EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Açaí Bar and More food truck is bringing a completely new facet to the Evansville mobile dining scene — health food. The açaí bowls on the menu contain frozen organic açaí berry puree sweetened with agave syrup and are topped with sliced fresh fruit, granola, seeds, coconut and honey — just right for a summer treat when you want something light, sweet, and nutritious.
Proprietor Brandon Rowland is originally from California, where açaí bowls have been very popular since the 2010’s. He truly fell in love with the fruit when he lived in Brazil for two years as part of a religious mission.
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After moving to Evansville three years ago, he began the Açaí Bar as a tent vendor in 2018. That summer, he participated in the Second Annual Evansville Food Truck Festival at Bosse Field and won the trophy for Best Start Up. Now he pulls a well-appointed trailer but still displays the trophy proudly at the service window.
“In Brazil they eat açaí all the time, pretty much every day,” he said. “It’s how they get their energy. They put guarana in it too, which is one of the ingredients in all the energy drinks; it’s not bad for you, it’s the rest of the junk in the energy drinks that is bad.”
Açaí berries are the fruit of a tall, slender palm tree native to the Amazon River delta. Each berry looks like a grape or blueberry with a single large seed. They are a frosty purple-black and grow in long trailing clusters that can weigh over 10 pounds. The berries have been a major food source in Brazil for time out of mind, but have only become trendy as a superfruit in other countries within the last 20 years.
Their popularity is due to the high levels of antioxidants found in them, as in other dark-skinned fruits such as blueberries.
Guarana is another Amazonian plant. Its seeds contain caffeine, and they are commonly used in soft drinks in Brazil and Paraguay.
Rowland uses organic Sambazon brand açaí puree packs, which already have guarana added — so be aware, the mixture is a bit caffeinated.
“They’re super healthy, it’s a great thing to eat after a workout,” Rowland said. “Or early in the day, instead of eating fast food, if you eat this it will fill you up but also give your body the nutrients it needs. It’s got antioxidants and fiber and all that good stuff.”
Other than the frozen açaí puree, all fruit is fresh and sliced to order. All the bowls come with strawberry, blueberry and banana, but other toppings include apple slices, kiwi, chia seeds, flaked coconut, almonds, granola, pineapple, blackberries and honey.
All ingredients are gluten-free, including the granola.
Eventually Rowland will add more Brazilian specialties to the menu including cheese bread and guarana soda.
Keep an eye on the açaí Bar and More Facebook page for updates and locations.
facebook.com/theacaibarandmore/
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June 15, 2020 at 01:46AM
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Acai Bar and More: Brazilian superfood berry and fruit bowls from new food truck - Courier & Press
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