stupid, stupid water buffaloes...

I tried Water Buffalo yogurt for the first time this weekend and it was just straight up the best tasting yogurt I have ever had. It ignited a fire in my gullet that can only be quenched by yet more water buffalo yogurt... so tonight I went to Trader Joe's, where I remembered having seen it previously, and was told that they have discontinued it. Desperate, I drove to the Whole Foods in Evanston (I am working in Skokie tonight.) No Buffalo yogurt. What if it's gone from the Lakeview Whole Foods, too? The website says Fox and Obel is the only supplier in Illinois. Bad enough, if it's true, but what if they stop carrying it too? What am I gonna dooooo??? Seriously, the stuff was just at WF and TJ's and now it's gone. Anyone know anything about this?

This really is an incredibly good yogurt--Woodstock is the brand--and you're right to be concerned about its continued availability.

I mentioned it briefly quite some time ago (link), but it was a bit buried, and I didn't give the yogurt its proper due. It has a really thick, creamy texture, a nice tang, and the flavorings are top notch. I believe the black currant remains the best yogurt I've ever eaten. It's pricy--not an everyday yogurt for me--but it makes a wonderful treat.

Fox and Obel doesn't always have it. There was a period since I first discovered it when the Woodstock was totally absent from the shelves. It's back now, but who knows for how long. The brands of yogurt available at Fox and Obel are generally in flux. My best suggestion is to keep drumming up awareness so that more people buy it.

I believe this stuff made Saveur's 100 this year. It's worth checking out.

Cheers,

Aaron

I can't imagine how good the blackcurrant must. All WF had was Cappucino and Chai, and I do not usually like non-fruit flavors. Woodstock's website has a sheet you can print out and send to stores-- I'm gonna get right on that!

I found cappucino, green tea or chai or whatever, black currant and Vermont honey at Whole Foods on Ashland last night.

I think, though, that given that it's bufala, they're missing a bet not having caprese flavor....

Aaron Deacon wrote: It has a really thick, creamy texture, a nice tang, and the flavorings are top notch. I believe the black currant remains the best yogurt I've ever eaten. It's pricy--not an everyday yogurt for me--but it makes a wonderful treat.

I wasn't looking for it, but found three varieties of Woodstock (Vermont Honey, Raspberry, and something with maple syrup) at Olivia's Market last night. I picked up two 6 oz. containers and had one (honey) last night.

This is super thick, custard-like stuff. I didn't get too much tang off of it, but the honey flavor was very nice. I agree with Aaron: on price alone, this isn't an everyday yoghurt. At Olivia's, each 6 oz. was $1.99. It doesn't help that it's candy-bar rich @ approx 220 calories and 11g fat per cup.

z


Olivia's Market
2014 W. Wabansia Ave.
773-227-4220

How does this stuff compare to say Total's greek yogurt (often sold with honey) or the really nice desert yogurts available at the vietnamese shops?

My preference would be for the Total product. It's been a little while since I last had some, but my recollection is that it's got a creamier mouthfeel with more tang than the Woodstock yogurts.

(Incidentally, I thought the Woodstock honey flavor was much better than their raspberry variety.)

z

This would make for a long drive, but next time you're in Canada, look for Liberty Mediterranean yoghurts, made in Quebec. Certainly the best commercial yoghurt I've ever had--a Montreal foodie pal put us on to it.

They do other stuff, creme fraiche, for example, that is also top-notch.

And, if you're in Montreal, in the marché Jean-Talon complex is the Saveurs de Quebec store, which is an outlet for all the produits de terroir, including some incredible yoghurt and butter, along with lox, syrup, various meats, just about any kind of artisanal product you can imagine.

Geo

Perhaps also to be added to the discussion is the "Homemade Greek Yogurt" that Produce World sells. It is very thick, tart and creamy. Divine with honey and/or walnuts and/or figs on top. Much cheaper than Total [I think it sells for $1.99 lb.]. There's no nutrition label on it, and I'm afraid that it has a lot of fat in it so I don't eat it as often as the fat-free yogurt I think I should be eating. Marketplace on Oakton has something that looks similar in the refrigerator case, but I've never tried it.

Giovanna

I've tried the marketplace on oakton product and its not bad but definitely no substitute for total - much more tang than I want from a dessert yogurt and not quite as creamy.

I'm not familiar with produce world - any more info?

Produce World is a pretty-good grocery store, not as comprehensive as Marketplace on Oakton, but also on a multi-ethnic line [the one in Norridge has visible Greek/Polish/Italian/Mexican leanings... in that order]. There's one pretty close to me, and I prefer it to the local Jewel/Dominicks axis. Not really a "destination market" in my mind, but if one is close to your daily routing, well worth a look. The Norridge one is bigger.


Produce World Deli & More
8800 Waukegan Road
Morton Grove, Illinois - 60053
Phone: 847.581-1029

Produce World on Cumberland
8325 West Lawrence
Norridge, Illinois - 60706
Phone: 708.452-7400

I'm a big fan of Persian yogurt, with Abali being my favorite brand. Even the lowfat yogurt is thick, creamy, and delicious! (I can't stomach lowfat versions of American or even Total yogurt.) I can mix lowfat Abali yogurt into curry (my most common use for yogurt) without having any issues with curdling.

Geo wrote:This would make for a long drive, but next time you're in Canada, look for Liberty Mediterranean yoghurts, made in Quebec. Certainly the best commercial yoghurt I've ever had--a Montreal foodie pal put us on to it.

I would like to visit Montreal again, but according to their website, it might be possible to try Liberty products the next time I'm visiting my mother-in-law on the east coast.

Thanks for this and the other yogurt leads.

z

Zeeshan wrote:My preference would be for the Total product.

Zeeshan,

Zim mentioned Total yoghurt a few years ago and I've been buying it since. The package with the little container of honey attached makes for a nice snack.

The Produce World house brand sounds good as well. Thanks Giovanna.

Enjoy,
Gary

This is probably the wrong part of town for you but I get great thick and not too tangy greek yogurt out of the deli case at the 95th St. Produce Market (7759 W. 95th St. in Hickory Hills -- near Palos/Orland). They have greek yogurt in the milk/dairy case too but I like the kind in the deli case better - seems thicker and I am sure more fat content. Excellent with garlic/cukes on grilled lamb or with honey and walnuts for dessert. They also have 4-5 kinds of feta (greek, bulgarian, french, domestic) and lots of olives.