with the company. Presumably in an effort to bolster up the fanbase (=follower count), Tasti has announced a contest. There are currently 971 followers. The 1000th follower receives a personalized private party at the Columbus Circle flagship store for 20 friends with free Tasti, a "fail whale" cake, product samplings, and giveaways. Lovin' it!

The strategy is tricky--at what point will the follower count hit the tipping point in which a block of friends can band together FTW? We shall see. Nine new followers signed up in the past 24 hours. (Hopefully the contest is protecting against fake/spam accounts people might create in order to win the contest?)

In any case, we'll be...following...the contest. Tasti's social media strategy is pretty spot on.

(In related news, Tasti D-Lited heads back to New York in less than week! Tasti time!)

25 Things About Tasti

2009-04-06T23:11:00.002-04:00

A few months late on the trend, the Tasti blog posted "25 Random Things About Tasti D-Lite" today. Many facts I didn't know--a lot of interesting stuff in there:

5. There have been at least 2 marriage proposals at Tasti D-Lite locations in the recent past that we know of. Pictures of one Tasti D-Lite wedding can be found on our Facebook Fan Page.
11. The most popular Tasti D-Lite flavor is the collective variations of Peanut Butter. The second most popular flavor is Cake Batter.
18. The most popular topping is Rainbow Sprinkles.
19. There are currently 193 Tasti D-Lite related pictures on Flickr.
23. Tasti D-Lite franchise opportunities are now available in 48 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and in select markets worldwide.

The Tasti team gave us a shout out in item number 8! Thanks, guys!

First Impressions of New Store Design

2009-03-12T15:02:00.003-04:00

So my Peanut Butter Cup reunion with Tasti D-Lite didn't turn out to be the best, but more exciting than the treat was seeing what the new updated stores look like!

I have to say I was pretty impressed. The location (UES) was pretty much a hole in the wall, but they made it look good. Even next to "Hot 'n Crusty," the store seemed classy, modern, and fun. The new logo looks great, as does the new menu board. All sorts of food items are promoted now--the smoothies, sundaes, and shakes. I'm looking forward to trying them all this summer. I didn't snag a picture of it, but there was an LCD screen in the store, too, displaying hip local information.

In any case, I've got to say I'm pretty impressed with the results. Tasti's rebranding was accomplished quite masterfully, despite the closure of a substantial percentage of its stores in the process. Woot.

Peanut Butter Cup

2009-03-10T01:20:00.005-04:00

So we were finally back in the city this weekend and got our Tasti fix! It's been quite a number of months since we were last in Tasti range after the New Haven store closed. It was the first time we got to see a rebranded store and we'll post about that later.

Unfortunately, we weren't blown away our first flavor in months. We had very high expectations for Peanut Butter Cup--it's our favorite candy. Unfortunately, the taste just didn't translate into frozen form. The mixture was oddly...bitter. It left a bad aftertaste, as well. It goes to show that sometimes the best tastes in food form aren't necessarily the best Tasti flavors. Alas.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Tasti Launches Flavor Alerts

2008-11-26T02:00:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since we've had a post at Tasti D-Lite--as we're stuck in New Haven without Tasti, we aren't able to review frequently, and Tasti news has been quiet.

But today there was a pretty nifty new feature on Tasti's website worth mentioning. Tasti Flavor Alerts will text or e-mail you when a nearby location is serving your favorite flavor. When we're in New York, we'll be sure to set it up for all of our four-star reviews.

Wall Street Journal Takes a Look at Tasti Expansion

2008-07-29T16:31:00.002-04:00

The WSJ's Ellen Byron took a look today at the state of Tasti's worldwide expansion. The article noted some new details of the expansion plan, including that new products will be introduced such as baked goods.

James Amos, who, along with New York private-equity firm Snow Phipps Group LLC, acquired the New York-based frozen-dessert business for $21 million last year, is forging deals to expand the chain nationally and internationally with new store formats, additional flavors and new products such as energy drinks and baked goods.

The Journal notes that Tasti's success and appeal is thanks in large part to a group of devoted fans, who have given the brand a cult-like status. Byron raises the question of if this "distinctly New York phenomenon" can resonate across the country and across the world.

The article noted some impressive statistics about the geographic distribution of the expansion.

Two Tasti D-Lite stores opened this month in Seoul; expansion into Israel and Mexico is in negotiation. Late last month, Tasti D-Lite signed franchising deals for a minimum of 16 stores in Tennessee and at least 40 in Texas, including San Antonio, Austin and Houston. It is working on expanding into California and adding to the seven stores already in New Jersey. Next month, Tasti D-Lite plans to open two flagship stores in New York, including one on the ground floor of the Empire State Building.

Lastly, the article covered Tasti's effort to redesign and revamp the several run down locations currently in operation in New York. The program is surprisingly expensive.

Since closing the deal, Mr. Amos has been working to persuade Tasti D-Lite's existing store owners to transition from their previous licensing arrangement to a franchise, which gives the company more control over stores' appearance and operations. He has been selling the idea by promising financial incentives, updated store designs, as well as marketing and back-office support. Each franchise requires an investment $230,470 to $439,600, depending on factors such as size and location, the company said. Royalty fees of 5% of a store's gross sales are required weekly. Franchises also can expect to pay to build their brand. Contributions to a "marketing fund" amount to 2% of gross sales every week.

Rocky Road

2008-07-14T15:22:00.002-04:00

Rocky Road is a pretty standard Tasti flavor--except the infusion of nut flavor leaves a pretty bad aftertaste. It's got a nice, rich chocolate taste nevertheless. As there isn't much to say about the flavor (which probably isn't worth ordering), it seems like a good time to comment on the Danoo TV screens I've spotted in a few Tasti locations. I've seen similar screens at The Coffee Bean when I was in Las Vegas. The content on the flat-screen monitors are customized for the location--news, weather, scores, events, nearby attractions (powered by Yelp), YouTubes, and more. They really add a sense of class to Tasti locations--it will be interesting to see if more screens will be deployed in the coming years.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

New Haven Location Still Closed...But Not For Long?

2008-07-10T14:05:00.003-04:00

We've been enjoying our summer in New York, but in no time, we will be heading home to New Haven, where the only Tasti location in Connecticut still hasn't reopened after closing for the winter. The previous owner of the store, Carole Chu, had to close to store for medical reasons, but Tasti is confident a location in New Haven (whether at the old location or not) will soon be a reality. Director of IT BJ Emerson said:

We have been responding to inquiries for the New Haven area. It is just a matter of time before a new franchise location is opened.

Here's hoping!

PB Moosemellow

2008-07-10T13:23:00.006-04:00

In May, with much promotion, Tasti launched two new flavors: Green Tea and PB Moosemellow. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to try PB Moosemellow (basically another name for Moose Tracks ice cream--"Vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cups and famous Moose Tracks® fudge"). Tasti's newest flavor was still being promoted with the placard pictured here--and it did not disappoint. As mentioned many-a-time, Tasti's peanut butter flavors are generally the best and the added chocolate component was great. The taste, however, was not that different from Peanut Butter Fudge, which we gave three stars. (And, on this post, commenter Laura noted that all the peanut butters tend to taste the same, which is definintely somewhat true.) While Green Tea was a natural thing to add to the repitoire (as Pinkberry's Green Tea becomes increasingly popular), it's unclear why PB Moosemellow was necessary. But, nevertheless, I'm happy it was invented, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

100 calories/serving

Toasted Almond

2008-07-10T13:16:00.003-04:00

There's something less satisfying about going to the non-Tasti-branded outlets--the stores which serve Tasti, as well as other things. This particularly location was a candy shop on Madison Ave., which sold candies, Tasti, and weird animals such as this sheep. And you get your Tasti in a plain white cup instead of a cool Tasti one. The whole experience is just somewhat dampened. Yet, out of the dreariness emerged a surprisingly great flavor--Toasted Almond. It's sweet, but with a real tang and kick to it. The first bites are startingly good, but the kick loses its impact by the end, preventing it from getting four stars.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Goji Smoothie

2008-07-01T11:06:00.008-04:00

I figured it was finally time to start trying Tasti's newest products. I tried a sundae a few weeks ago and was impressed, so yesterday I moved onto the new line of Jamba Juice-like smoothies. I got the Goji Berry Smoothie--which has frozen strawberry, fresh banana, Vanilla Tasti, and goji berry mix. Given that smoothies are an important effort by Tasti to diversify the menu, let's break this one down:

1. WTF is a goji berry!!???? I think the customer is supposed to just be like, "Hmm... it sounds Asian and trendy--must be good for you and delicious!" Wikipedia informs that the most common name is actually "Wolfberry," which sounds much less Asian, trendy, and delicious. Rather, it sounds kind of hairy--I see why they went with goji. It turns out that Tasti is part of a pretty interesting trend:

Renowned in Asia as a highly nutritious food, wolfberries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for about 1,900 years (Gross et al., 2006). Their undocumented legend, however, is considerably older, as wolfberries are often linked in Chinese lore to Shen Nung (Shennong), China's legendary First Emperor, mythical father of agriculture, and herbalist who lived circa 2,800 BC. Since the early 21st century in the United States and other such developed countries, there has been rapidly growing recognition of wolfberries for their nutrient richness and antioxidant qualities, leading to a profusion of consumer products. Such rapid commercial development extends from wolfberry having a high ranking among superfruits expected to be part of a multi-billion dollar market by 2011.

