Acai Action
Happy Bowls latest outlet for power fruit
"Superfood” is a buzzword that seems to be everywhere these days. Previously obscure foods like kale, quinoa, and chia seeds now enjoy mainstream status as superfoods and are readily available at grocery stores and farmers markets.
HAPPY BOWLS, a new eatery in downtown Wilmington, is taking advantage of the superfood trend by featuring a menu based on the acai berry. The small, purple berry has gained popularity in recent years due to its purported health benefits and high antioxidant levels.
The restaurant offers bowls or smoothies made with acai berry puree that is sourced from Sambazon, a distributor that produces its acai products from berries grown in Brazil.
The acai berry puree itself is very versatile, says ZACH SCIALES, co-owner and manager of Happy Bowls, 21 North Front Street.
“It’s delicious on its own, but it can be mixed with a lot of other flavors,” Sciales says.
At first glance, the brightly-lit eatery with its toppings bar full of fresh fruit and granola may look like a yogurt bar, but it is not a dessert place, as Sciales is quick to point out.
“The bowls are intended to be meals,” he says.
A typical bowl starts with a base of acai that is made by blending the acai puree with fresh juice. The result is a creamy, sorbet-like mixture that can be flavored using a variety of ingredients. Sciales says the two most popular flavors are the Crystal Pier, which is acai mixed with pineapple juice and then topped with granola, sliced bananas, shredded coconut, and strawberries, and the Classic PB&J Bowl, which consists of acai with peanut butter and almond milk and topped with granola, sliced banana, and strawberries.
Happy Bowls caters to both health conscious consumers and those with special food concerns. “We get a lot of people coming in who are on cleanses or special diets, and we can almost always accommodate them,” Sciales says.
INGREDIENTS THAT PACK A PUNCH
They’ve become the darlings of healthy eating in recent years. Overblown fad or the real deal, these so-called superfoods have stuck around and show no signs of slowing down in popularity. Here’s where to find them locally.
CHIA SEEDS
These tiny, ancient seeds started popping up in drinks and snacks with fans touting them as healthy sources of omega-3 fats, fiber, and antioxidants.
FIND: Tidal Creek Co-Op, 5329 Oleander Drive, carries products with chia in them from cereal to granola. Or go straight to the source and buy the seeds in the bulk food department. ($14.29 a pound for raw, organic black chia seeds). Lovey’s Market, 1319 Military Cutoff Road, has them available on its salad bar and sells them in bulk or bagged.
KALE
Kale’s been on top of the greens heap for a couple of years now, and despite pushes by other leafy contenders such as collards, it continues to hold strong.
FIND: Wilmington-based Kitchen Ahima (www.kitchenahimsa.com) sells dehydrated kale chips in plain, spicy curry, coconut cacao, Caribbean jerk, and Cheezy Pizza flavors at the Riverfront and Wrightsville Beach farmers markets. ($6 for a tub)
QUINOA
The grain-like seed is a complete protein, containing all of the essential amino acids. It is also a good source of iron and fiber.
FIND: Quinoa is making its way onto area restaurant menus. Order a black bean quinoa burger with pepper jack cheese at Milner’s Café, 311 Judges Road.
To view more of photographer Kristen Corley's work, go to www.kristencorley.com.
