published at EatJackson.com

I was at Kroger in Madison not too long ago (the one on Hwy. 463 at Colony Crossing, NOT the new Kroger theme park on Hwy. 51) when I noticed that they had a new neighbor. About halfway between Kroger and Papito’s (in that same Madison shopping center) was a new frozen yogurt place called Berry Berry Good. Flowood has a Berry Berry Good, so the name was familiar, but I had never actually been inside to see what they were all about. It was time to try this place out, so after I loaded up my car with groceries, I headed to Berry Berry Good.

They’ve got some great outdoor seating, so this place is going to be a great summer hang-out. Right now, it’s a little cool for outdoor fro-yo enjoyment, but their indoor seating is perfect for the chillier days!
I walked through the door and felt like I was no longer in Mississippi. The décor is ultra hip and modern— almost futuristic! I loved it! It was completely unexpected, but I loved the surprise.

After reading the signage close to the door about the health benefits of Berry Berry Good’s frozen yogurt (which is a source of calcium, protein, and that good bacteria you find in yogurt), I grabbed a few sample cups to test some flavors. The raspberry sorbet was just what I expected—sweet and slightly sour. The Vanilla/Chocolate swirl was a little different because it was not all that sweet. A fellow sampler let it be known that she didnot like the Chocolate, claiming that it was not sweet at all. I don’t fully agree with her, but I would recommend trying it before you get a whole cup full! It’s not your typical Chocolate frozen yogurt!

The Original Tart and Caramel Swirl was my favorite sample. Similar to the Vanilla/Chocolate swirl, it was not overly sweet. The older I get, the less I like super sugary things, so the Original Tart yogurt (and they mean it when they use the word tart!) and the simple sweetness of the Caramel yogurt hit the spot. As I filled a cup with the swirl of Caramel and Tart, I noticed that one of the yogurts was sugar free, and the other was low sugar. Healthy!

The tidy selection of toppings was just right. They didn’t have so many options that I got overwhelmed. Fresh fruit of all types, several different sauces, a nice assortment of candy and other crumbly sweet treats… The fact that there was not one crumb of topping outside of its allotted space impressed me almost as much as the frozen yogurt itself! I ended up getting Heath Bar crumbles, Rainbow Sprinkles, and some mini Reese’s cups. Mmmm…

After chatting with the friendly guy working behind the counter, getting set up with a Berry Berry Good loyalty card*, weighing and paying, I was on my way home with a beautiful cup of frozen yogurt joy. Aside from the toppings, I felt like I’d made a wise and healthy snack choice. I didn’t feel like I’d eaten a pound of sugar, which, believe it or not, I do feel from time to time! I loved my Berry Berry Good experience and plan to return soon and often! Have you tried this place?
*With this loyalty card, you get one point for every dollar you spend there. After you get 45 points, you get $5 off your next purchase! My order totaled just over $4, so from what I can figure, you get a free cup for every 10 or 11 average purchases. Not a bad deal!

Madison’s First High End Hibachi and Sushi Express

Asian dining has come a long way in the past several years. We have gone from country specific restaurants — Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian — sit down and take out, to fusion restaurants. Hibachi grills have become a family favorite. And, we are all seeking out our favorite sit down and to-go spots.

A Mississippi Original

Kam Ni, who has been featured locally on Fox 40 giving Sushi demonstrations, and his sister and business partner Ling, are owners of the Ichiban Dining Group. They are well known in the community for their Ichiban restaurants in Flowood (www.ichibandining.com), and most recently several Berry Berry Good Yogurt shops (www.berryberrygoodyogurt.com). The Ichiban Buffet is widely known as arguably the best Chinese and Sushi buffet in the area, and has been recognized as such by winning a national award for TOP 100 Chinese / Asian Restaurant and the 2011 & 2012 Jackson Free Press Awards for “Best Buffet.” The Ichiban Grill offers hibachi dining, great for the whole family, and high end sushi in an upscale, date-friendly atmosphere. The thing that is in common with all of their restaurants is impeccable attention to quality and detail. The Nis are now bringing their culinary arts to a new concept: Red Samurai.