Who knew Tasti could find inspiration from China's legendary First Emporer. Superfruits are fruits with crazy awesome nutritional value and keep you healthy and are delicious. Tasti clearly read the memo on superfruits as a multi-billion dollar market--all four smoothie flavors (acai, goji, pomegranate, and mangosteen) are all superfruits. They do not include the more traditional, but less trendy superfruits such as blueberries or cranberries. In any case, these new superfruit smoothies clearly fit in Tasti's healthy but yummy niche and their new brand image. (Side note: The good thing about numbered posts is that you can skip boring stuff like this!)

2. These smoothies are expensive!! A small cost me $5.75! It was very filling and the price is about the same you'll find at Jamba, but this price will keep most from having a smoothie as anything but an occasional treat.

3. The server was definitely not very well trained on these smoothies. He looked completely perplexed when I ordered and then had to leave the counter to go look at the promotional poster to see what was in the goji smoothie. He also didn't know the price and had to look it up in the binder. It appears the smoothies aren't selling too well yet...

4. The process of making the smoothie was very poorly presented as well. The server opened up the fridge and took this huge bottle of "goji mix"--which is syrupy and sugary and kind of gross looking. The whole point of these superfruit smoothies is how fresh and healthy they are--and right in front of your eyes, they show you how processed and sugary they must be. Obviously, they aren't going to import fresh gojiberrry, but don't let me see exactly what the gross mix looks like! Make it where I can't see it! It reminds me of when I was 14 and ran to get my favorite soft serve at a Red Sox game and watched them for the first time pour the lumpy, entirely disgusting mix into the machine.

5. So--I made it to point 5 and haven't yet mentioned HOW IT TASTES. And, in fact, the answer is quite positive. The smoothies are great! Without ice, the smoothies aren't as cold and chunky and Jamba--in fact, I amazingly enough, preferred Tasti smoothies to Jamba Juice. The gojiberry was a unique and good taste, and the strawberry/banana/vanilla Tasti really complemented it well. It's very tart but sweet. Nutritional value was not posted on the poster or online. Do any readers know? Comment away! I'd imagine it's not too many calories. In any case, I'm excited to try the other flavors! And Tasti's diversification efforts are off to a good start!

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

O Tasti!

2008-06-30T15:29:00.005-04:00

This post's title is not only an exclamation, but also the flavor of the day! O Tasti is presumably a spin on the O Henry candy bar and is one of the more amusing Tasti spins on a trademark. While the candy bar has peanuts, caramel, nougat, and chocolate, the server informed me this one was only caramel and (yet another) peanut butter. As always the Peanut Butter was delicious--but the caramel actually hurt the flavor--the two strong tastes battled for predominance rather than complementing one another. So we'll knock the rating down for ruining a good thing. O Tasti!

(This Chase logo was the closest we could find to an 'O'.)

NASTI (2 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Cookies 'n Cream

2008-06-27T21:14:00.004-04:00

When I saw Cookies 'n Cream on the day's menu at Tasti, I was perplexed at how it would differ from Oreoes 'n Cream, which is the same thing in traditional ice-cream speak. But props to Tasti for pointing out that there are other kinds of cookies you can eat 'n cream besides Oreos! Cookies 'n Cream basically tastes like chocolate chip cookies (minus the chocolate chips), and it's quite good. I don't think I have a delicate enough pallate to taste the cream, but I trust that it's there. In any case, the flavor ends up being pretty standard and delicious, but nothing out of the extrordinary. It's commentary on the skewering of "Cookies 'n Cream" in colloquial lexicon is interesting but not enough for four stars.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Black Cherry

2008-06-25T13:30:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately, this will be our first picture-less review, as our photo of Black Cherry didn't come out well, which is too bad because it has an interesting and distinctive pink color. This pink color, however, is also unfortunate, because it only adds to the Pepto-Bismol/Tums taste. The flavor is strong and sustains itself...but it just isn't good. I am a fan of Black Cherry as a flavor in general, so I was in the target audience, it just doesn't work with this texture. Alas--can't win them all. My friend and I split a large mix-in Tasti--they blend the topping into the Tasti, McFlurry-style. It was quite good and definitely made up for the Black Cherry disaster.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Peanut Butter Fudge

2008-06-21T18:19:00.005-04:00

Over the past few months, I've been quite vocal in my support of Peanut Butter Tasti flavors. Today, I had the honor of trying yet another--Peanut Butter Fudge. The Tasti scientists clearly have the Peanut Butter formula down pat--and it's no surprise Peanut Butter flavors are their most popular. Peanut Butter fudge adds a subtle deep chocolate aftertaste to the typical Peanut Butter taste, and it works well. Of course, as I've discussed before, I don't want to give four stars to every Peanut Butter flavor, and Fudge had the bad luck of coming after several of its counterparts and having much more to offer.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Bloggers Reacts to New Tasti Logo

2008-06-19T09:55:00.004-04:00

Back in March, we analyzed Tasti's new logo and branding initiative and were generally favorable. Today, Brand New takes a closer look at the new logo and tagline and likes it as well:

That said, the new logo is tempting — sort of like peeping at a dessert through a key-hole. Forms, and elements from the previous identity are reassuringly present; including the sweet pink and rich blue. The dollop holds its own without a thick badge, and the expression is now less Droste Effect without the fancy glass bowl. Avenir is refreshingly light as a support to brand the otherwise slick and generic symbol. The lockup is proportionally top-heavy with the huge dollop of product floating over the loose type.

The comments are supportive as well, although many readers noted the new logo looking a little like...excrement. I'm not sure I see it.

Cake Batter

2008-06-17T15:41:00.002-04:00

The act of purchasing Tasti D-Lite today was highly unusual--the closest location to my office is a weird little "Candy Shop" on 38th and Madison. Most suprising? There was a cat in the store! This Tasti Cat (as my friend Sarah called it) was quite cute and clearly had to be in the picture.

The presence of a cat somewhat made up for the kind of bland flavor. I didn't have the highest expectations for Cake Batter--it didn't have much flavor and was just very vanilla-y. It did taste fairly refreshing though on a hot day. I got half Peanut Butter because I couldn't resist myself, and the mixture improved upon Cake Batter--but mostly because it was just a diluted version of one of my favorite flavors. No need to crank up the Flavor Locator for this one.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Banana Pudding

2008-06-13T15:26:00.003-04:00

The extent of coincidence in life is sometimes just too overwhelming. Yesterday afternoon, I posted about the new flavor locator feature and included a screencap of my unsuccessful test search. As you can see, I searched for "Banana Pudding," as I had decided it was the flavor I most felt like at the moment out of the hundreds of options.

The bad news is that the Flavor Locator doesn't appear to be fully live for all stores yet. The good news was that when I stopped by the Tasti closest to my apartment that night, they, of course, were serving Banana Pudding. I feel like I must have done something right yesterday in order to receive such a sweet reward.

For the most part, Banana Pudding did not disappoint. The flavor was strong and sweet. However, by the end of the cup, I felt nauseated--which is unusual for a Tasti flavor. The taste just doesn't hold up throughout a whole cup. It would be superb, however, mixed with another flavor--even Dutch Chocolate--to counterbalance the thickness.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

TastiDLite.com Launches Flavor Locator

2008-06-12T12:08:00.004-04:00

The Tasti website continues to expand and innovate--this morning, they launched a "Flavor Locator." Users can select a flavor and type in their zipcode, and the locator tells them the nearest location serving that flavor. Unfortunately, most of the ones I tried were not found within a 50 mile radius, so it somewhat serves to remind you of what you want, but can't have. Nevertheless, it's a pretty nifty feature and should be useful for that burning craving.

