So it’s the new year, and we all hope 2021 has something better on tap for us than 2020’s hot rotten dumpster fire to end all dumpster fires. And since we’re in the first full week of January, you’re probably still kicking ass on your New Year’s resolutions. (Next week will be a different story, when you will assuredly fall off the wagon.)
It seems fitting to launch our new year’s food review calendar with something light and healthy and on-diet for anyone taking early dining austerity measures. And that something is Vitality Bowls, a locally owned franchise of a nearly 140-location California chain. Owners Shelly Hood and Elisabeth Everett are military spouses and also work together as mortgage lenders in town. They came to this enterprise with concerns over their families’ food allergies, which relates to the founding of the company as a whole. They say they were impressed after speaking to the corporate owners, who were savvy but down-to-earth and relatable, encouraging them to personalize the style of their location (hence reclaimed wood, a fireplace and a cool color tone to match mostly frozen fare).
Vitality Bowls’ menu leans heavy on açaí bowls, smoothies and juices, with a short panini sandwich and salad/soup section as well. But going to a place that specializes in bowls and smoothies for those latter items seems to miss the point, like drinking tea in a fine coffee shop. Like, yeah, you can, but why would you? That’s what I realize after ordering a kale salad as part of my second-visit meal. It’s just fine with quinoa, hemp seeds, cucumbers, goat cheese, celery and slices of scantly seasoned grass-fed sirloin (an upcharge option) with a Turmeric-Dijon vinaigrette, but in the end it’s a modest salad with no high points in a land of vibrant fruit drinks laced with naturally sweet things.
If You Go
13492 Bass Pro Drive, #120, 719-639-7150, vitalitybowls.com 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily
If you happened to count, in that salad you’ll note four trendy ingredients in the health food world, including turmeric, revered for its anti-inflammatory properties (and ability to stain dish towels, aprons, shirts, teeth, etc.). That’s pretty much how all items read at Vitality Bowls: lists of ingredients that provide the eater with something like moral superiority, that distinct feeling that you’ve made wise food choices and surely will live longer now, or at least feel less bad when you eat like shit the next day. (“Hey, remember when I had that carrot?”)
There are plenty of familiar items with common fruits, and good luck finding the few things that don’t contain the simian’s best friend: bananas. So I aim for the items with new-to-me ingredients, which is saying something because I’ve been a dirty hippie for decades and thought I knew most all of the superfoods out there. (I mean, dude, I shop at Natural Grocers and Mountain Mama religiously.) Kudos to Vitality Bowls for sending me googling several times. Do any of you know offhand what aronia, moringa and camu camu are?
Didn’t think so. No worries; there’s explanatory posters on the walls with pictures and big words like “phytochemicals” and “plyphenols” and “xanthones.” My Green Bowl starts with a base of graviola, also called soursop, which is a derivative of a rainforest tree. (How can THAT not be good for you?) There are nine inputs to the base purée, including spirulina, plus five toppings that include granola and kiwi. For all its chlorophyll there’s more than ample sweetness from berries, dates and honey, leaving me questioning the overall true healthfulness given the high sugar content (which is at least buffered by fiber and the nutrients). We treat the bowl-of-the-month special, called the EnjoyMint Bowl, like dessert, given cacao, coconut milk and chocolate chips in its base, plus more chocolate chips and cacao nibs as toppings. Oh, and both have … you guessed it, bananas. Fresh mint leaves exude a nice herbal essence and granola gives more crunch to counter the sorbet-like açaí base.
For smoothies, we’re drawn to the Pitaya Punch (because what the hell is that? — oh, another name for dragon fruit) and Immunity Smoothie (because bro, there’s a pandemic goin’ on and I’ll take all the armor I can get). The pitaya would normally be pink and pretty with some chia seeds, spinach, strawberries and mango blended in with fresh-juiced orange and coconut milk, but I add some moringa (a plant the poster says is iron-rich, containing all nine essential amino acids — wowsa) which renders mine more brown-hued somehow. It tastes like island fruit generally, with hints of pineapple though none’s present.
