Acai Bowls

I'm kind of obsessed with these acai bowls.  (Pronounced ah-sigh-ee.)  I had my very first introduction to these amazing little breakfast treats at the Little Fish Coffee Company on the island of Kauai.  To be perfectly honest, when we stumbled upon this delightful little food truck inspired trailer, we didn't really know what to order, so we optimistically ordered 2 of the most popular bowls listed on the hand written chalkboard menu. 

I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't the cold, sweet, soft-serve consistency fruit mixture in the bottom of a giant bowl overflowing with fresh fruit.  
It probably had something to due with the fact that we were sitting on the cutest little outdoor patio and breathing in the sweet Hawaiian air but I fell in love with acai from the very first bite. 

Recreating these delicious acai bowls at home wasn't going to be easy.  For starters, there's the undeniable flavor of fresh Hawaiian fruit that I just can't capture in Georgia.  Then there was also the matter of trying to dissect the crunchy granola that was used as a barrier between the frozen acai and the fresh fruit. 

I thought that the acia was going to be the easy part due to the fact that it's readily available in the freezer section of most grocery stores.  The truth is - getting the acai the right consistency proved to be a challenge.  I had trouble defrosting it to soft serve consistency without over melting it.  

I am still working on perfecting my acai bowls but I've got to say - we've totally enjoyed the process.  Finding new ways to top these little treats is has been a real treat.  

Acai Bowls
1 packet frozen acai
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1 Tablespoon milk or milk alternative

Toppings
fresh fruit (berries, bananas, pineapple, kiwi)
coconut flakes
granola
yogurt

This sweet little bird was perched on a branch just across from our table and kept us company while we enjoyed our breakfast bowls.  I'm pretty sure he was patiently waiting for us to drop some of our granola on the table but none the less, we enjoyed his undivided attention.  

Seven months after we first tasted the delicious acai bowls in Hawaii - my quest to recreate them continues.  I honestly don't think that I've even come close the acai in Hawaii but I've enjoyed every single attempt - even the overly defrosted versions.  If you've got some acai tips for me - feel free to send them along.  I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Ciao!