Chocolate Decadence Sundae

2008-06-11T09:40:00.004-04:00

This was my first foray into the complex sundaes offered by Tasti D-Lite--I figured it was about time. It filled a large drinking cup (maybe four or five times a small cup) and had two layers of chocolate Tasti, cookie crumb, and hot fudge. Then it was topped with whipped cream. All for 390 calories! You definitely can't help but wonder how that calorie count is possible. The man behind me in line saw the sundae being made and snarked--"There goes the diet for the week!" (Was he trying to tell me something?) In theory, my "diet" for the week was fine, but it's definitely hard to believe. The sundae was delicious--creamy, rich, and flavorful. It was definitely thick though, and you couldn't order a smaller size. It was a little expensive, too. I'd say it's a great thing to split with friends and probably should be treated with a grain of salt (can it really be healthy?), but probably shouldn't be taken on by oneself.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

390 calories/order

Oreos 'n Peanut Butter

2008-06-06T01:51:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was the kind of day where the train pulled up right as you swiped into the subway and the guy at ABP put just the right amount of pesto on the sandwich. So it came as no surprise that one of the flavors of the day was Oreos 'n Peanut Butter--which are just about my two favorite foods. As I've discussed before, both peanut butter and Oreo make delicious Tasti flavors--the question was if the mixture would be too much of a good thing... and it wasn't! You could differentiate the two delectable tastes or let your taste buds combine them into a single frozen goodness. They really complement each other well. For creativity and execution, four stars it is!

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

80 calories/ounce

Chocolate Tasti Shake

2008-06-01T21:35:00.004-04:00

So Tasti D-Lited is finally in New York! And, best all, our apartment is less than two blocks away from a (rather small) Tasti! And, likewise, reviews should be back on a frequent basis.

For our first trip, we decided to mix it up a bit and try a Tasti Shake on for size--and it fit! (Lolerz, y'all.) While I prefer Tasti to ice cream even without the nutritional factors, I have little taste preference between a Tasti shake and a normal one. Which is a good thing. It tastes rich, creamy, and chocolatey. The taste is rather straight-forward, but I guess that's what one would expect. In any case, I'll definitely be trying some more complicated shakes (and smoothies) in the future.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

Berryline Thrives in Harvard Square

2008-05-30T23:58:00.003-04:00

So, I'm finally heading to Tasti-land (NYC!) tomorrow afternoon, so flavor reviews will be forthcoming. But, in my last day in Boston, I had to check out Berryline, which I've been hearing from all my friends who go to Harvard. Berryline is the first to market in Harvard Square--which, by the way, would be a great location for Tasti D-Lite (hopefully they'll get there soon). I was fairly impressed with Berryline--it's basically exactly the same as Pinkberry, Red Mango, etc. The taste was the same, the toppings are the same, the name is...similar. But, it's interesting to note how devoted Harvard Square residents are to it already--I went twice today (Oreo with Strawberry and Kiwi, then Original with Strawberry and Blueberry), and it was packed both times. Most people in line who I asked hadn't heard of Pinkberry at all. It will be interesting to see how the whole Pinkberry-like food competition will pan out. None of the companies has too much notoriety or too many locations, and the product is the same. It will be interesting to see if Tasti decides these companies are competition or not--I tend to think not.

Best Customer Quote

2008-05-23T14:40:00.002-04:00

The official Tasti D-Lite blog has kindly recognized us again, citing this post as including the "best customer quote on the internet." We headline the top 10 list! Thanks!

The Quote:

"I like to imagine that until the moment I step into the store, the flavors of the day have yet to be decided, and as I push the door open, the frozen dessert gods scan my soul and offer flavors as some sort of karmic redemption."

Tasti Introduces Green Tea, PB Moosemellow

2008-05-23T14:36:00.003-04:00

This weekend, over 40 participating Tasti stores introduced the two newest flavors to the Tasti D-Lite community--Green Tea and PB Moosemellow. PB Moosemellow is a snazzed-up name for Moose Tracks ice cream, a personal favorite of mine. I'm quite excited to try the flavor. Green Tea would appear to be a response to the Pinkberrys of the world--Green Tea is one of the two original Pinkberry flavors. The press release acknowledges this, proclaiming that Green Tea "captures one of the hottest flavor trends." In any case, new flavors are always fun.

Tasti Goes International

2008-05-19T14:59:00.003-04:00

This past week, Tasti D-Lite announced its first international franchising deal with Coffee Bean Korea Co., Ltd. The deal will bring Tasti D-Lite to South Korea, the first country outside the U.S. to receive Tasti goodness. CEO Jim Amos points out that South Korea is a strong first international location because several "fad yogurt chains" have had great success in the country. It is not specifically noted in the press release that Red Mango, the increasingly popular Pinkberry rival, is based in South Korea and is extremely popular there before coming to New York.

Of course, it's a little hard to believe that Tasti will reach South Korea before, say, Boston, or even Chicago. The deal with Coffee Bean makes some sense, as Coffee Bean fanatics on the west coast are quite similar to Tasti fanatics on the east coast. I doubt it will, but if the deal was extended domestically, I'd imagine it would be quite successful. In any case, the international expansion is certainly exciting for Tasti--I look forward to getting my first e-mail from a Korean Tasti addict.

[EDIT: A commenter points out that there is no connection in the deal between Tasti and The Coffee Bean. It so happens that the main franchiser in South Korea of The Coffee Bean is also working with Tasti D-Lite now. There is no connection between the two companies.]

Peanut Butter Mounds

2008-05-14T22:14:00.008-04:00

It's been quite a while since we've had a flavor review on Tasti D-Lited, but we were able to make it into the city for a morning and stopped by a Tasti. It was interesting to see the prominence of the promotion for the new smoothie and sundae lines, but sadly I did not have time to try them out.

Instead, I got Peanut Butter Mounds, with high expectations. I gave Peanut Butter a four-star review back in October and noted how many more varieties of peanut butter remain. Of course, I'm now running into trouble--Peanut Butter Mounds, as most of the peanut butter flavors will be, was incredible, equal to original Peanut Butter. But I don't want to get set in a precedent of giving four stars to each peanut butter inspired blend!

So, we'll give it three stars, and save four stars for peanut butter flavors that go over the top. But, Peanut Butter Mounds was an excellent way to finally get my Tasti fix.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

100 calories/serving

New Franchising Program Details

2008-05-11T19:29:00.005-04:00

Tasti D-Lite filed a very thorough press release on Friday with announcements about the franchising program. The details are fairly promising:

- 36 previously independently owned Tasti stores have switched over to become Tasti franchises. This does not appear to include my local New Haven location. The press release notes that Tasti is currently through over 60 independent stores--interesting to note they only have about half on board at this point. And, of course, these 36 stores are but a fraction of the 500-center franchise planned within five years.

- These stores will be remodeled to fit Tasti's new brand image (paid for by Tasti).

- These stores will have exclusive access to the new flavors and products Tasti will be releasing in the next few months (exciting!).

Exciting stuff! We'll be in New York just for the morning tomorrow, but will be sure to stop by Tasti. So expect the first flavor review in months tomorrow!

Columbia Reacts to Pinkberry Revelation, as Pinkberry Ascends

2008-05-02T15:54:00.004-04:00

Last week was a tough one for Tasti competitor Pinkberry with the publication of their (quite unnatural) ingredients, but they seem to be regaining momentum. I hate to see Pinkberry take even one customer from Tasti, so these items are not very inspiring.

- Tasti D-Lited previously covered the Pinkberry v. Tasti battle at Columbia University. The Columbia Spectator reports that students are not deterred by the revelation of Pinkberry's ingredients. In fact, the Spectator goes as far as to claim that Pinkberry is still healthier than Tasti and Yolato.

- Tasti has heralded itself as New York's favorite frozen yogurt/dessert for a number of years now. But, in perhaps the most tangible effect Pinkberry has had on Tasti, Time Out New York's yearly survey has given this title to Pinkberry this year. A sad day indeed.

Look forward to some more Tasti-centric posts soon, hopefully. Tasti D-Lited finally relocates back to New York in less than a month!

Tasti D-Lited Shout Out

2008-05-01T15:31:00.001-04:00

Tasti D-Lited was given a shout out today in the official Tasti D-Lite blog. It's quite nice, so many thanks!