The Immunity Smoothie starts with acerola (which has nine other names online including West Indian, Puerto Rican and Barbados cherry and contains high vitamin C) and gets almond milk, lemon, kale, mango and banana plus a house “immunity blend” of powdered superfoods presumably plus camu camu (another rainforest item supposedly good for muscle repair and the nervous system). I add aronia (a purple berry purportedly good for circulation and detoxification), and there’s also one other key ingredient included: raw ginger. So much raw ginger that the staff asks if we like raw ginger because this drink stings big with zing and they know it. And I do love juiced ginger so I can generally tolerate it straight. I’ve bitten the root straight plenty of times while traveling to stave off motion sickness or a grumpy belly. And you may as well be doing that when drinking this because the ginger’s so prominent. I can’t tell you what acerola or camu camu or aronia taste like because they’re all buried behind the spicy rhizome heat.
This is by no means a balanced drink, but I’m left to believe that there’s so much damn nutrition in it that who cares, I’m probably invincible to germs for a few hours, pumped with so many antioxidants that I’m playing offense by securing defense. And there you have it, that internal superiority-like sense of having chosen well — fruits and superfoods instead of nearby fried comfort foods of many sorts found off North Gate Boulevard.
Ultimately that’s what these smoothie and juice places give us. The more substantive option we can feel good about. And that’s what new beginnings in the new year are all about. I’m obviously employing Vitality Bowls as a framework here, relative to the timing of this review. But here’s to a sweet, healthier and happier 2021 ahead. Let’s hope it doesn’t all go bananas.
By QSR, Industry News – Vitality Bowls is inspiring others to set their goals and intentions for 2021 with an interactive social media contest to kick off the new year.
From January 1 to January 31, Vitality Bowls fans and social media users everywhere can participate in the #VBIntentions contest. To enter, new customers should sign up for the Vitality Bowls Loyalty Program through the brand’s mobile app, available on Apple and Google devices. Participants and existing Loyalty Members are also encouraged to enter by sharing their intentions and wellness goals for 2021 on social media using the hashtag #VBIntentions.
At the end of the month, four winners will be chosen from the entries on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the Loyalty Member program. Winners will have the opportunity to receive prizes of free açaí bowls for a year and a limited-edition Vitality Bowls branded intention journal to help them record and achieve the goals they set for themselves in the new year.
“Since our inception, Vitality Bowls has become a true partner for those in the health and wellness community, and for those working towards nutrition and fitness goals,” says Tara Gilad, president and co-founder of Vitality Bowls. “As we look ahead to the new year, now is the perfect time to set goals and intentions for ourselves and visualize the milestones we want to achieve in 2021, no matter how ambitious. The #VBIntentions contest will be a great way to inspire others to do the same.”
Over the last decade, Vitality Bowls has solidified its status as a pioneer in the health food industry, tracing back to its roots in Northern California. The dynamic cafés feature a unique collection of superfood menu items containing extraordinary ingredients packed with antioxidants and high nutritional values.
Vitality Bowls offers made to order health-food favorites for every meal of the day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus, all açaí bowls and smoothies are prepared without any ingredient fillers like ice, frozen yogurt, or artificial preservatives, providing guilt-free satisfaction for your mind and appetite.
The menu features the widest variety of unique superfoods, including graviola, organic mangosteen, organic camu camu, organic spirulina, organic aronia, organic moringa, organic maca, bee pollen and more. Guests can choose from a variety of delectable options, such as the Green Bowl (with graviola, organic spirulina and organic hemp seeds), the Dragon Bowl (featuring pitaya, coconut milk and bananas) and their signature Vitality Bowl (with organic açaí, strawberries and honey). Plus, fresh juices, smoothies, soups, panini and salads are available in each café.
Miami’s Community Newspapers – Vitality Bowls, which specializes in açaí bowls – a thick blend of the Amazon’s antioxidant-rich açaí berry, topped with a variety of superfoods – opened its doors on December 4th. The new location will be the first for owners Braulio Zanotti and Claudia Ferreyra, who plan to open additional locations in the area to bring health-focused food to South Florida.
