Braking for Breakfast: acai

Kiss The Berry

Sometime last year, I was walking along Adelaide St and a brand new pop-up shop caught my eye. Cute shop - bright green fake turf, pale timber stools, mason jars with colourful flowers poking out of them. I'm a sucker for fake turf (was this close to carpeting my apartment in it) so paused to check it out. After picking up a stray menu, I saw it was called Kiss The Berry and that they were primarily selling açaí bowls and smoothies. Açai bowls are generally a blend of Açai puree with frozen fruit and some liquid and then attractively topped with additional fruit and a mixture of things like muesli, nuts, seeds and sometimes yoghurt. Basically a bowl full of healthy goodness. I'd heard of açaí (an Amazonian berry with supposedly amazing antioxidant properties which will improve your health tenfold etc) but had never tried it. I baulked at the price of $7 for a smoothie (it was a bit of a frugal time) so walked out and never made it back before they shut up a few months later. After a bit of investigation, I found out that Kiss The Berry began as the brainchild of two young entrepreneurial ladies who began selling the bowls at local markets before expanding to this shop. Not long afterwards I started to notice them appearing on food blogs and several other healthy eateries were offering these healthy, superfood-laden açaí bowls.

Several months later I heard they opened a real shop just around the corner on Creek St but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally made it into Kiss The Berry to try this famed açaí bowl. I was meeting up with M, a friend with similar food issues and interest in trying random health foods, so I suggested Kiss The Berry. We met on a Tuesday morning just before 8am and the place was already packed. It's primarily a takeaway shop but there's some seating with a low bench at the back and a taller one with stools at the front of the shop. So I wouldn't advise planning large group catch-up meetings there. There is an extensive menu available including a range of açaí bowls, smoothies and coffee. Prices for the bowls range from $8.50 for the basic regular-sized The KTB Original Bowl (Acai blended with banana, strawberries, apple juice topped with fresh banana, strawberries, granola, honey and chia seeds) to $13 for the large-sized Snickers Bowl (Açai blended with banana, raw cacao, almond butter, almond milk, coconut water topped with banana, raspberries, granola, coconut and cacao). You can add in additional toppings such as goji berries, LSA, cacao nibs, yoghurt and COYO coconut yoghurt. Smoothies range between $7.50 and $9.50 and you can also get pre-packaged ones for $9. Coffee is by local coffee roasters The Odessey Project (Wallman & Co) and is $3.50 for a regular and $4.00 for a large. They also sell Cold Pressed Coffee, Raw Cacao Mocha and Hot Chocolate.

Menu is on the wall behind the counter

I decided to try The KTB Original Bowl in the smaller size and also a long black with a dash of milk. M chose the Berry Good Low Sugar Bowl which had a blend of açaí, banana, filtered spring water topped with banana, LSA, chia seeds, caramelised buckinis, coconut and organic yoghurt ($12 for large). We took (the only free) seats at the high bar and grabbed some water from the self-serve dispenser near the counter, which was flavoured with fresh fruit slices. Once you order at the counter, they take your name to call out when your order is ready. Our coffees were ready quickly and we sipped on them as we waited for our açaí bowls to be freshly made. My long black was rich and strong and was the pick-me-up I needed after cycling in.

M's bowl was ready first and appeared in a tall round takeaway-style container with the KTB logo stamped on the front. All you could see was shredded coconut, LSA (ground linseed, sunflower and almond) and chia seeds with some bananas peeking through. As he dug in, the deep purple açaí became visible underneath the plentiful toppings. My name was called out shortly afterwards and I went up to the counter to grab mine. My bowl (being the smaller size) was similar looking but shorter. Juicy bright red slices of strawberry sat on top of plenty of sliced ripe banana rounds with a good drizzle of honey on top and generous sprinkling of chia seeds. I thought my bowl was the prettier of the two but appearance isn't everything - question was, which tasted better?

