I was today years old when I learned that “TCBY” originally stood for “This Can’t Be Yogurt.”
A lawsuit from a similarly named competitor eventually prompted a switch to “The Country’s Best Yogurt,” but that wouldn’t have mattered to my teenage cohorts and me as we sampled swirls from our local shop in the ’80s, when the stuff was having its moment, and way ahead of its time on the whole acronym thing, but TBH — TCBY *definitely* tasted like yogurt.
And not everyone liked it.
It looked like soft serve, so some people expected it to *be* soft serve. But instead, it was tangy. Interesting. Yogurt. I liked it.
And, IMO, it’s been just about perfected at Thera Frozen Greek Yogurt (12789 Waterford Lakes Parkway in Orlando, 407-270-6263; instagram.com/theragreek), which opened about a month ago in Orlando’s Waterford Lakes neighborhood.
It’s an all-new concept, created by UCF grad Luisa Ganatios Davis and her mother, Patricia Davis, inspired by their world travel, their love of Greek yogurt’s flavor, and the healthful properties of kefir. Combined in Thera’s from-scratch recipe, the product — smooth and creamy with a wonderful tang — features a multitude of beneficial yeasts and probiotics that neither can offer on its own.
“Since day one, we wanted to make it our own; we wanted it to be as natural as it could be,” Ganatios Davis told the Orlando Sentinel. “Inspired by the Greek concept, but with all the good bacteria for your gut health.
“We researched, followed recipe steps, proportioning the mix to work in the machine,” she says, noting that her mother is definitely the family’s cook and baker. “She was the one who crafted the recipe … the hardest part to get was the consistency.”
What started in their countertop Ninja CREAMi was eventually scaled for production. And man, did they nail it. The product here is silky and light, but satisfying. It’s tart, but sweet enough that kids will enjoy it. There’s a pistachio flavor, as well, but I can’t see myself straying from the original. And even with all the topping options, Thera’s Santorini Baklava offering — a beautiful white swirl awash with sweet, crispy bits of phyllo, crushed pistachio and a drizzle of honey — is the move of moves when the temps are soaring.
5 frozen favorites in Central Florida for the first weekend of summer
You do you, though. Just make sure you check this growing brand out. They’re hoping to expand before too long. In the meantime, Waterford Lakes has the cool-and-creamy Greek market cornered. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t chosen frozen options all over the city.
July’s only half over, so much like the team at Visit Orlando and their partners, the Florida Dairy Farmers and their Ice Cream Trail, I propose something of an ice cream *crawl* for National Ice Cream Month. It’s a great excuse to check out new places like Thera, or spots that are just new to you.
Ice Screamin
I was not precisely today years old the first time I tried Amish ice cream, but close. And I have definitely been missing something. Slow-churned and super creamy due to its high butterfat content (sounds sexy, right?), in Florida, parlors that scoop it often get it from Yoder’s Southern Creamery, a Sarasota gem for something like two decades.
Ice Screamin, with one Tampa location and a second that just opened in East Orlando, is one of them.
It’s well documented that I rarely finish meals in this job, so it’s important to confess that my companion and I absolutely destroyed the Biscoff bubble waffle at Ice Screamin. I can’t even critique it. The freshly made waffle was warm. The ice cream couldn’t be better. The cookie butter and caramel and crumbly bits? Off the charts. There was nothing left.
And I have zero regrets.
Ice Screamin: 10165 University Blvd. in Orlando, 321-295-7626; instagram.com/icescreamin_orlando
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
What got me in the door of this cute little shop in Winter Park Village was its Goat Cheese with Red Cherries ice cream.
I’m always seeking something a little different, and this flavor, like the yogurt I’d later discover at the aforementioned Thera, has some tang, though not as pronounced. Think cheesecake, but light, with a cherry pairing that comes in triple: sauce, fresh and dried. Lovely.
Jeni’s popped up in Ohio in the early aughts when an enterprising young art student dropped out of college to start up a business that, over time, with ups and downs, evolved into a massive enterprise (not to mention a James Beard Award-winning cookbook: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home). There are dozens of scoop shops around the nation, with pints, sandwiches and bars available in locations such as Target, Whole Foods and more.
There’s an array of flavors, traditional and surprising, of course. I’ve got my eye on the Hibiscus Chili Punch sorbet for the next visit or store grab. I think I enjoy it best out of the freezer at the shop. Same goes, of course, when I hit up Orlando’s own one-name ice cream celebrity.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams: 510 N. Orlando Ave. in Winter Park, 407-853-2670; jenis.com
Crispy Cones
What do you get when you combine a fried pastry reminiscent of Eastern Europe’s famed chimney cakes and fill it with soft serve and spreads and toppings? You get Crispy Cones, where you don’t have to fill your cone with ice cream … but why on earth wouldn’t you when it’s a million degrees outside? (To keep things plant-based, for one, as there are so many delightful fillings for these fresh-made cones, but I digress…) It’s a fun stop in Orlando’s Curry Ford West neighborhood, one where you can choose from several pre-conceived creations or make up your own, enjoying the cool vanilla, chocolate or combo swirl in an edible vehicle unique to this fun little shop.