Pinkberry's Outing Raises Questions for Tasti

2008-04-28T16:51:00.003-04:00

As chains like Tasti D-Lite and Pinkberry have become increasingly popular, there have been concerns about what exactly is in the "yogurt" that makes it taste so good without calories. The drama surrounding the class-action lawsuit continues, now forcing Pinkberry to reveal its exact ingredients, and the results showed why they were so hesitant to do so. Even though Pinkberry markets itself as "all natural," the truth does not lead to that conclusion:

The list includes at least five additives defined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as emulsifiers (propylene glycol esters, lactoglycerides, sodium acid pyrophosphate, mono- and diglycerides); four acidifiers (magnesium oxide, calcium fumarate, citric acid, sodium citrate); tocopherol, a natural preservative; and two ingredients — starch and maltodextrin — that were characterized as fillers by Dr. Gary A. Reineccius, a professor in the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota and an expert in food additives.

The aftermath to the controversy has had interesting ramifications on Tasti. New York Magazine food blog "Grub Street"'s lede to their post about it has to scare Tasti:

Back in those heady days when the small-screen Sex and the City reigned over New York, it was all about skinny girlie-girl Miss Charlotte York and her tasteless Tasti D-Lite. Let’s hope that this summer’s big-screen SATC has caught up with the times, because any body fat–phobic New Yorker knows that today it’s all about that tangy frozen yogurt Pinkberry.

The revelation that Pinkberry is filled with all sorts of gross things has shaded opinion of Tasti as well. Grub Street asked Pinkberry devotees about the news and asked several of them about their opinion of Tasti (none were favorable). The most interesting answer came from Benny Tagliareni, 28, when he was asked if he eats Tasti D-Lite.

Uch, no. I don’t eat Tasti D-Lite. It’s all fabricated — disgusting. There’s nothing wholesome about it. You’re ultimately eating garbage. But I don’t expect any fast food to be healthy at all.

It seems clear that a) perception is that Tasti is composed of non-natural ingredients and b) that this Pinkberry law suit is going to shade opinion of Tasti. Tasti's doing its part with its fresh, very natural new image. Additionally, the "flavor + nutrition" page proclaims "Natural Ingredients." "Tasti Science" explains, "We use natural ingredients and just enough real sugar, because it just tastes better that way."

But, thanks to Pinkberry, the folks at Tasti have to reach out even more stringently to ensure customers that there's nothing unhealthy about eating Tasti D-Lite.

Tasti Socially Networks

2008-04-24T20:27:00.006-04:00

As Tasti continues to extend its online presence, it comes as little surprise it's trying to get in on the social networking game. This week, Tasti launched a Facebook page. Users can become "fans," get news, see photos, upload photos, have discussions with other fans, etc. It's unclear as of yet how much value it adds, but we'll have to wait to see what Tasti plans to do with it and how fans use it. An interesting experiment, to be sure.

Pinkberry Is Not Frozen Yogurt

2008-04-21T18:30:00.005-04:00

We're a little late on this news item, but Pinkberry settled a suit last week, which asserted their product isn't all-natural frozen yogurt as claimed.

In a class-action lawsuit filed last year, Pinkberry — which operates roughly 50 stores in California and New York — was accused of misrepresenting its product as “frozen yogurt” and making bogus health claims, including that the dessert (which comes in three flavors: plain, which is very sour; green tea, which is chalky; and coffee, uncommonly delicious) was “all-natural.”
In a preliminary settlement reached this week, Pinkberry denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $750,000 to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Para Los Niños. The plaintiff, Lisa Sutton, who said she suffered injuries and undue loss of money spent on Pinkberry products, will receive legal fees and a $5,000 award for bringing the suit.
Under California law, a product cannot be marketed as frozen yogurt unless it is made from milk that is fermented with certain bacteria, mixed off-site rather than in stores, and sold with its ingredients prominently displayed. In the past, Pinkberry had been secret about its products’ ingredients, but it now lists them on its Web site, and it has begun to mix the product off-site.

It's also worth noting that Pinkberry is also considerably more calories than originally claimed. Of course, this isn't anything Tasti hasn't dealt with in the past. Tasti made the switch from "frozen yogurt" to "frozen dessert" a long time ago, and on last week's press release, the PR team finally found a great spin. They wrote, "Not a frozen yogurt because it doesn't contain yogurt and not enough fat to be ice cream, Tasti D-Lite is a uniquely perfect indulgence with just 70 to 100 calories per four fl. oz. serving." This spin still prevents Tasti from seemly unnatural, while clumping its lack of yogurt with a lack of fat.

In any case, it's interesting to see Pinkberry go through the same mistakes Tasti ironed out years ago. Maybe it's not the competitor we thought it might be. For more info on the ingredients in Tasti, check out Tasti Science.

Tasti D is bloggin', press releasin', diversifyin'

2008-04-21T03:18:00.006-04:00

The folks at Tasti sent over some interesting news updates to me this weekend.

1) Through franchising.com, Tasti released a press release, more formally encouraging new franchisers to help them build their 500-center franchise in five years. The release is in line with the franchising strategy previously discussed on Tasti D-Lited. The release focuses on the experience of the managerial team, the devotion of the consumers (like yours truly), and the health benefits. They continue to use "dessert your guilt" as a tagline. The release continues the build up for the flagship store in NYC, which is opening in the next few months. Tasti D-Lited is planning on getting there for opening day, but we'll see how the timing works out. On a more personal note, the new franchising plan has affected me quite greatly--the licensor of the New Haven location still hasn't decided whether or not to renew and thus still hasn't opened.

2) Tasti D-Lited officially isn't the only Tasti D-Lite blog online! Tasti D-Lite has started an official blog, which has minimal unimpressive content so far, but should be utilized more in the future. Interestingly, it's hosted on Xanga rather than on tastidlite.com. I'd imagine they'll make the switch over relatively soon, as they continue to rollout new features on their new website.

3) Speaking of new features on their website, you may notice some updates on tastidlite.com. We previously made fun of some of the silly images rotating on the homepage. The girl with the crazy eyes is still there (thank god!), but they replaced the out-of-place beach frolickers with an image of some whipped cream and a smoothie. Interesting to note the prominent placement of the relatively unpopular smoothies--I've yet to try one, but will now. This new smoothie emphasis is reflected in the updated Tasti Treats section as well. It is now broken into "classic d-lite menu," "smoothie d-lite menu," and "d-lite to go menu." The smoothie menu is the most interesting and includes Asian-inspired names for their smoothies and shakes. Sundaes are also featured.Tasti appears to be (smartly) diversifying its menu, beginning to take on Jamba Juice with this new menu. The To Go menu focuses on cakes and special treats, which is yet another branch off from the core frozen dessert offering. And, of course, the classic menu is the one we already know and love. In any case, it's increasingly interesting to see Tasti shape its strategy as it begins its quest to expand across the country. This first update is a good sign of things to come.

Tasti's #1, says Food Experts

2008-04-13T17:40:00.002-04:00

There has been quite a dearth of posts on Tasti D-Lited lately, as our local store still hasn't reopened (it's been five months!!?? That is not a "season," folks!), but there's good news! We'll be in New York this summer and will certainly be making up for lost time.

And, in case you forgot just how good Tasti really is, food authors and HuffPo bloggers Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent ranked Tasti D-Lite as the best Frozen Yogurt (err... "frozen dessert") in the country. Tasti was followed at #2 by rival Pinkberry.

Of Tasti, they write:

Tasti D is pretty much our favorite place on earth, but unfortunately it's only available in certain parts of the country right now. (However, more of these gems will be popping up around the country soon, so stay tuned.) This stuff is incredibly delicious, has only 20 calories per ounce for most flavors, and is all natural! That means no crazy chemicals, so you can feel good about indulging in this stuff. Plus, it comes in literally hundreds of unique flavors like fluffernutter, cake batter, mudpie, cinnamon crunch, etc. We've found that Tasti D makes a great lunch when you add healthy toppings like almonds or granola, or a perfect snack when swirled on a cone with a few sprinkles. Just be careful about licking your cone while walking down the street - a few construction guys may notice.

NEW IMAGE: Don't Feel Guilty. Please. Seriously.

2008-03-11T22:49:00.004-04:00

The biggest change between the old, ugly website and the shiny, new one is the image Tasti is projecting. Cover up the ice cream scoop in the top left corner, and it's quite hard to tell if the site is for an ice cream change or a health-conscious spa and resort.

