It’s 2008 and you’re singing along to “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga in your lime green Volkswagen Beetle.
You strut into a Pinkberry, showing off your fluffy UGG boots and matching bubblegum pink Juicy Couture tracksuit.
You head straight to their self-serve station, filling your cup with swirls of strawberry and chocolate frozen yogurt, later drowning it in Hershey’s chocolate sauce, crumbled up Oreos, and white chocolate chips.
As you dig into your fro-yo masterpiece, you can’t help but think about how genius self-serve dessert is, and you're already planning your next outing with all your friends.
But just like your beloved Juicy Couture tracksuit, fro-yo places soon went out-of-style, becoming another 2000’s fad.
Estefania Calderon isn’t letting this delicious trend die, in fact, she’s making fro-yo chic again.
Deserto Frozen Yogurt and Café, located at 5635 E. River Rd., opened up this month, where you can build the fro-yo masterpiece of your dreams, complete with all the toppings and flavors you want.
Calderon had previously worked for various restaurant franchises, helping them with their marketing, but she always dreamed of opening a coffee shop of her own.
“I have three coffee machines at home,” Calderon said. “People walk into my kitchen, and I’m always offering coffee; I just love it.”
To bring her dream to life, she began looking for opportunities to brighten up the Tucson's already impressive food scene.
Over on the Northeast side- specifically in the East River Road and North Craycroft Road area- Calderon noticed a lack of coffee and dessert spots, aside from a Starbucks and a Whole Foods.
That’s when the gears started turning in her head. To pair with coffee, Calderon thought frozen yogurt would be the perfect partner, bringing back the beloved self-serve treat that used to be all the rage.
Deserto Frozen Yogurt & Café, recently opened at 5635 E River Rd in Tucson, Ariz.
She began transforming the spot that was once an acai place into her aesthetic, comforting café. Sage green tiles cover the walls, paired with deep purple accents and white marble tables. Everything feels calming and pristine, like a stylish take on the fro-yo places we loved during the gaudy 2000s times.
“I wanted something that was aesthetically pleasing, something that made people feel welcomed as soon as they walked in the door,” Calderon said.
Of course, the café wasn’t complete without its main star: frozen yogurt. Calderon taste tested various fro-yo brands, settling on one that is sourced out of Phoenix. For her first six flavors, she chose pomegranate, premium tart, taro, vanilla, chocolate and salted caramel. She plans to switch out the flavors monthly.
To add some fun flavor, there is also a topping bar with everything from fresh strawberries to bits of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. As a finishing touch, you can add a drizzle of matcha almond butter or sweet caramel.
Once you’re done crafting your dessert, you’ll weigh your masterpiece and pay.
I made the ultimate chocolate lover’s dream when I stopped by, filling my cup with a mix of creamy chocolate and salted caramel. After carefully scouring the topping table, I covered my fro-yo in pieces of Oreos, mini chocolate chips and a layer of Hershey’s chocolate sauce.
The rich chocolate mixed with the silky, subtly salty caramel was the perfect combination of bold and sweet. Then I got a nice crunch from the Oreos and chocolate chips, adding some texture to the creamy fro-yo. It was the delicious treat I needed to satisfy my sweet-tooth cravings.
In addition to the fro-yo, Deserto Frozen Yogurt and Café also has a vast drink menu. If you need a caffeine fix, they have all kinds of lattes, including a velvety caramel macchiato.
They also have refreshing, fruity, tonic drinks that brighten up your tastebuds. Each of the tonic drinks comes in a soda-can cup, making it great for an Instagram post. The strawberry one tasted like a sparkling strawberry lemonade, reminding me of a cool, spring day.
Aside from fro-yo, Deserto Frozen Yogurt & Café also offers fruity tonic drinks.
Since opening, Calderon has been met with lots of smiling faces, telling her how happy they are to see a new fro-yo place open. The experience of bringing in a group of friends, laughing, and joking around as you try out all kinds of flavors and fun combinations is something you can’t replicate at other dessert spots.
“I’m very happy that people are coming in. You never know if people are going to react to the menu and flavors,” Calderon said. “So far, it's been a hit and we went viral on social media. Seeing people walk in, try the fro-yo and see their faces light up just warms my heart.”
The best trends always come back around. Chunky highlights with a frosted lip may be a little dated, but the fro-yo resurgence is something we all can get behind.