Crispy Cones: 2415 Curry Ford Road in Orlando, 407-721-5691; thecrispycones.com
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream
Few names are just one name — Cher, Madonna, Prince — but in Orlando, when it comes to ice cream, there’s Kelly.
Yes, she has a last name (Seidl), but that’s basically for journalistic use only. And Seidl, whose eponymous, hometown brand does special limited-time flavors every month of the year, has always taken National Ice Cream Month and Day (July 19) very seriously.
“Every year, I look back to where we started — scooping out of a pink truck — and I am overwhelmed by gratitude for how this community has embraced us,” Seidl told the Orlando Sentinel.
“To me, National Ice Cream Day isn’t just a fun holiday on the calendar; it’s a celebration of joy, nostalgia and the connection we make over a scoop of ice cream. We do what we do because we love bringing people together, celebrating life’s little moments and making your day just a bit sweeter. Whether you’ve been with us since the food truck days, or just discovered your favorite flavor last week, you are part of the Kelly’s family.”
To note: Kelly’s July flavors of the month are Cinnamon Churro, Chocolate Mint Oreo, Nanaimo Bar, Passion Fruit and Peanut Butter & Jelly.
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream: Multiple locations; kellyshomemadeicecream.com
Nan & Pop’s
This Longwood shop has been around for quite some time and makes for a lovely little scoop shop serving all the classics, from cups and cones to milkshakes and sundaes. In fact, its wholesome, old-school vibe is precisely what had my companion eyeballing the traditional banana split as our pick of the hotter-than-hot afternoon.
Because banana makes it a fruit salad, right?
I’ve lived here a long time, and this shop wasn’t on my radar ’til recently. If you live in the neighborhood or happen to be in it, put it on yours to cool off this month.
Nan & Pop’s: 351 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Suite 1005, in Longwood, 321-203-4006; nanandpopsicecreamshop.com
Salt & Straw
Much like Jeni’s, it was a specific flavor that brought me to the Disney Springs outpost of this Oregon-grown brand with shops nationwide: Arbequina olive oil.
Sound weird? Maybe. But that’s the way Portland likes it.
“‘Keep Portland weird’ is practically the city’s unofficial motto!” says Christina Thomas, Orlando-based publisher of GoEpicurista.com and proud Portland native. “‘Weird’ is the highest compliment … and part of what makes Salt & Straw’s flavors so special is their commitment to local partnerships, whether that’s the Florida-exclusive ‘Salty Donut guava and cheese flavor,’ complete with the pastelito puff pastry or the olive oil classic, made with oil from Durant Olive Mill back home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.”
It’s a staple flavor, she says. And a must-try. I wholeheartedly agree.
“Salt & Straw didn’t invent olive oil ice cream, but they perfected it by partnering with a family-run farm that’s not only one of the pioneering Oregon wineries, but also the producer of small batch artisanal olive oils and Oregon’s only commercial Oleoteca, recently named No. 2 in the country and No. 7 in the world.”
That should be enough to pique your curiosity. And if you’re among those who’d balk at olive oil’s grassy, near-tropical notes?
Well, how about goat cheese marionberry habanero? Or huckleberry oat crisp with foraged porcini?
Okay, maybe those are more my jam. But they’ve got double-fold vanilla, cinnamon snickerdoodle, chocolate gooey brownie and more for fans of the classics (which I happen to love, too).
Salt & Straw: 1610 Buena Vista Drive in Orlando, 689-208-0255; disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/disney-springs/salt-and-straw
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
More spots!
Al’s Ice Cream Gelato: Who doesn’t love an ice cream truck? So wholesome, so satisfying, and with Al at the wheel and the scoop, so delicious. Step right up and enjoy some award-winning frozen delights to beat the heat this summer. More: instagram.com/als_gelatodesserts
Fragaria: All plant-based and all kinds of delicious, Fragaria’s New Zealand-style ice cream started on one of the most adorable food trucks ever (you’ll still find it rolling around town) but has happily expanded into a new Maitland shop where creamy, dreamy and uber-fruity flavors await. What’s more, Fragaria uses oatmilk, coconut cream and sunflower seed butter in its mixes. Ergo, all their ice cream bases are also nut-free! More: 10 N. Orlando Ave. in Maitland, 321-972-1799; fragariaicecream.com
Il Gelato Roll: This cute little truck pops up all over town (I tried them at Tuesday’s Tasty Takeover in Orlando’s Milk District neighborhood) with fun creations that meld mix-ins and creamy gelato with that fun, rolled aesthetic, achieved by pouring its creamy base onto a freezing-cold metal pan. More: instagram.com/ilgelatoroll
Phoebe’s Ice Cream: From scoops and sundaes to milkshakes and coffee-centric affogatos, this little spot in Oviedo will cool you off with ease. Bonus: Steps away, Cavallari Gourmet is a joy to peruse for handmade sausages, Italian-sourced products, locally made goodies and more. More: 1954 W. State Road 426 in Oviedo, 407-542-0519; phoebesicecream.com
Violet’s Ice Cream: Like Ice Screamin, Amish ice cream is the lure here, and there are multiple locations in which to enjoy it in all its creamy glory. Find your closest location and check them out in Oviedo, Sanford, DeBary, Orlando, and Lake Mary. More: instagram.com/violetsicecream
