I have thoroughly enjoyed the recent trend of self-serve frozen yogurt and help-yourself topping bar that I have seen pop up around Southern California lately. 

Today I had a delicious afternoon of kindred conversation with a dear friend while enjoying a tastey frozen treat from Cherry On Top.  When you enter the shop you can obtain taster cups from the cashier counter.  They you proceed to a wall where 8-10 flavors of frozen yogurt are offered on a rotating basis.  The machines are built into the wall and you can select individual flavors or a swirl of a particular pair.  After you have pre-sampled your desired flavors you select a cup and then proceed filling with however many flavors you so desire.  Then you make your way to the topping bar which is filled with so many delectable choices from fresh fruit, to cereal, to candies, to sprinkles, to cakes, to mochi.  There is also a selection of sauces and pourable toppings to choose from.  Finally you make your way to the cashier where your concoction is weighed and you pay for your creation by weight.

Mmmmm…the combinations of frozen fun goodness are virtually endless!

This whole experience is especially delightful because it takes me back to countless childhood excursions to Sundae Smorgasbords.  These were usually orchestrated by my Aunt and Uncle when my sister and I would visiting them and our cousins at a summer cabin on Lake Waukewan in Meredith, NH.  We would gorge ourselves on sticky sweet sundae satisfaction at one of two locations: Franken Sundae or Kellerhaus.

Franken Sundae had, as their welcome sign, a huge Frankenstein monster enjoying a sundae.  The inside was even decorated all green and monsterly!  We’d order our flavor of choice and then commence to pile high the assortments of candies and gooey sauces that were offered in limitless supply.

Kellerhaus offered a similarly wondrous ice cream smorgasbord with the added bonus of a bulk candy room and seemingly endless rooms of toys and trinkets.  This location carried special significance for our family in that many selections were of German import (as is our heritage) and many toys were the very same kinds toys and stuffed animals we enjoyed throughout our childhood.

So thank you, Cherry On Top, for a sweet treat and a happy stroll down memory lane!