The central photo rotates between a determined woman stretching before a liberating work-out, two happy women laughing at a joke, and a young couple barefoot on the beach. All happy, all skinny, all young, all pretty. In addition to the (rather clever) tagline "dessert your guilt," the site features "refresh revive renew," "for your active lifestyle," and "your very own guiltless pleasure." The stock banner that runs throughout the site features kiwis, oranges, and blueberries. It's clear Tasti is branding itself as the place the trendy soccer mom stops between pilates and sushi. Is this necessarily the niche Tasti best fills? Perhaps--but it also might alienate a large portion of its potential base--namely, the entire male gender.

This new image (no matter how you look at it, an improvement on the scattered and shoddy feel Tasti formerly projecting) coupled with the expansion plans places Tasti in the Starbucks/Whole Foods type of brand--the chain that expands and expands, while still desperately holding on to the fresh, high quality feel so important to its customer base.

Be sure to check out the new site in its entirety.

The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better
3. New Image: Don't Feel Guilty. Please. Seriously.

EXPANSION: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better

2008-03-10T19:07:00.009-04:00

As the first report in a series about The State of the Tasti, Tasti D-Lited takes a look at Tasti's massive expansion and franchising plans.

What It Is

Tasti D-Lited likes to herald its small-town roots as the brainchild of one typical "New York Woman." But the company has taken a decidedly corporate turn (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). Last year, the company incorporated as Tasti D-Lite LLC after being acquired by a New York private equity firm, Snow Phipps Group, LLC. Jim Amos took over as CEO with his goal (which is proclaimed "a good one" in the updated History section of the website) to help Tasti extend its reach across the world as the number one "good-for-you" frozen dessert in the world. Amos recently published "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Franchising" (Penguin)--but he does have good taste in Tasti--his favorite flavor is Peanut Butter.

Over the next five years, Tasti plans to open 500 "centers" mostly in the United States. The expansion will be headlined by two new "flagship" stores opening in Manhattan this year (Tasti D-Lited will try to cover these stores soon, obviously). Tasti is looking for owners to run all these new franchises, as "Own a Center" receives its own tab and a prominent location on the minimalist homepage. The tab introduces four options for potential owners: single-unit franchises, multiple-unit franchises, area developer franchises, and most intriguingly, international master franchises.

As for the investment for new owners, the request for information asks, "The initial investment for a single Tasti D-Lite center ranges from $229,670 to $433,350. Are you prepared to make an investment in this range?"

To give some perspective on the expansion, 500 shops would put Tasti right in line with the number of locations operated by Ben and Jerry's, make it bigger than Coldstone, but (way) smaller than TCBY.

What It Means

Essentially, this expansion is good for customers and bad for franchisers. On the most functional level, Tasti will be available in many more places, covering more states and streets. Not to mention, the increase in revenue theoretically means more funding for R&D and tasteology (as they call it) and thus a better product.

Current franchisers have been somewhat up in arms about the transition. This e-mail has been making the rounds among franchisers, bringing some of Amos' past transgressions into light. Apparently he's ruffled a few feathers in his past franchising and expansion endeavors, leading to lawsuits and alleged fraud. Not to mention that franchisers, who were used to dealing with small-time owners and individual attention, will have to get used to sharing Tasti's resources much more broadly. Of course, for aspiring franchisers, opening a Tasti location is now easier than ever. It will be interesting to see if this uprising of current franchisers manifests itself in any meaningful ways. E-mail tastidlited@gmail.com with info.

What this expansion really means to us is still in doubt. All of us love the personalized and un-corporate feel of Tasti shops and certainly don't want it to turn into Starbucks. On the other hand, it's easy to understand that bringing Tasti to the masses requires more funding and more established management. Will these new flagship stores maintain the Tasti feel and environment? Or will it more mirror the new website--which maintains a Tasti feel, while making massive improvements--being more functional, easier-to-navigate, and slightly more professional looking. Only time will tell, but it is a risk most likely worth taking.

As always, we'll be keeping this angle in mind as the franchising plans develop.

The State of the Tasti:
1. New Website Reveals Big Plans
2. Expansion: Certainly Bigger, Possibly Better

Tasti Launches New Website

2008-02-26T17:00:00.007-05:00

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. As Tasti D-Lite prepares to embark on their quite extensive expansion plan, the stone-age website has been replaced by a sparkly, brand-spanking-new one. The update is much needed and a huge improvement. The new site includes a really sweet new favicon, a whole new layout, a new brand logo, a new tagline, and tons of new information. Not surprisingly, "own a franchise" is prominently located on the homepage. In any case, over the next week, we'll take a look at a lot of the new information more in-depth. We'll analyze the new brand image, the massive expansion plans, the history and nutrition. So keep checking back here over the next few weeks for The State of the Tasti series.

The main photo rotates between three options, but this was the clear one to screen cap. Look how crazy the girl on the left looks! No one wants to look like that! It looks like the magic Tasti chemicals finally got to her brain. Or a gun is being pointed at her head, and she's being told she'll be shot if she doesn't smile enthusiastically. Or she just has some mental issues...

Stealing from the Best

2008-01-11T00:19:00.001-05:00

Cold and Tasti-free in Massachusetts today, some friends and I descended upon an original and high-brow establishment--"Truly Yogurt" in Wellesley. I was appalled to see the list of "soft serve" flavors--there's truly nothing delightful about this wannabe yogurt. Get your own fun, yet nonsensical abbreviation!

Oreos 'n Cream

2007-12-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

It's been quite awhile since a new review was posted, but yesterday Tasti D-Lited went to New York to see Cyrano de Bergerac in NYC (it was great!)--and, of course, sought down the nearest Tasti D location. (Fun tip: text "Tasti D-Lite" plus the zip code you are in to GOOGL and they'll text back the nearest locations!)

My determination was rewarded with one of the flavors I've most wanted to try: Oreos 'n Cream--incidentally, my favorite ice cream flavor. And I was definitely not disappointed. The flavor is flat-out great. Because Tasti is now a rare treat, I upgraded my usual small cup to a large cup, and certainly could've eaten even more of this flavor. The taste never gets old and is accurate, yet even offers some delicious subtleties you wouldn't find in the ice cream.

This will probably be the only review in December, but we've got ourselves a four-starer.

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

P.S. One month, nine days since the "Closed for the Season" fiasco, and I'm not holding up well without my Tasti. Spring can't come soon enough...

Essay: "Tiramisu Frozen Dessert"

2007-11-15T16:09:00.000-05:00

It's been ten days since the only Tasti D-Lite in Connecticut "closed for the season," so posting will continue to be light here at Tasti D-Lited for a bit.

Today, I share with you a piece I wrote about about Tasti D-Lite for an English class last spring. It takes a more negative view of Tasti D than I personally hold, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Tiramisu Frozen Dessert
by Sam

One thing is for certain: I love Tasti D-Lite’s tiramisu “frozen dessert.

Nothing beats the feeling you get when you walk into a “Tasti D,” impulsively looking to the back to discover the two flavors of the day, and one of them just perfectly fits your mood. Every day, Tasti D offers four frozen dessert flavors. There is always Dutch Chocolate and French Vanilla, either of which is suitable as a last resort. The real points, however, are won by the other two flavors, which are chosen each day from a list of over 100 innovative flavors plastered on the wall. This lottery feature makes eating frozen dessert not only delicious, but surprising and nerve-racking!

Tasti D frozen dessert is essentially frozen yogurt, but, for legal reasons presumably, cannot be referred to as such. The special formula reduces the caloric and fat content of the frozen dessert to a fraction of your everyday frozen yogurt, making eating at Tasti D not only delicious, surprising, and nerve-racking, but also healthy! And best of all, as its website proudly proclaims, it’s kosher, as well!

Tasti D was started in New York about a decade ago and received instant notoriety (it’s “New York’s favorite dessert!”), and some of the original, more popular stores publish the all-important flavor schedule on a website. To me, though, that’s akin to telling sending a five year old an e-mail on Christmas Eve listing the presents he’s going to receive the next morning. I like to imagine that until the moment I step into the store, the flavors of the day have yet to be decided, and as I push the door open, the frozen dessert gods scan my soul and offer flavors as some sort of karmic redemption. And, today, when I stepped into the only Tasti-D in Connecticut and saw tiramisu in bold letters next to the Dutch Chocolate, I knew I had done something right.

