For at least two years now I've been hearing about 16 Handles in New York City. To me, frozen yogurt is frozen yogurt. I have to admit, I had no idea what all the hype was about.
Last week, while I was in the city, I finally made my first trip to 16 Handles on the Upper West Side.
When you walk in, you work your way through the crowd to the sign that reads "Start here. Take your cup."
Then you begin the difficult task of choosing which of the 16 flavors you're going to go with.
Each handle has a small, digital screen above it that displays the name of the flavor and the nutrition facts. So fancy!
After pacing back and forth in front of the row of machines, I selected three flavors: coffee break, chocolate love affair and graham cracker.
Then we moved on to the expansive toppings bar. This array of treats included everything from fruit to cereal to candy to sprinkles.
One of the topping choices was rainbow cake which I had never seen before at any frozen yogurt shop.
I topped my fro yo with chocolate chips, coconut and Oreo cookies. After I paid, the cashier handed me a bright green, plastic spoon.
Let me tell you something, this was a delicious creation! Of all three flavors, the graham cracker was by far the star. This flavor was one of the best I have ever had. It has the sweet taste and the crumbly texture you love about graham crackers, but the creaminess you love about frozen yogurt. It was heavenly.
On the counter, 16 Handles sells rubber bracelets that read, "I handled it." If Lance Armstrong can have a bracelet, so can this frozen yogurt empire.
If swirl your own frozen yogurt doesn't appeal, 16 Handles also has a freezer case where they sell ice cream sandwiches.
In the end, thanks to the graham cracker frozen yogurt, 16 Handles did live up to the hype. I also appreciated that they were playing great music including Michael Jackson, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.
Have you ever been? Which flavor is your favorite?
