Taro: A Cool, Refreshing Treat

Ah, the self-serve frozen yogurt fad. And, yes, it's a fad. You can see it from a million miles away. Or, just by looking down South Street. Within a month, there were signs for not one, not two, but three of them, all on the same street. If that's not a fad, then I'm not an incredibly handsome (and single) writer.

Amidst the increasing cold, however, only one made it open before winter came to town. , with its brightly-colored motif, has been giving folks a post-dinner treat for about a month now, and seems to have made ample headway ," as the other two have not even put up their signs yet.

If you have seen one of these places, you know what to expect: A stand of cups, a row of self-serve frozen yogurt machines, a buffet of toppings, a scale to weigh them all out. It's not rocket science, but it is a fun finish to a night out.

At Taro, you have a selection of familiar favorites, like Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter and Vanilla. Then there is the "Taro," where the place derives its name, which is a root vegetable. How does it translate to a frozen treat? I'm not sure, I didn't try it.

That I did not try it may be an important indicator as to the tough road this place–and it's fellow froyo competitors–have ahead of them. From what I could gather, that's the main difference. Once I filled my cup with some peanut butter (meh) and Gingerbread (pretty good!) frozen yogurts, I went to the same selection of treats most of these places have. There were mini peanut butter cups, chocolate covered pretzels, nuts, fresh fruit, and so on. I tried to mix it up, a little healthy, a little gluttonous, paid and took a seat.

At 39 cents an ounce, it seems like a great deal, and it is. But, those ounces (and calories. It's fat-free, not health food) can add up.

It's tasty, refreshing and a pleasure. And, the gimmick of serving yourself is fun, for now, since it's not something I think most dessert diners are accustomed to. And so, for now, Taro has a definite leg up on the (as of now non) competition.

But, the landscape might look far different, and a lot more bloodthirsty in a few months, when not only those two other froyo joints, but the ice cream selling opens. And, then, who knows who else will decide frozen yogurt is the perfect thing to sell in Morristown and lease up ? People might start complaining about there being nothing but frozen yogurt shops in Morristown, along with too many banks and sushi joints.