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MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - From the moment she tasted it at a New York City food expo, Frannie Albanese knew she wouldnt have a problem selling YoCream, a healthy brand of frozen yogurt, to her Mt. Kisco neighbors.
The calcium and probiotic-rich treat has already proven itself to be the recipe for success at her new dessert and coffee den, Frannie's Goodie Shop.
"We went to a food show last January, the idea materialized and we built it in a matter of months," she said of her quick opening this past April. "It's working out wonderfully."
What's more, her menu boasts flavors ranging from Red Velvet Cake to Alpine Vanilla and are mostly non-fat or low-fat, making it a popular choice over regular ice cream. Albanese says that's what makes her shop the kind of place where you can indulge but not feel guilty about it.
If you do decide to sample something sweet though, a dizzying number of toppings are on tap. I often tell customers its like a salad. Its a nutritious base but it depends on what you top it with, she said. The cafe also carries flavors of Amanzi tea, Wolfgang Puck coffee, cappuccino, espresso, snacks and confections.
Since Albanese set up shop, its clear by its crowds that Mt. Kisco and surrounding towns have already jumped on the bandwagon. She says that on any given night, kids and adults of all ages can be found digging into their froyo creations on benches outside.
The experience of coming in and making your sundae yourself is unique to the area, she added. Patrons of the Mt. Kisco Theatre are even invited to bring their frozen yogurt cups to the movies.
Although Albanese says it wasn't always her first priority to open her own business, she has fond memories of a Mt. Kisco candy and ice cream shop, the spirit of which later became the influence for Frannie's. It was called "The Goody Shop" and sold everything from hot fudge sundaes to candy sticks. Even though the company is now closed down, its legacy remains with Albanese.
Frannie and her team gave back to the community this past quarter by donating 10 percent of their coffee and tea sales to the Westchester chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation and this quarter they are doing the same with Mt. Kisco Child Care Center.
When she isnt working, Albanese spends time with her three sons John, Frankie and Joseph and husband Isi, who owns the pizzeria Bellizzi across the street.
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