Meet Red Samurai

Kam and Ling launched their new concept, Red Samurai, in Madison on May 21st and they are already garnering a lot of attention from patrons and the local restaurant community. Red Samurai promises high quality Hibachi and Sushi in an express atmosphere. Kam says, “There are other asian take out restaurants, but we use quality ingredients, just like our Ichiban restaurants. We have time honored recipes that are proven favorites.”

Home in Madison

Red Samurai is located in front of the “Super” Kroger on Highway 51 next to the new Berry Berry Good Yogurt. This is the first Asian style restaurant the Ichiban Dining Group has opened in Madison. Previously, those living in Madison had to make the trek to Flowood to experience the quality cuisine offered at Ichiban.

It is Quality and Flavor!

The real draw, of course, is not just the convenience for those in Madison. It is the flavors! And, those who know Sushi, know Ichiban’s tradition of the highest quality sushi in the area. From the select rice to the freshest fish, there is no compromise.

Red Samurai is located on Highway 51 in Madison in front of the “Super” Kroger. For more information, visit www.redsamuraiexpress.com, call 769.300.0654, or visit www.IchibanDining.com for more information on any of the Ichiban Dining properties.

Bryan Carter is an author, a member of thinkWRITE Guild, and a contributing writer for County Connections.

This yogurt shop tauts both.

When you step into the newly opened Berry Berry Good Yogurt on Highway 51, you’re immediately struck by the futuristic decor of the shop. White curved ceiling, textured wall coverings, mother of pearl styled tile around the yogurt machines – the feeling is clean and modern. In fact, all three local locations of Berry Berry Good are similarly laid out. The decor strikes even the casual observer, but the benefits of a stop at Berry Berry Good goes far beyond the aesthetic. The treat you have stopped to enjoy is “berry berry” good for you in so many other ways.

The Probiotic Benefit

You go to Berry Berry Good to enjoy their delicious yogurt. What many people do not know is that when their yogurt is made, it naturally has healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, that are actually good for the human body. We see commercials on TV all the time, touting the health benefits of eating yogurt. The probiotics in yogurt have been shown to be beneficial in such human health processes as aiding digestion, lowering cholesterol, boosting the immune system, and easing various gastrointestinal problems.

No Over-processing Please

Unfortunately, many standard commercial processes in the making of yogurt eventually eliminate the beneficial probiotics. There are many factors involved in producing a product that can support these living bacteria, such as the product’s temperature, pH, oxygen, water levels, etc. It is obviously more expensive to constantly monitor all of these factors during the making of yogurt, so it actually ends up that many of the commercially available yogurts have not been carefully monitored and therefore do not contain any significant level of probiotics. The companies that produce the healthiest (and usually tastiest) yogurts are the ones that carefully monitor all of the various components of the process. These quality yogurts might be slightly more expensive, but the flavor and health benefits are definitely worth the cost.

Quality First

“We don’t cut any corners when it comes to the products we offer our customers,” says Berry Berry Good Yogurt owner Kam Ngai, “we want people to get the best tasting yogurt and all of the benefits that come from natural yogurt.” Berry Berry Good wants to make sure that people know they are bringing in the types of yogurts that are not only delicious, which they definitely are, but the yogurts you will find in their stores are also healthy and rich in the natural probiotics.
A visit to Berry Berry Good Yogurt is healthy, but for many the main thing that sticks is the fun. It begins with choosing which size cup you will fill with the silky delicious yogurt. Then you proceed to the “wall of yogurt” to select the flavor or flavors that you will enjoy. It’s all self-serve, so you can mix and match flavors however you choose. Finally, you have an array of topping to choose from. The toppings range from fresh-cut fruits (another healthy choice) to candies, nuts, and melted sauces like caramel and chocolate. When you are finished, take a moment to take pleasure in the sight of your new creation before sitting down to enjoy your healthy and delicious yogurt treat!

Mississippi Locations

• 545 Parkway
  Flowood, MS 39232
  601-992-2786
• 111 Colony Crossing, Ste 490
  Madison, MS 39110
  601-898-8286
• 1060 Hwy 51, Ste A1
  Madison, MS 39110
  769-300-0195

Berry Berry Good has locations in Madison and Flowood. For more information including nutritional and probiotic benefits, visit www.berryberrygood.com.

Author Matthew Jackson is a member of thinkWRITE Guild and a contributing writer to County Connections