I don’t know about you but right now I’m feeling ever so slightly disappointed in myself. Ever year, I can’t seem to get a grip on “giving a fuck” during the holiday season. Between buying cookies… baking my own cookies… ordering drinks at Starbucks I’m not sure why I order besides the fact that “peppermint” and “mocha” sound fun… going to the gym to work off that cookie to find that I don’t feel like doing cardio whatsoever… which is then followed by not doing said cardio then heading to the Yogurtland next door to check out that weeks Winter flavors… ugh… let’s just say I feel like an oompa loompa, and many of you like me have had enough of our own bullshit. We’re finally determined and ready to get our crap together and get back on track!
It’s a new year and a new you, and fortunately for us LA dwellers our city loves to remind us that we’re feeling chubby and out of shape after Christmas but good news, many local businesses are more than willing to help you get a jump-start on your New Years Resolution to become “a healthier you”. (Just go on Gilt City Los Angeles, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.) So, because I love you all, and because I love me too, this month on Love & Loathing LA we’re focusing on health and wellness in Los Angeles. Do we not live within the mecca of fitness, “farm fresh”, and “eating clean”? Is there not an absurd amount of gyms in this town? Do we not rule the juicing world? There’s so much good in this city, most of which I am still discovering myself, so that’s what we’re doing this month – discovering, embracing, and celebrating health and wellness and the LA businesses who want to support this kind of lifestyle.
On that note, to start us off properly on a jaunt in the right direction I’m sharing my (favorite) most recent healthy gem discovery in LA, Go Greek Yogurt in Beverly Hills. I was initially drawn to this place because of my understanding that they offered FROZEN, Greek, yogurt. If you’ve read a few posts of mine I’m sure you’re completely aware of my deep burning love and affection for frozen yogurt – love going out for it, love stocking it up in my freezer, love eating it, you get it. I have Greek yogurt at home for breakfast quite often, so the thought of being able to eat one of my favorite foods in FROZEN form, with toppings, was almost too good to be true.
Upon entry into the store I was completely surprised and delighted to find it wasn’t just your average frozen yogurt joint. Quite the opposite in fact. Of course they take their 4-5 frozen flavors very seriously, but it’s most certainly not all this little shop offers. When you walk in you are presented with three types of regular Greek yogurt (who knew there was more than one?) chilled in massive terra-cotta bowls, followed by the discovery of three massive jars filled with three different types of honey (again who knew there was more than one kind of honey!), then you end your journey of “oo’s” and “ah’s” by gawking at various toppings including many options for preserves, dried fruits, fresh fruits, veggies (yes VEGGIES), and nuts.
Sounds awesome right? But what makes Go Greek Yogurt really special? Let me share with you the secrets shared by the fantastic (and very positively upbeat) employees… first of all… (brace yourself)… The Greek yogurt, honey, and preserves they offer are flown in straight from Greece! When they told me that I thought you gotta be f*ckin kidding me, then I couldn’t wait to see if I could taste the difference in real Greek yogurt, and surprise, YOU CAN. I then proceeded to excitedly try every yogurt (0%, 2%, and 10%), with all three honeys (pine-thyme, heath, and sage YUM), with most of the preserves, (not to be confused with American jam, preserves have no added sugar or additives) Rose being my absolute favorite. In other words I went a little crazy.
I was so thrilled with everything I had tasted but still feeling like I had more to experience, I decided to stay for lunch and dessert. For lunch I had their Megara which is basically a Greek Salad (olive oil, cucumber, salt and pepper) where leaves are replaced with Greek yogurt. And then of course, for dessert I got the honey Greek frozen yogurt topped with berries and nuts – at the end of it all I think this was still the highlight for me, I would have gotten a second helping if that were a normal person thing to do. All in all it was such an extraordinary and memorable meal, one I hadn’t had the pleasure of experiencing before but now most certainly plan on enjoying more often.
Go Greek Yogurt takes pride in their product, as they should, and they truly give the impression they want their customers to enjoy eating healthy… The Greek way. This is the place where healthy and down right delicious come together in a most joyous union. Here’s a little somethin’ Go Greek Yogurt has to say about their product:
“Our yogurt tastes so indulgent, it might be hard to imagine all of the good that it does for your body. When compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt has twice as much protein and half as much sodium. The “good bacteria” cultures in Greek yogurt protect your digestive system. With anti-inflammatory and anti-pathogenic properties, these probiotics improve your body’s resistance to harmful bacteria and help treat lactose-intolerance. Greek yogurt is also rich in calcium. One serving contains 20% of your daily recommended value! This calcium promotes healthy teeth, bones, nerve transmission, blood clotting, and heart rhythm.
The people we work with whose families have been producing this yogurt for centuries take pride in the product they create. Enough of us telling you about it, try it for yourself and taste the difference.”
I honestly cannot wait to go back, I’m looking forward to starting off my New Year properly by picking up a healthy treat with all new and different toppings (so many options I’ll always be entertained), and most importantly picking up a new jar of their Rose preserve! When you go, don’t be shy about asking questions and screw it, order out of your comfort zone, I assure you you wont regret it. This place is not your typical yogurt shop, so enjoy discovering the culture and new tastes only Go Greek Yogurt has to offer!
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