When you overhear two women discussing how fast the froyo is pumping out of the self-serve machine today as compared to yesterday, you know you've stumbled across a phenomenon. That's just the type of chitchat surrounding the Belle Meade Hill Center's new candy-colored yogurt emporium, which had been open only a week when moms were confessing that they had already filled out their frequent froyo punch cards and received their first freebies.
Owner and California transplant CeCe Moore struck a nerve—or a taste bud—with her cool collection of serve-yourself frozen yogurts, eight flavors of which are available at any time. Original Tart, a tangy, mildly sweet flavor that recalls the refreshing zing of plain yogurt, is the non-fat smash hit among the moms, who load it with fresh fruit and nuts. Meanwhile, kids don't seem to notice that CeCe's chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, cheesecake, mango and Georgia peach—among others—are also low-cal and, in some cases, sugar-free. With any luck, the luscious flavors and colorful toppings will help take the sting out of ouchies, boo-boos and tetanus shots when a brace of pediatric practices moves into the office space upstairs this fall.
Of course, CeCe's offerings aren't exactly diet-right by the time you pile the Snickers, Oreos, chocolate fudge sauce, M&M's, Reese's Pieces, sour worms, gumballs and cookie dough into the tubs of cool creaminess. Furthermore, when it comes to weight-watching, be vigilant at the toppings bar. All those cookies and candy bars add up—not just in terms of calories, but in terms of dollars. Sweet CeCe's charges 45 cents per ounce, and the average treat is about $5, Moore says. Unless, of course, the kids are in charge...in which case don't be surprised to find yourself handing over bigger bills for a bowlful of jaw-breaking frozen gummy bears. Or unless the yogurt's shooting out of the machine especially fast today, as compared to yesterday.
Sweet CeCe's is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
