Entertainment Editor

If you like frozen yogurt, you could be in big trouble — especially if you have trouble making up your mind.

Menchie’s, one of the newest concepts in the frozen yogurt business, has opened its newest franchise at The Loop West.

At Menchie’s you load up on your yogurt, and I do mean load up on it, by the ounce. With a rotating flavor arsenal of more than 100 and some 60 toppings to choose from, you can be forgiven if it takes a while to put together that perfect frozen concoction.

Owner Rod Harter, who really knows his yogurt, thinks a trip to Menchie’s is unlike any other you will have have in the never-ending quest for a sweet way to cool off this summer.

“Menchie’s is more than just great frozen yogurt, it is a whole experience,” Harter said.   “While kids always love the mixing and matching of different flavors and toppings, the creative self-serve process seems to bring out the kid in everyone, regardless of age.”

Indeed, you will hardly no where to start once you have cup in hand and see all those yogurt flavors and toppings.

Fortunately, free mini-tastings are welcomed, so it helps to narrow down that search for perfection.

But even after you have found that perfect yogurt (cookie dough batter perhaps?) or combination of flavors (german chocolate cake and chocolate espresso?) (pina colada, island banana and peach?) there are still all of those toppings to consider.

It’s a huge undertaking for the brain. The snack bar varieties include Butterfinger, Cap’n Crunch, Oreo Cookies, peanut butter cups, Heath Toffee, M&M’s  and Nestle Crunch, just to name a few. And at The Chill Bar, the fresh fruit assortment includes strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, mangos, peaches, blueberries as well as cookie dough, fudge brownies and cheesecake bits. And don’t forget the hot toppings such as hot fudge and caramel sauce.

After mixing and matching and experimenting, it is time for the moment of truth — just how much have you spent on yogurt?

That initial 44 cents an ounce, isn’t bad at all, but if you go crazy with the flavors and toppings, your creation could cost you as much as $6 and more, but more typically, the Menchie’s yogurt experience will probably set back about $4 or so, but it really all depends on how carried away you get before the weigh-in.

“Freedom of choice is the whole concept,” Harter said.

Once you start spooning your creation into your mouth, you probably will forget about the price in any case.

Harter said Menchie’s is a perfect way to have dessert following dinner at one of the many restaurants at The Loop and The Loop West.

The yogurt shop, which opened in late June, should now be offering a freshly made waffle cone alternative to the cup.

Harter, who operates a second Menchie’s location in Orlando, did a lot of research before going into the yogurt business.

He took several trips to California to observe first-hand one of the first Menchie’s.

“I observed what they were doing for about two months and built my plan based on that,” he said.

According to company officials, Menchie’s has become a bit of celebrity hot spot in California and is a favorite with celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Timberlake. Menchie’s has more than 35 locations  in 11 states, with an additional 45 currently in development, and plans to have more than  70 locations throughout the country by September 2010.

“It’s an experience,” promises Harter. “Bring the family.”

The Kissimmee Menchie’s is located at 2617 W. Osceola Parkway. The yogurt shop is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m Friday and Saturday.