As I dug my spoon in, I found that underneath all of the fruit was a layer of crunchy oat and nut granola and below that, thick deep purple açaí puree. I tried to get a little bit of everything on my spoon but there were so many components! Somehow I sort of managed and the resulting mouthful was a mix of flavour and texture sensations. It was quite sweet with the Acai puree sweetened with apple juice and the added honey. The freshness of the strawberries helped to offset it a little. The delicious crunchy granola also added to the sweetness while adding contrasting texture to the smooth blended açaí. The banana was sweet but not overly ripe so still had a bit of bite to it - just perfect. It was a delicious bowl of healthy goodness but I probably could have done without the extra honey as I did find it sweeter than necessary. M was also enjoying his first experience with açaí. I got to sample some and it was less sweet than mine, which I really liked. I particularly liked the caramelised buckinis which I hadn't tried before. They were super crunchy like my granola but not as sweet and had a nutty flavour. I'm a big fan of buckwheat and regularly put them in my homemade toasted granola but hadn't had them by themselves before like that. The shredded coconut also added some nice crunch and sweetness and the additional yoghurt added a nice tartness to the mix. Overall I probably preferred the Berry Good Low Sugar Bowl over the KTB Original Bowl because it was less sweet but I loved that mine had strawberries.

When ordering, I wasn't sure whether to go with the small or large bowl and was concerned after ordering the small that it wouldn't be enough. I was worried for nothing because it still took me a good 30 minutes to get through that bowl and I was full for hours afterwards! In fact the problem with taking so long to get through it is that as the açaí is frozen puree, it starts to melt. But I was impressed how long it took it to melt - it must have enough solid puree to hold it's shape for a decent amount of time. And the granola is amazing - it had the perfect blend of oats and nuts and remained surprisingly crunchy even when immersed in the melted açaí blend.

The Original KTB Bowl ($8.50/$11)

Berry Good Low Sugar Bowl ($9.50/$12)

Overall my verdict is - I'm an absolute açaí bowl convert and a massive Kiss the Berry fan! In fact, it's started a slightly dangerous obsession with açaí bowls and now I feel the need to try them everywhere. So far I've sampled a few on offer around Brisbane and have made one at home but I will still be back to Kiss the Berry to try the rest of their menu! They do give you a bit of brain freeze though so I probably wouldn't want them mid-winter but they're perfect for right now and I see several more in my future during the warm summer months.

Bikeability

Accessibility: 7/10 (I get there via Eagle St Pier but regardless of how you get there, you'll need to navigate some CBD traffic unfortunately)

Parking: 8/10 (There is a small bike rack nearby to the right of the store)

http://www.kisstheberry.com/

Thursday, October 02, 2014
1 Comments

Raw Pawpaw

acai

Leading up to its opening, I was regularly teased on Instagram by hints posted by Giorgina Venzin of the Venzin Group about her new cafe in New Farm opening called Raw Pawpaw in the old Cafe Bouquiniste site on Merthyr Rd. As a huge fan of the original Pawpaw Cafe in Woolloongabba, I was super excited about the prospect of having another to visit that was more convenient to cycle to than Little Pawpaw and Picnic, the other incarnations of which being in Kedron and Camp Hill respectively has meant that I haven't been there yet. All of the cafes are known for their relaxed attitudes, interesting menus, great coffee and just overall, good food. Raw Pawpaw isn't entirely a 'raw' cafe but does have a bit more of a focus on clean eating than the other cafes and has some raw items available on their all-day menu which also includes several gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free options.

Raw Pawpaw opened up a few months ago but it wasn't until this week that I managed to get there. After being destroyed in the 2011 floods, Riverwalk finally re-opened on the weekend, creating a link between the CBD and New Farm. As a cyclist, this means I have a way to get to New Farm which doesn't involve riding (or walking...) up the very-steep Ivory Lane and navigating a relatively narrow shared path underneath the Story Bridge! So on Monday, after running late for my gym class, I decided to detour to check it out. It begins at the Howard Street Wharves and is a wide passageway with ample room for both cyclists and pedestrians with several lookouts and water fountains along the way. Even on Monday morning before 7am, the first non-official day open, there were plenty of people walking and cycling along it so I think it will be well used! The walk links up to Riverview Ct in New Farm which turns into Merthyr Rd so I thought I'd take the opportunity of 'being in the area' to visit Raw Pawpaw.

