"Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." – LL Cool J
With the recent emergence of frozen yogurt establishments such as Pinkberry in Fairfield and Top This in Westport, plus the impending arrival of Swirl in New Canaan, one might say we are at the dawn of a frozen yogurt revival in Fairfield County. And while it never really went away, with offerings available at local TCBY’s and Tasti D-Lite’s, credit is justly due to the aforementioned establishments for “redefining” the fro-yo genre with unique flavors, textures, and toppings.
Which takes us to Swizzles.
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The newest kid on the block, this downtown Darien dessert destination might also be the most unique. From the moment you walk in the door one is struck by the ultra-chic, minimalist design. Owner Adam Kessner did a great job remodeling the former Flowers By Jun space, replete with a color-changing wall lined by several two-top round tables. The majority of the space is open, and this most certainly is intended to accommodate the inevitable crowds that will fill the place up.
Self-serve yogurt dispensers are located at the far wall, with a current flavor lineup of vanilla, chocolate, cookies-‘n-cream, mango sorbet, cake batter, strawberry, pomegranate, and “Original” … notable for replicating the famous Bloomingdale’s treat which helped launch the genre to mainstream America more than 35 years ago. The majority of the flavors are non-fat, and with the probiotics and calcium found in yogurt, eating healthy never tasted so good.
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Patrons can fill their cups (at 59 cents an ounce) with individual flavors, or you can mix and match, create parfaits, or concoct “The Swizzle,” a mixed combo of yogurts and toppings, similar in concept to Dairy Queen’s Blizzard. Toppings themselves run the gamut from standard sprinkles, fruit, and gummies to cheesecake and cookie dough bites, dispensers filled with nuts, candy, granola and cereal. Ghirardelli chocolate syrup was also a welcome touch. Of particular note are the poppers … marble-sized orbs of mango, orange, passion fruit, and strawberry juice. Sure to be a hit with kids, Kessner discovered the poppers at an undisclosed location in Florida, and promises to keep their origin a secret.
The best of the flavors were the cake batter (the only flavor that was not fat free), which reminded us of vanilla Junket Rennet Custard, and a swirl of the Original and pomegranate, which delightfully played subtle tart and sweet flavors against each other. Along with vanilla, the Original flavor also was the most versatile choice with the majority toppings. The creamy yogurt remained true to its original texture for a surprisingly long time after its dispensation from the machine, a welcome change from most of its competitors.
Lines were short each time we went, but do not expect that to last. As the weather heats up, and word gets out about Swizzles (which also has a location in Wilton with outdoor seating, and will soon have one in Ridgefield) it will be a popular destination for locals looking to cool off in a very cool environment.
Swizzles
