WE'RE CRAVING: FROZEN YOGURT

YOGURTLAND

If bigger is better, Yogurtland is the front-runner of the new self-serve yogurt joints, with a large and varied menu of flavors and toppings. The yogurt is good, with intense flavor.

Yogurtland, two locations: 1810 University Ave., 951-4444; 98-1264 Ka'ahumanu St., 488-5004

MENCHIE'S

Menchie's offers the usual long list of flavors, but the bonus is the variety of nonfat, low-fat, low-carb, no-sugar-added and nondairy options. We like the creamy taro yogurt with brownies, strawberries, mochi balls, mini Reese's Pieces, and chocolate chip cookie pieces.

Menchie's, Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd., 592-9292

RED MANGO

Yogurt afficionados say Red Mango makes the best yogurt on the island. There are only two flavors — original and green tea — and we love that they try to feature fresh, local products in their toppings, such as locally grown mangos, Maui strawberries and Big Island papayas.

Red Mango, 227 Lewers St., 922-0848

YOGURT MAMA

Every yogurt place has its niche, and Yogurt Mama has captured the mochi-loving crowd by offering eight different flavors of the popular mochi-ball topping. Their tiny mocha-peanut butter cups are also fun with the right yogurt.

Yogurt Mama, 43 One'awa St., 263-3368

MILANO FREEZER

In addition to offering 35 different toppings and four daily rotating flavors of yogurt, 'Aiea's Milano Freezer offers unique items, like melon yogurt and li hing pineapple topping, to appeal to local tastes. Not in the mood for yogurt? Milano also offers about a dozen gelatos, pre-packed pints, cakes and pies.

Milano Freezer, Westridge Shopping Center, 98-150 Kaonohi St., 488-7976

—Metromix

FOOD NEWS

Banana Leaf Italian Bistro (Market City Shopping Center, 2919 Kapi'olani Blvd., 735-8833) now offers lunch combos for under $10, and dinner combos for under $20. For patrons who prefer their food to go, the eatery also offers a 20 percent discount on its takeout menu.

Teddy's Bigger Burgers is celebrating its 10th anniversary by offering a 10 percent discount on everything on its menu on June 5 and 6. The promotion is valid at all three Teddy's locations (Waikiki, 926-3444; Kailua, 262-0820; Hawai'i Kai, 394-9100).

New restaurant-lounge Tsunami (1272 S. King St., in the old Dragon Court restaurant, 596-0700) offers Pacific-inspired tapas, sake and wine and is open daily for dinner and late-night noshing.

MaHaLo Ocean Café, located in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, recently changed its name from MaHaLo Hawaii Deep Sea® Water Showroom and is now offering a new menu of flavored gelatin and croissant creations by Patisserie La Palme d'Or. Try the "Mizu-Anmitsu" — gelatin with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and azuki beans, drizzled with pure maple syrup and sprinkled with kinako (soy bean flour).

New takeout spot Your Kitchen opened this week where Samira's Country Market used to be (1423 10th Ave.). Your Kitchen makes contemporary Japanese cuisine and shave ice.

RETHINK BAGELS

At Lox of Bagels, it's almost silly to order an ordinary bagel with cream cheese. You can get that anywhere. What you can't find anywhere are the many bagel innovations that the folks at Lox of Bagels have created using the ordinary bagel as inspiration. The bagel Danish ($2.29, pictured) is a hole-less bagel with a gooey-sweet fruit and cream-cheese center and a butter-brown-sugar-cinnamon topping. The danish comes with strawberry or apple filling. Who knew a bagel could be this decadent? The bagel puffs ($1.29) are billiardball-sized rounds of bagel dough stuffed with various fillings. Our favorite is the peanut butter puff, filled with sweet peanut butter and tangy cream cheese.

LOX OF BAGELS

111 Sand Island Access Road 845-2855; 5 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays

TRY THIS

THIS UNTRADITIONAL BENEDICT WORKS

Variations on eggs Benedict are old news. But variations that actually work? Good news. We ran across one at the Moana Surfrider hotel: The Veranda Benedict ($19), featuring kalua pork hash cakes instead of the usual Canadian bacon. The hash, egg and Hollandaise sit on a crispy bread round instead of the usual gluey English muffin. The result: a must-try classic with a twist.