“We are incredibly excited to open Aventura’s first Vitality Bowls and make it a place that the entire community can be proud of,” said Zanotti, an experienced franchise professional and restaurant owner with locations in South America. “I can’t wait to share my passion and enthusiasm for food and nutrition with the local residents. There’s truly something on the Vitality Bowls menu for everyone.” Among so many options, they chose to establish their business and live with their family in Aventura.
The new café is conveniently located at 18800 NE 29th Avenue, Suite 9, and will be the 5th Vitality Bowls café in the state. By joining nearly 140 locations open or in development nationwide, Vitality Bowls hopes to win the hearts and taste buds of those looking for delicious and healthy food options.
Customers will be able to get the Vitality Bowls experience while maintaining social distancing and safety practices through takeout, curbside pickup, third-party delivery and outdoor dining.
Over the last decade, Northern California-based Vitality Bowls has become a bonafide leader in the health food industry. The sophisticated, dynamic cafés play perfectly into the unique collection of superfood menu items, all containing extraordinary ingredients packed with antioxidants and high nutritional values.
“We look forward to seeing Braulio and Claudia grow their business in Aventura and share the Vitality Bowls message,” said Tara Gilad, founder and owner of Vitality Bowls. “As health and safety remain a top priority, community members will be able to enjoy a nutritious meal that they can feel good about, while also supporting a local business.”
Vitality Bowls offers made-to-order healthy favorites for every meal of the day. Plus, all açaí bowls and smoothies are prepared without any ingredient fillers like ice, frozen yogurt, or artificial preservatives, giving the purest taste possible.
The menu features the widest variety of unique superfoods, including graviola, acerola, organic mangosteen, organic camu camu, organic spirulina, organic aronia, organic moringa, organic maca, bee pollen and more.
Guests can choose from a variety of delectable options, such as the Green Bowl (with graviola, organic spirulina and organic hemp seeds), the Dragon Bowl (featuring pitaya, coconut milk and bananas) and their signature Vitality Bowl (with organic açaí, strawberries and honey). Plus, fresh juices, smoothies, soups, panini and salads are available in each café.
About Vitality Bowls Roy and Tara Gilad founded Vitality Bowls in 2011 in San Ramon, California. The duo started the superfood café concept as a result of discovering their daughter’s severe food allergies and wanting to find safe, healthy food alternatives. Since franchising began in 2014, the brand has grown to more than 135 cafés open and in development. In 2018, Vitality Bowls was named to Franchise Times 200+ list, Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 list and Restaurant Business’s Future 50 list. In 2019, Vitality Bowls was ranked #15 and #62 on Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchise in Miscellaneous Quick-Service Restaurants and Top New Franchises lists, respectively. The brand also received the Best Franchise to Buy — New Ethnic Eats Category 2019 Zor Award and was listed in the Top 200+ List for franchises based on global systemwide sales by Franchise Times.
Riverside County News Source Murrieta, Calif. – Vitality Bowls, which offers açaí bowls, smoothies, fresh juice, and panini, has signed a lease with local entrepreneurs, Michael, Stephanie, and Daniel Struckhoff, to open the renowned superfood café in Murrieta. With plans for a Spring 2021 opening at 29910 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, in the Vons center, the Struckhoffs are already planning on opening additional locations in the area.
The health-focused fast-casual restaurant – which features a unique collection of superfood menu items containing extraordinary ingredients packed with antioxidants and high nutritional values – will grant local residents, professionals and visitors access to an assortment of nutrient-dense foods not found else.
Roy and Tara Gilad founded Vitality Bowls in 2011 in Northern California. The duo started the superfood café concept as a result of discovering their daughter’s severe food allergies and over the last decade, the brand has solidified its status as a pioneer in the health food industry.
Named in Franchise Times 200+ list and Inc. Magazine’s 500/5000 list and Restaurant Business’s Future 50 list in 2018, and ranked #15 and #62 on Entrepreneur’s Top Food Franchise in Miscellaneous Quick-Service Restaurants and Top New Franchises lists in 2019, Vitality Bowls also received the Best Franchise to Buy — New Ethnic Eats Category 2019 Zor Award and was listed in the Top 200+ List for franchises based on global systemwide sales by Franchise Times.
