Get Cultured!

Pinkberry has its California fresh thing going on and Red Mango lets you serve yourself and go crazy, which I thoroughly enjoy. But for real New-York-City-only probiotic-packed frozen yogurt, there's one spot that wins my little bulgaricus-loving heart, and that's Culture: An American Yogurt Company.

Culture makes their yogurt—regular and frozen—in house and flavors rotate every day or two, so everything always tastes super fresh. They use live, active probiotics that are good for your belly, including Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis. And it's just delicious—tart, tangy, creamy, and just sweet enough.

The first time I stumbled across Culture in Park Slope, I was back within the hour for another serving; it's just that good. While not every flavor at Culture is a homerun (the tang of the yogurt in chocolate flavors gets a little cheesy somehow and just isn't my thing), fruit-based frozen yogurts are typically outstanding. My summer favorite has been the Triple Berry Pie, a glorious blend of ripe summer berries with hints of spice and butter that promise that pie (shown above swirled with Raspberry Coconut).

But the thing that really sets this shop apart is the way they do toppings. Cookies, brownies, pies, sauces, and other treats are made in house by the owner/chef Jenny, formerly of Bouchon Bakery. You can pick fresh fruit, honey, granola, and various sweets ala carte or go for one of their signature combos, like Key Lime Pie or Piña Colada.

And it's not just that the toppings are top-notch, which they are; the key here is that Culture has MASTERED the art of topping placement. First, they pack your cup with your toppings of choice, then add a swirl of yogurt, and finally, MORE toppings on top. It's brilliant and perfect and should not be missed.

Culture: An American Yogurt Company has two locations in New York City.

It can be found at 331 5th Avenue in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn or in Manhattan at 60 West 8th Street in the West Village.  

They also make frozen yogurt cookie sandwiches and serve excellent brews from Stumptown Coffee. 

Beginning Again

For years, I've documented my adventures in and out of the kitchen on Rush Slowly. It's been a good little blog full of the food that sustained me through my college years, the things I did/saw/thought while traveling, oh, and some stuff about that time I got married! That was pretty neat.

But I'm turning twenty-five in a few days, and that seems like a very grown-up number. I've also fallen completely head-over-heels in love with Manhattan in the last two years that we've lived here, and I'd like a slightly more grown-up blog that reflects that adoration.

So here we are. You'll see some new recipes and old favorites from Rush Slowly here, as well as reviews of restaurants, bakeries, markets, ice cream shops, streets made for wandering—my favorite bits of NYC. I might even dedicate a post or two to those times when I get crafty. Maybe. If the crafts turn out/ever get finished.