I stopped for a quick coffee in Chobani, TriBeCa recently. Okay, that’s a lie – I was indulging my homewares fetish in the newly opened Target store in TriBeCa (on 225 Greenwich) when I noticed that the Chobani cafe was open for business.
It is well located for interior design creeps like me – at the back of the store on the first floor, where the Target home decor is stocked.
There are lots of good smoothie / juice options and a ‘grab and go’ if you are really in a rush.
First for me though – coffee.
Gorgeous.
Chobani prides itself on the quality of its Greek-style yoghurt, made in the US.
On that basis, I thought it would be rude to resist one of the yoghurt options on offer and went for a Pistachio + Chocolate combo – a glass bowl of yoghurt topped with (you guessed it) pistachios, dark chocolate, and other deliciousness like chopped orange, fresh mint and clover honey.
Orange you glad I called in?
There was lots to choose from, and all the yoghurts have nice surprises in addition to their title (Toasted Coconut + Pineapple is topped with crushed hazelnuts and agave nectar; Peanut Butter + Jelly includes fresh red grapes).
There are also acai-type breakfast bowls on offer (these are all the rage in NYC – I need to learn what they are and might have a go at making some at home soon).
Savoury fare includes Hummus + Za’atar, Mango + Avocado, and Red Pepper Harissa + Feta. Lunch options are made up of soups, salads and simits (see here – a rounded bread of Turkish origin, set to rival the bagel in NY… you heard it here first!). I’ll have to come back for those!
The service was really friendly and seating is at a mix of high stools (very suitable for dining alone) and lower stools at tables.
Chobani’s founder, the Kurdish Hamdi Ulukaya came to the US in 1994 from a small village in Turkey (this explains the simits). He studied English , took some business classes, and started a feta-cheese factory in 2002. In 2005, he purchased a defunct yogurt factory in upstate New York. Since then, he has grown the empire into a billion-dollar enterprise. Quite the success story!
Chobani TriBeCa is the second cafe to open in NYC – there is another location in Soho. After calling in, I now see Chobani yoghurts everywhere – so they are widely available! I am normally a Siggi’s girl when it comes to yoghurts on the go but I would certainly come back to the Chobani cafes. And next time, I’m sampling one of those simits!