Tiramisu is my (although, I now know, not New York’s) favorite dessert. Nothing matches the unique combination of flavors and textures that a good tiramisu offers. When I visited Rome this summer, I tried 15 different tiramisus and kept a journal, determined to find the best authentic incarnation. I walked up to the counter and happily ordered a large cup of tiramisu ‘dessert’ from the cashier, who looked like a perfect cross of my grandfather and Sanjaya, the androgynous Indian from American Idol. I paid and left a dollar in the tip jar as an offering to the kind frozen dessert gods. You can’t help it—Tasti D makes you religious.

I was nervous as I took the first precious bite of my dessert and slowly realized it was the most perfect ice cream-ish substance I had ever eaten—it beautifully captured the delicate balance of flavors, while offering a new cold and frozen interpretation. A wave of euphoria overcame me as I dug back in. On the second nibble, I noticed a hint of cinnamon and an undertone of egg. I was careful to savor every precious molecule of frozen dessert and let no extraneous thoughts distract me from this little piece of heaven embodied in a tasty treat.

Each successive bite provided new insight into what made the dessert so powerful. In a trance, I impulsively moved the spoon from the bowl, to my mouth, and back to the bowl. I felt like Moses at the top of the mountain, except I was in the promised land. Somehow I felt sure that when Moses ate his manna, he imagined it tasted like artificial tiramisu frozen dessert. Suffice it to say, I, like Moses, was on top of the world.

Inevitably, however, I felt the heaven in my hand become lighter and lighter as I found myself down to my last few bites. I judiciously selected a portion to cherish, letting it melt in my mouth, the flavor soaking into my taste buds. I closed my eyes and reveled in the high. However, all good things must come to an end, and soon it was unavoidable—I was down to my final bite, and a wave of panic overcame me.

This may be the last bite I will ever have of the best frozen dessert flavor in the world, I realized. After all, assuming an unbiased rotation, I would have to happen upon Tasti D on the lucky one of 50 days to have my tiramisu again. I had three options, I quickly realized

1) continuously buy Tiramisu frozen dessert until, Matilda-style, I will never want it again (suddenly, Tasti D’s business model emerges)

2) check the New York menus every day and take the two-hour train ride the next time they carry my precious tiramisu

3) return to Tasti D every day until they happen to have it again.

As I pondered my three desperate options, I stared at the dollar I put in the tip car and considered reaching in to take it back. What did I do to deserve this? Desperate, nothing seemed out of the realm of possibility—I could steal the tiramisu recipe from behind the counter (where it must be kept), so I could make the concoction every day in my bathtub. Better yet, I could move and live near the Tasti D production plant, forming a relationship with the security guard who would provide me with my daily tiramisu fix. I could start a blog and letter writing campaign to replace chocolate with tiramisu as a standard flavor, creating corny catchphrases about how much I “misu” the flavor every day.

Looking at my bowl, I did the only thing in my power and took that last bite. I felt like Jesus at the Last Supper. And “ice cream” that makes you feel like Jesus at the Last Supper is hardly what I paid for. Tasti D may be delicious, surprising, nerve-racking, healthy, kosher, and religious, but, more than anything, it is heart-breaking, and for that I unequivocally hate Tasti D.

More specifically, I hate Tasti D-Lite’s tiramisu frozen dessert.

Closed for the Season

2007-11-05T13:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I experienced one of the most horrible occurrences of my life. It had been four days since my last Tasti fix, and I had the feeling that the flavors of the day were going to be goodies. I thought of all the times this week I was going to go to Tasti, making the most of the time before it got really cold. As I walked down High St., through some sort of Pavlovian conditioning, my mouth began to water, and I got excited. Until I was confronted with one of the greatest shocks of my life.

My local Tasti D. The only Tasti D in the entire state of Connecticut. Covered up. Closed. For the Season. This is a hardship I certainly would wish upon no one. What does "the season" entail? Is it not going to open until March!? Why would they do this? How much could it cost to operate one Tasti location through the long, hard winter? We all need all the happiness we can get come wintertime. And with no warning! Just sprung upon me--as if the teacher didn't announce a pop quiz at the beginning of class, but a pop exam.

So. Alas. I clearly I have no choice in the matter, so there will be little-to-no Tasti the rest of this "season." As for Tasti D-Lited, it will obviously slow down as well. I should be in New York several times this season and will certainly make several Tasti excursions. (Send in reviews of your own, if you're in Tasti range!) I will continue reporting on Tasti news and Pinkberry/rivals news, but that certainly only comes in spurts.

In any case, this is a sad day for all. Let us mourn.

Columbia Pinkberry Report

2007-11-01T18:33:00.001-04:00

Our New York correspondent NYC TB sends us a report on a trip to the new Columbia Pinkberry. Note to all: avoid the "shaved ice."

The shaved ice was basically the kitchen sink. And it cost $8. And it was ridiculous. And I think Lili is the only person who has ever ordered it. It was ridonkulous. Pinkberry is always crowded but I think it's just the novelty. It's SO EXPENSIVE too. And I tried getting the medium with three toppings for lunch and I was hungry by 4 and I had lunch at 1. It's good, but not extraordinary in anyway, and definitely doesn't have whatever it is that is so amazing about jamba that is so consistently godly. Maybe the fact that jamba doesn't have this weird mystique and is always fun and happy and would you like a free boost? Pinkberry is good occasionally, but I definitely can't afford to go there every day. I've been getting original with bananas, strawberries, and kiwi, which is a good mixture of different textures as well as mild and strong, sweet and sour tastes. Original is REALLY GOOD with bananas. I'm thinking of getting the medium sometime and just asking for three servings of bananas because they're awesome!

Still too early to tell what effect this Pinkberry will have on the popular Columbia Tasti D in what is the first real Tasti-Berry showdown.

Columbia Pinkberry is Open and Crowded

2007-10-30T20:26:00.001-04:00

Last week, the Pinkberry at Columbia University opened after months of anticipation (actually). More than a week later, midday on a Sunday, lines are still consistently out the door, as this Tasti D-Lited exclusive picture confirms. Our Columbia mole NYC TB says the opening of Pinkberry has created a vicious Tasti D-Lite-Pinkberry divide on campus already. It's unclear as of yet how the popular Tasti D-Lite location in Lerner will be affected. NYC TB reports that the primary knock against Pinkberry has been the astounding price, although it doesn't seem to have affected sales as of yet.

We'll continue to follow the first real Tasti-Pinkberry showdown as it develops.

Pinkberry at Columbia Links:

"Pinkberry Takes on Tasti at Columbia" (Tasti D-Lited)
"The line at Pinkberry is out of control" (The Columbia Bwog)
"Waging a War of Fro-Yo with Tasti D" (The Colubmia Spectator, whose office, you will notice in the picture, is right next to Pinkberry)

Chocoleche

2007-10-30T16:57:00.000-04:00

After having Chocoleche, I finally decided it was time for a "GeneriChocolate" tag. There are a number of Tasti flavors that just aren't different enough from Dutch Chocolate to warrant a coveted spot on the dispenser. The ubiquity of GeneriChocolate flavors actually gives a fair amount of insight into what makes a good flavor--something interesting and different from the standard Chocolate/Vanilla, but not nothing too crazy that it's just bad. Tasti's at it's best when it weaves this balance correctly with flavors like Tiramisu or Creamsicle. That said, GeneriChocolates are fine--they are certainly delicious--but never warrant more than one or two stars for lack of creativity or X-factor. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed my Chocoleche, but certainly can't remember how it's taste different from plain old Chocolate.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Creme Brulee

2007-10-27T02:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it can be easy to confuse how good a flavor is with how accurately it tastes like its intention. I like creme brulee, and Tasti's Creme Brulee tastes very much like real creme brulee. But it doesn't exactly work as a frozen dessert. In short, little needs to be said: it's not horrible, just not particularly good, and tastes just as you would expect it to.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

70 calories/serving

Pumpkin Pie

2007-10-23T02:20:00.000-04:00

Spreading the Tasti gospel is one of my greatest sources of joy. Imagine my delight (read: d-lite) when I had the pleasure of introducing a native of Nebraska to the wonders of Tasti D-Lite today. Now imagine her delight (read: d-lite) when one of the flavors of the day was her favorite food--pumpkin pie. Now imagine getting to try a cup of Pumpkin Pie as well yourself, and it's delicious. Now imagine the strong, but not overbearing tastes hitting your tongue. Now imagine wishing that there had been a little bit more richness to the aftertaste.