Raw Pawpaw is on Merthyr Rd, just past the block where the Coles and other shops are in New Farm. When I arrived a bit past 7am, it had just opened but everything was already set up and the front cabinet was being filled up with delicious looking salads, sandwiches and baked goods. Ordering is done at the counter but otherwise it is table service. I was told by the friendly waitress that the kitchen unfortunately didn't open until 7:30 but they she could do Acai bowls. Given that it was a work day, I figured I probably shouldn't be out for too long and although I was disappointed to not get to try their Lifestyle Board (Avocado, roast cherry tomatoes, poached eggs, beetroot relish, goats cheese, dukkah & fresh lemon on sourdough) which I'd seen many delicious-looking pictures of on Instagram, I was happy to try Raw Pawpaw's incarnation of the Acai bowl, my recent new discovery and obsession. The Raw Pawpaw Acai Bowl is frozen Antioxidant loaded acai, blended with banana & coconut water then layered with crispy coconut, activated caramelised buckinis, banana & cranberries ($11.90). I debated getting a coffee but was atad warm from the ride and decided to stick with just the acai bowl. They do have a delicious looking Organic Almond Milk Iced Latte ($7) which comes in a cute milk bottle and is made on Luz almond milk, which I was tempted by.

Indoor seating; Healthy goodies for sale on shelves

Although it's a small cafe, there is a fair amount of seating with a few tables inside and several larger ones and a tall bar outside in a shaded area on the side. A few stools and low tables are available out front which might be a bit tricky if you're there to eat. I chose to sit outside at one of the larger tables which are covered in a gorgeous peach and green pawpaw print. Water is self-service from an old-fashioned glass dispenser near the front counter and the water was refreshingly infused with cucumber. As I waited, checking my emails, I noted that there is a bus stop right outside the cafe which is incredibly convenient and no doubt bus-catchers appreciate the convenient coffee stop! As I waited a few people dropped in for takeaway coffees and smoothies, which looked great. In fact, next time I'll have to get one of them or a house pressed juice.

Acai Bowl ($11.90)

My acai bowl was brought out to me quickly, cheerfully presented in a colourful patterned bowl with an aqua umbrella poking out! It was a generously sized bowl of the acai blend with lines of sliced banana, toasted coconut, caramelised buckinis and dried cranberries attractively arranged in the bowl. The blend of acai, banana and coconut water was perfect - not overly sweet and nice and thick texture. Yup, recent fan and already critiquing things like the 'texture' of acai! I'm loving buckinis as an alternative to granola as I find them not as sweet and they don't get soggy and these Loving Earth ones were no exception. The toasted shredded coconut also added some nice crunch and the banana was perfectly ripe and sweet. The cranberries were lovely but I could have done with just a few as I personally find them too sweet and as a result left most of them. Problem was, I wanted everything else so I was carefully scraping around them to get every last bit of acai which, as expected, had started to melt by the time I was finishing it! Overall I loved the bowl and thought, considering the standard price of Acai bowls, was well-priced for the serving size especially considering you can sit down in a nice setting and enjoy it. I'd easily order it again (although perhaps after I sample some of the rest of the menu!) but might ask for it without cranberries.

Cabinet baked goods, sandwiches & salads

Reluctantly, I got up after finishing my bowl to head to work. A few more people arrived while I was there and the cabinets had filled up even more since I had arrived. I definitely want to return to check out their salad options which include combinations such as Turmeric & chilli flake roasted cauliflower with toasted almonds, radish, spinach & cheery tomatoes and Beetroot & Israeli couscous with fresh orange segments, pistachios & goats cheese ($10.90/14.90). Daily specials are also available and written on a chalkboard behind the counter and it looked like some tasty sounding hash cakes were available over the weekend. Although it was quiet early on a Monday morning, I suspect that it gets busy on the weekends and wouldn't be surprised if long queues form during busy periods. Takeaway is always an option though if you can't handle the wait! My verdict is that the Venzin Group have got another winner on their hands with Raw Pawpaw! Like Pawpaw Cafe, the innovative, healthy and reasonably priced menu is sure to be popular among all Brisbanites. It was a lovely ride back to work along the river and my happy energy-boosting breakfast was a fabulous start to the working week!