Vitality Bowls’ dynamic cafés offer açaí bowls, smoothies, fresh juice, panini and a unique collection of superfood menu items containing extraordinary ingredients packed with antioxidants and high nutritional values. Vitality Bowls images
Since franchising began in 2014, the cafés – which feature safe, healthy food alternatives – have grown to more than 135 locations open, with others currently in planning and development.
“We are incredibly excited to open our doors to the community and deliver nutritious food with a family-oriented touch,” said Michael, a seasoned business owner of 18 years. “We are eager to share the health and wellness experience that Vitality Bowls embodies with everyone in Murrieta.”
With a menu that features the widest variety of unique superfoods, including organic mangosteen, organic camu camu, organic spirulina, organic aronia, organic moringa, organic maca, bee pollen and more, Vitality Bowls offers made to order health-food favorites for every meal of the day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus, all açaí bowls and smoothies are prepared without any ingredient fillers like ice, frozen yogurt, or artificial preservatives, providing guilt-free satisfaction for your mind and appetite.
Guests can choose from a variety of delectable options, such as the Green Bowl (with organic spirulina and organic hemp seeds), the Dragon Bowl (featuring pitaya, coconut milk and bananas) and their signature Vitality Bowl (with organic açaí, strawberries and honey). Plus, fresh juices, smoothies, soups, panini and salads are available in each café.
“Michael, Stephanie and Daniel are the right people to grow the brand in Murrieta,” said Tara Gilad, co-founder of Vitality Bowls. “They truly represent our values here at Vitality Bowls and share the mission of bringing delicious and healthy food options to the community.”
With almost 100 units and franchisees to care for, Gilad and his wife Tara had to work quickly
From Nation’s Restaurant News – Vitality Bowls, the San Ramon, Calif.-based health-focused acai bowl restaurant, has reached almost 100 units since its 2011 founding by husband/wife team Roy and Tara Gilad, and its 2014 leap into franchising. Inspired by their own daughter’s dietary restrictions, the Gilads founded Vitality Bowls to meet customers’ needs, and that didn’t change during COVID.
Read CEO Roy Gilad’s story about surviving the pandemic:
“It is safe to say that the past year has been a whirlwind for all of us, and over the last nine months of the pandemic, we have faced a great deal of doubt, uncertainty and disbelief.
As restaurant-industry professionals, we have learned to cope, adapt and redirect our efforts toward solutions that keep our businesses going, and through it all, we have learned that goodwill can bring people together to generate hope for the future in times of need.
At Vitality Bowls, we pivoted as soon as the pandemic hit to implement methods of engaging customers and helping our franchise owners make an impact in their communities.
Our franchisees began making frequent food donations to hospitals, emergency centers and city organizations, providing them with healthy meals to keep them energized throughout the day as they fought on the frontlines. The initiative was so well received that one of our locations quickly reached a milestone of donating over 250 smoothies and 50 bagged meals to area hospitals.
Through the donations, local residents and other frontline workers realized that Vitality Bowls is more than just a neighborhood café – we are a trusted partner of the community. Our franchisees provided local residents with a pathway to show their support, too, which resulted in a number of donation-match programs hosted by Vitality Bowls locations across the region.
As we face the new normal, there are practices our industry has adopted to weather the pandemic that we envision as long-term. We may not know what the future holds as we continue to navigate and cope, but we are certain that together, we can generate hope and make great things happen. Giving back to your community in times of need and providing outlets for others to make a difference are just a few of the silver linings that we can expect to remain present, no matter the difficulty of the situation or uncertainty of the future.”
From @eatdrinkstl – “Took the girls to try @vitalitybowlsstl and everyone LOVED it! We had the Roasted Turkey Panini, Veggie Panini, Avocado Toast, Kid’s Bowl, and smoothies, but the favorite was Definitely the Superfood Bowl! Here is what it’s made of…
I was seriously impressed with how long the Acai managed to stay frozen even though we were taking photos for a bit, and the girls eat super slow LOL.
Their location in Richmond Heights was spotless, and Jared and his staff were super friendly! They did a great job getting everything out quickly even though there was a pretty decent line. they even have a little patio out front if you want to enjoy your food in the sun. Highly recommend!”
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