Thank you.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

70 calories/serving

Peanut Butter

2007-10-20T16:39:00.002-04:00

I had been waiting a long time to try a Peanut Butter flavor from Tasti; ever since I read the following snippet from the website's FAQ's:

What is your most popular flavor?

Hands down, anything with peanut butter!

It's hard to imagine exactly what Peanut Butter would taste like in D-Lite form--but once you taste the first spoonful, everything makes sense. And I don't just mean in terms of why it's the most popular flavor. Life makes sense for that one, precious fleeting moment. Peanut Butter is one of those flavors of which you just can't get enough. And one of those flavors of which I just can't say enough. Welcome, to the "Favorite Flavors" list on the left toolbar, Peanut Butter!

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

End note: Peanut Butter flavors left to try: Peanut Butter Cup, Peanut Butter Fudge, Peanut Butter Marble, Peanut Butter Mounds, Peanut Butter Cake, and, most intriguing: Peanut Butter Dream and Peanut Butter 'n Jelly (!?).

Mud Pie

2007-10-19T01:23:00.000-04:00

Google defines Mud Pie as "a mass of mud that a child has molded into the shape of a pie," but this does not seem to be the angle Tasti was going for. Rather, they intended to emulate a Mississippi Mud Pie which is a "chocolate-based dessert pie that possibly originated in Mississippi." I like that the entire name of the dessert hinges on its state of origin, yet nobody really knows for sure if it actually was invented there. In any case, I offer you this history/linguistic lesson because there is little to say about Mud Pie. It's definitely in the same category as Chocolate Pudding or Chocolate Mousse, as flavors that are good but just don't go the extra distance. There's nothing memorable or surprising about them particularly, as they are slight variations on Dutch Chocolate. But, certainly nothing to complain about--chocolate is chocolate, and Tasti D is Tasti D.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Pinkberry Takes on Tasti at Columbia

2007-10-17T13:32:00.001-04:00

A new Pinkberry store is opening practically on-campus at Columbia University, challenging the ever-tenuous balance of on-campus frozen yogurt options. The current "yogurt" of choice, of course, is Tasti D-Lite ("New York's Favorite Dessert," natch), with the most populated branch located actually inside a CU building. Tasti D-Lited New York Correspondent "NYC TB" reports widespread curiosity for the Tasti rip-off/trend of the week, but we're willing to bet we'll get back to a Tasti equilibrium soon. This is the first real test as to what extent Pinkberry actually poses a threat.

Columbia' Bwog is covering the news, and NYC TB will be reporting directly to us as the first real Tasti-Pinkberry showdown hits its climax.

Peach Melba

2007-10-16T19:57:00.000-04:00

Props to Tasti for the originality of its Peach Melba flavor both as an entity (I had never heard of Peach Melba) and a flavor (quite different than any flavor I've had before except perhaps the delicious Creamsicle). Tasti's fruiter flavors are always refreshing and surprisingly flavorful. Like Creamsicle, Peach Melba has an orange/pink tinge to it (you can't tell from the picture though--cool lighting, eh?), which is always a nice break from the white/brown motif. If I had tried Peach Melba before Creamsicle, it probably would have reached four star status, but it's slightly worse than my beloved 'Sicle, so we'll knock it down a notch.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Banana Pudding

2007-10-16T03:42:00.001-04:00

I've always wondered what the distinction between Tasti's various banana flavors are--how do they distinguish between Banana, Banana Pudding, Bananas Foster, and Banana Crunch? After trying Banana Pudding today, I hope the answer is--they don't. Lord knows I'm a sucker for banana desserts, but Banana Pudding is exactly what it should be: subtly, yet deliciously and creamily flavored. It's the type of flavor that makes you (and indeed I did) go back for more. I feel bad having 66% of my four-star flavors being banana based, but so it shall be. Let's just hope I discover a new D-Liteful flavor before 'Banana Crunch' fills my local dispenser.

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Pistachio

2007-10-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

My dedication to Tasti D-Lited only goes so far, I'm afraid. Confronted with the already-reviewed, already-loved Milky Weigh and a not-yet-reviewed, lime-green-colored Pistachio on a depressing and rainy day, I had to go with my taste buds. But, I did 'sample' Pistachio to review for y'all. All together now: "Thanks, Sam!" I'm alternatively happy and sad to report that the flavor tastes and looks much like a cold, frozen, mashed pistachio. I'm not sure the review needs to go on any further--either this sounds appealing to you, or it doesn't. And to me: it doesn't. Hey! At least it's in the lowest calorie group!

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

70 calories/serving

Chocolate Pudding

2007-10-07T19:33:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Pudding is in the same category as Chocolate Mousse--a decent flavor, but too similar to Dutch Chocolate to be worth making. It tastes kind of like if you put good pudding in the freezer for an hour or two, which isn't a compliment or an insult really, just a fact. On my Chocolate Pudding trip, I was able to introduce my family to Tasti D, which was certainly a delight (Tasti D-Lited 'delight/d-lite' pun #2)--pictured here, my younger brother looks enviously at my Pudding.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Chocolate Macaroon

2007-10-05T15:05:00.000-04:00

I like chocolate, I like macaroons, and I like chocolate macaroons, but I did not particularly like this Tasti flavor. Somehow the dry, bread-y taste of macaroon only works with macaroon texture. Putting that flavor (with accurate aftertaste) into frozen dessert form is not-too-appetizing. I'll never criticize Tasti D-Lite for how innovative its flavors are, but this one is a clear miss.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Apple Pie

2007-10-04T16:21:00.000-04:00

Apple Pie has more kick to it than any other flavor I've ever tried at Tasti. It doesn't quite taste like Apple Pie (especially since it's cold, not warm), but I think it's probably the closest approximation you could get in frozen form. It really has an interesting and unique taste, even though, of course, it's still vanilla-colored. (Why is it that Creamsicle is the only one with its own hue?) In any case, Apple Pie is certainly hard to describe, but definitely worth trying, which is always a good combination.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Toasted Almond Fudge

2007-09-30T18:19:00.000-04:00

I'm definitely not the target market for Toasted Almond Fudge--as I don't really love the taste or connotation of any of three words--but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. The flavor does taste a little bit like a pine cone (or what I imagine a pine cone to taste like), but, once you get beyond that, it is pretty good. Additionally, my almond-loving companion (that is, in fact, her defining characteristic) informed me that it was a delicious flavor indeed, so to each his own.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Creamsicle

2007-09-27T17:15:00.000-04:00

As is almost the case, the Tasti gods present the best flavors on the most worthy of days. After suffering through a horrible history section, I ran to Tasti for a pick-me-up, and it certainly delivered. Creamsicle is unlike any Tasti D-Like flavor I've ever consumed--a completely different family of flavor and, most surprisingly, a different color! Creamsicle defies the chocolate-or-vanilla-colored tendency and is a friendly pink! The flavor is fruitier and more refreshing (and delicious) than many Tasti flavors and would be perfect at any time of day. It's such a delight to know that Tasti still has surprises up its sleeve for even the most devout fans.

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

70 calories/serving

Chocolate Mousse

2007-09-25T12:02:00.000-04:00

There are some Tasti flavors that just aren't worth making--they're just too similar to the generic and ubiquitous Dutch Chocolate and French Vanilla. Chocolate Mousse is clearly one of these flavors--it has a good, sturdy taste, but not one that is too distinctive or memorable. Sometimes when Tasti emulates foods that are similar in texture to frozen yogurt, the flavor somehow falls short. Chocolate Mousse kind of looks and feels like real chocolate mousse, but is just a little worse. In short, disappointment abound.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Yalie Goes on Tasti D-iet

2007-09-24T11:49:00.001-04:00

Freshman Christine Kwon recently documented her three-day Tasti-only experiment for the Yale Herald. The research was allegedly to "explore the social and gastronomic aspects of a dieting phenomenon; that [she] wanted to answer an essential question: What is Tasti and why does it matter?" The dieting phenomenon in question, apparently, is women who eat almost entirely on Tasti D-Lite and iced coffee. Nice. Unfortunately, the experiment provided little clarity:

The past few days have raised more questions than provided answers. The actual secrets of Tasti remain as elusive as ever. All I know is that it is “not frozen yogurt, because it does not contain any yogurt, nor is it ice cream, because it does not contain a significant amount of cream.”

