Good morning and happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good… got both my socializin’ and my studyin’ on, and didn’t take a single photograph. Sometimes that has to happen. I will tell you, though, that I had two hefty servings of pie for dinner, and it was divine. Sometimes that has to happen, too.
Before I tell you about a fun new treat shop, here’s the winner of the Lollihop contest:
Congratulations, Ashley! Shoot me and email with your mailing address and I’ll send it along to the company 
.
Everyone else: you can use referral code Katie-lilveggiepatch and sign up for your own Lollihop membership! (Referral code is effective starting 9/27.)
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Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting The Soft Serve Fruit Co., a relatively new frozen dessert spot in the city. There’s already been quite a bit of buzz about it, however, with a cult following of customers who come in every day to get their fix.
I met with Daniel Karsevar who, along with Chloe Epstein, Jason Epstein, and Michael Sloan, founded the Fruit Co. Daniel sat down and talked with me about the company’s philosophy and what goes into their food… and what doesn’t. 
Similar to the DIY banana ice cream we food bloggers love to make (but hate to clean out of the food processor), the soft serve is made only with fruit, water, and organic sugar.
Because of its short ingredient list, the soft serve is dairy free, fat free, gluten free, vegan, and certified kosher parve.
All that “free”-dom doesn’t equal lack of flavor, however. Daniel made me a cup with all of the daily flavors on tap: banana, strawberry, raspberry and apple.
It was hard to pick a favorite… they were all so rich and creamy, and not at all watery as you might expect. I visited the Union Square location, and the company uses fresh produce from the nearby Union Square Greenmarket whenever possible. The soft serve is kid (and parent!) friendly, and doesn’t contain a lot more sugar than the fruit itself.
Banana is the most popular flavor, and apple is the newest addition. On October 1, The Soft Serve Fruit Co. is debuting their hot apple cider, which will be made with the apple soft serve base, mulling spices, and water. They’ll also be making individual fruit pies, filling graham cracker crusts with apple soft serve.
While the soft serve is delicious plane, there are plenty of toppings- each certified kosher parve- available, from fresh kiwi to pretzels to white chocolate.
They’ve created a great menu featuring fancy smoothies and sundaes. I have my eye on the PBJC: banana soft serve, hot peanut butter, chocolate chips, fresh bananas and strawberries. Does that sound like a great breakfast or what?!
And it’s a breakfast you can feel good about! Look at these nutritional facts:
I sampled the Crunchy Salty Sundae: banana soft serve, fresh banana, pretzels, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. I personally think this should be called The LVP, because the combination is basically what I would have wanted to prepare myself!
You can purchase hand-packed pints and quarts of soft serve to take home, as well as popsicles and individual pies. And, starting on October 15, a new seasonal flavor will arrive: pumpkin! You better believe I’ll be the first on line to try that one, as well as the pumpkin graham cracker pie they’ll be debuting as well.
There are two Soft Serve Fruit Co. locations in the city, as well as a seasonal spot (closed for the season) in the Hamptons. They’ll be debuting a food truck next spring, and are expanding to the West Coast in the near future.
Bottom line: you don’t have to feel guilty about eating dessert just because it’s creamy and cold… the truth is in the ingredients! Check it out for yourself .
Because the Soft Serve Fruit Co. and I wanted to hook you guys up, I’m giving away four gift cards entitling you to one kid-sized Bring It On! cup, which basically entitles you to whatever toppings you want.
To enter:
1. “Like” the Soft Serve Fruit Co. on Facebook and/or tweet this contest @softservefruit and @Lilveggiepatch, and leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.
2. Leave a comment telling me which item on the menu most appeals to you! It’s not even 7 AM and I’m already thinking of dessert…
I tweeted the giveaway! (@healthyerica)
And all of the flavors are appealing to me, but being that raspberries are my favorite fruit, I’d probably go for that flavor! Topped with coconut and chocolate chips would be extra delicious.
I liked them on facebook, too!
Ahh! I’ve been wanting to try this place so badly!
I think I’d like… pear soft serve with chocolate chips and coconut.
Also, I liked the Soft Serve Fruit Co. on Facebook!
Ooh, I am all over that Crunchy Salty sundae. Yum!
Wish i lived nearby!! This place sounds and looks amazing!!
I liked it on facebook!!! And my FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE is Apple Yogurt with cinnamon and maple syrup! MMMMMMM….. They are one block away from me on the Upper East Side!
Wow, what a great concept! As difficult a choice as this is, I would have to say the flavor soon scheduled to debut – hot apple cider, is probably the most appealing to me!
the PBJC sounds ridiculous, but seeing as how i’m addicted to pumpkin right now, I’m going to NEED to try that.
oooh. i liked ‘em on facebook, and also would like the banana split sundae. yum!
The Crunchy Salty Sundae looks absolutely divine!! I need to try it!
I tweeted the giveaway! The CRUNCHY SALTY sundae is calling my name omg!
I like The Soft Serve Fruit Co. on Facebook!
The Salty Crunchy is exactly what I would order. Love that combo!
The Salty Crunchy Sundae sounds amazing! Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway, LVP!
the crunchy salty sundae is calling my name!!
The PBJC smoothie sounds unbelievable!!
I think we’re gonna have to figure out a way to get the cider and pumpkin flavors out west when they arrive… TARDIS maybe?
Tweeted!
I already like these folks on Facebook.
The crunchy salty sundae sounds right up my alley
PBJC x 1000…. It’s so hot out right now, I may have to stop by on my way home from work!!
I’ve been to this place and holy deliciousness it was good! My husband is also a huge fan…Pear was our fave but they took it away!!!! Being new to NY, we will definitely be back many many many times!
lucky lady! gimme some o dat goooodnesss! i liked them on facebook!
i would VERY much like some soft serve pear in my belly
hope all is well lady! xoxo let’s organize a date very soon!!!!!! you pick the place
I’d love to try the mango! And strawberry! And definitely some mix-ins too…
I like on Facebook
i liked them on facebook!
and omgeee, I thought frozen yogurt is the thing. I can’t wait to try this! The Crunchy Salty and the Breakfast Berry Sundae sounds so good to have right now! Thanks for promoting the store!
i agree… the crunchy salty sundae looks to die for!! must go attempt to recreate. now.
i’d definitely try the raspberry with chocolate chips. yum!
Oh why oh why can there not be a place like this where I live?? We don’t even have a self serve fo-yo place.
I would die if something like this would come around.
The crunchy salty (aka the LVP) would be my first choice, close second is PBJC. Yum
I like soft serve fruit co on facebook!
So far my favorite order has been banana topped with chocolate chips, but I cannot wait for the pumpkin flavor topped with gluten free cookies, yum!!!
Tweeted about the giveaway! (@missymusings)
I think the Breakfast Berry Sundae sounds amazing!
awesome giveaway! the boy & i are planning a trip to nyc, so i’ve got to put this on my “places to go” list (:
i’d choose the banana with warm peanut butter, carob chips, and pretzels! mmmm!
xo
The crunchy salty and the pbjc both sound amazing!
i liked them on facebook!
i’d definitely go for the crunchy salty! that sounds heavenly!
Facebook Like: check!
And I homed right in on that salty/crunchy sundae, looking at the photo you took of the menu–so glad you got to take a pic of that too, because now I REALLY want it. And it’s a mere ONE BLOCK from my office. Which is where i am right now. AKA the danger zone.
The Fruit Salad Sundae sounds DELISH!
Liked on facebook =)