The article's worth checking out. Christine's final conclusion:

I can see the appeal. There’s something perversely comforting about the idea of consuming something so synthetic. I don’t think anyone but someone who has actually stepped on the scale every morning on a Tasti D-Lite diet will understand. Even if a portion of Tasti has more calories than advertised, the “light” feeling that one gets is completely authentic, albeit mixed half-and-half with hysteria. If only for the experience of feeling that lovely, empty yet satisfying sensation alone, the whole thing was worth it. I still don’t know what’s in Tasti D-Lite, and no one probably ever will. Maybe this is the kind of thing we should just take at face value and just blindly accept. Maybe we’re all better off that way.

Samoa Cookie

2007-09-19T17:30:00.000-04:00

Having never eaten an actual "Samoa Cookie," I cannot speak to the validity of Tasti's concoction, but I would say that, whatever exactly Samoa is, it tastes pretty good. This is one of the thicker, richer Tasti flavors, which can be an asset or a detriment depending on your mood. It also has a strong, chocolatey aftertaste, so overall it certainly has a strong personality, perhaps befitting of the citizens of Samoa (?).

Also, enjoy Tasti D-Lited's first ever video production--expect more in the future!

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Angel Food Cake

2007-09-16T15:22:00.000-04:00

Flavor accuracy is one of the hallmarks of the Tasti D-Lite platform--they take the most complex flavors and perfectly transform the tastes into frozen dessert form. That's what makes Angel Food Cake so surprising. It has a fairly strong flavor, but it is hardly reminiscent of Angel Food Cake. Rather, as my astute companion pointed out, it tastes exactly like coconut--to the point where I wonder if they accidentally mixed up the labels. Either way, Angel Food Cake is a fairly refreshing and light flavor and would be an easy 3 stars if not for the coconut issue.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Kahlua 'n Cream

2007-09-13T02:14:00.000-04:00

It is a mystery how exactly the list of Tasti flavors are determined, but somehow a flavor as obscure as Kahlua 'n Cream made it to the list (which is a kind of good thing, I think). Either way, as exciting as the obscure flavor may be, the taste itself isn't accurate or incredible. The flavor tastes kind of good, but is indescribable: it doesn't taste like Kahlua, cream, or Kahlua and Cream.

In unrelated, I punched the last hole of my frequency card today, which is always exciting. Free frozen dessert!

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Tasti Raises Calorie Estimates Across the Board

2007-09-11T01:53:00.001-04:00

It appears last night the folks over at corporate updated the "Products" section of the Tasti website, which lists every available flavor. The old site had an ugly old-fashioned table separated in groups by calories/ounce, while now the site features the image shown at all Tasti locations separated in groups by calories/serving (sections of both are attached to this post).

While visually the change is a good one, it is interesting to note that the calorie estimates for every flavor have been raised, which is troubling given the presumption that it is a scientifically measured number. Plus, low calories are obviously one of Tasti's biggest selling points.

For example, the old site listed Banana in the first category with 14-15 calories/ounce, meaning the 4-ounce small (making one serving) would be 56-60 calories. The new site still lists Banana in the first category, but with 70 calories/serving. Other flavors have an even bigger jump: Angel Food Cake moves from 56-60 calories/serving to 80 calories/serving.

While the caloric numbers are still low, it is worrisome that the estimates are still fluctuating so much (with little public acknowledgment), especially when the calorie numbers are a point of constant scrutiny and controversy ("Fewer Calories Than Ice Cream, But More Than You Think" - New York Times).

All past entries have been updated with the new caloric statistics.

Banana Fudge

2007-09-11T01:31:00.000-04:00

I'm a firm believer that the Tasti D gods select the daily flavors as some kind of karmic redemption for the rest of your day. Case-in-point: after having a miserable morning and afternoon, the Tasti D deities rewarded me with one of the best flavors around. Thank you, as always.

Banana Fudge is definitely a flavor not to be missed. It has one of the most distinctive, accurate, and delicious tastes--I could eat Banana Fudge frozen dessert quite often and never tire of it. Banana Fudge is everything Tasti is meant to be and certainly brightens even the cloudiest days.

D-LITEFUL (4 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Snicker

2007-09-08T19:01:00.000-04:00

Snicker (one of Tasti's worst attempts at avoiding copyright infringement) is one of those flavors that reminds you how amazing Tasti D can be--not because it's that good (although it's not bad at all), but because it backs so much distinct flavor into a low-calorie, uniformly colored frozen yogurt-esque substance. Tasti D knows what Snickers tastes like better than Mars does. I'd rather eat Tasti's interpretation than an actual Snickers bar. Snicker isn't quite four stars--it matches, rather than improves upon, the imitated flavor--but it's one of those flavors you have to go back later in the day to try again.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Tres Leches

2007-09-06T21:40:00.000-04:00

Tres Leches has the distinct honor of being the hardest Tasti flavor to pronounce ("Can I have a small cup of... tress.... leckx.... please....?"), but its taste is worth the embarrassment. Tres has a subtle flavor, but a sustaining and sweet one, making the snack light but refreshing. In fact, Tres is one of the few Tasti flavors which becomes more pronounced as you eat.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Rice Pudding

2007-09-05T20:46:00.001-04:00

When you really think about the idea of a rice pudding frozen dessert, it's none-too-surprising that Tasti's rice pudding leaves much to be desired. It takes kind of like you'd expect: decent, but bland and kind of nondescript. It would fit in nicely with the diet of a teething toddler or a spunky granny with weak taste buds.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Chocolate Chip Mint

2007-09-05T20:40:00.000-04:00

For the sake of full disclosure, I am not a big fan of mint flavors--I know that puts me in the minority. Thus it's hard for me to be an objective judge of Tasti's mint offerings. Personally, choco chip mint left much to be desired: the incredibly potent mint taste overshadowed any supposed "chocolate chip" influence. To double-check, I brought a mint lover along for the ride, and he assured me I had made the right judg-mint.

NASTI (1 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Cake Batter

2007-09-04T21:15:00.000-04:00

The recent surge in popularity of "batters" as an ice cream flavor is quite perplexing--brownie batter and cake batter are shoppe staples at this point, either neither really makes any sense intuitively or logically. Why cake "batter" is more appealing than "cake" is a mystery, but, in any case, the taste that is now associated with "cake batter" is a pretty good one. Tasti D captures the taste pretty well, although it certainly does not exceed expectations. Tasti D-Lite is best when it excels at unusual flavors, and its standard ones are often just average, as is the case with cake batter.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

80 calories/serving

Milky "Weigh"

2007-09-02T16:21:00.000-04:00

I've always been amused by Tasti D's awkward re-spellings and re-wordings to avoid copyright infringements: Honey Nut "O's" Tasti Musketeers, and the like. Yet another quirk to cherish, I guess. Of the copyright-fearing flavors, Milky "Weigh" is one of the best--the taste is accurate and sustained throughout. Also, there's a bonus for the accurate color--the flavor looks just like the fluffy inside of the candy bar.

TASTI (3 of 4 stars)

90 calories/serving

Five Things You Didn't Know About Tasti D

2007-08-06T18:34:00.000-04:00

As I count down the days until I return into Tasti D range (less than a month at this point!), I must appease my Tasti cravings by looking at their stone age website (c'mon Tasti folks--Pinkberry has their own catchy song on its site; I think you can afford something that doesn't look like it's for a non-profit community outreach program). My other Tasti D substitute has been Coldstone banana ice cream with blueberries--it's delicious, but hardly approaches Tasti's Fudge Banana.

In any case, five things you probably didn't know about Tasti D-Lite that can be found on its website:

1. It's Kosher!
2. In the first quarter of 2008, Tasti D is launching a franchise program to reach its vision of Tasti D as a national ("and even international") business. Trippy!
3. Tasti D was created by a "food technologist"--disappointing, if you ask me.
4. "Tasti D-Lite is a dairy-based frozen dessert; it is not frozen yogurt, because it does not contain any yogurt, nor is it ice cream, because it does not contain a significant amount of cream."
5. The most popular Tasti flavor? "Anything with peanut butter," which is shocking to me because I always find the peanut butter flavors to be too strong and slightly nauseating.

Dutch Chocolate and French Vanilla

2007-08-01T16:56:00.000-04:00

As the only two staples of the Tasti D menu, ordering Dutch Chocolate and/or French Vanilla is only acceptable on one's first visit. Thereafter, ordering either is akin to only wearing plain white T-shirts or only speaking in three-word noun+verb+object sentences. Both flavors are pretty good, but nothing to write home about--the flavor not nearly nuanced enough to sustain throughout an entire cup or cone.

D-LIST (2 of 4 stars)

Both 80 calories/serving