Husband-and-wife team Muhammed and Nisreen El-Hasan, who live in Redondo Beach, recently opened Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe, an independent Brazilian cafe in Redondo Beach.
Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe offers more açaí bowl blends than any other restaurant in California.
The El-Hasans have 17 different açaí bowl blends and more to come as they continue to experiment with various food combinations. They also offer smoothies.
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The most popular açaí bowl flavor is Tropical, which contains a blend of organic açaí with mango and pineapple chunks, banana slices and pure apple juice.
No ice, no filler, no weird powders.
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As Muhammed and Nisreen have developed their proprietary recipes, there were many successes and a few failures. One of the fails? Jalapeno bowl. They still joke about that one.
The most traditionally Brazilian blend is the Guarana açaí bowl. The recipe uses extract from guarana, a fruit native to the Amazon and used in energy drinks. The El-Hasans' Brazilian customers most often order this bowl. Other blends contain spinach and celery, ginger, mint leaves, whey protein, organic peanut butter and other healthy ingredients.
Beach Bowls Açaí Cafe tops each bowl with organic hemp granola, various fruits and a drizzle of honey. Gluten-free granola and agave are also available.
Muhammed and Nisreen opened their first location in November 2011 in Torrance, at 2370 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite F. Grand opening was Nov. 3, 2011. Twelve months later, they opened a second store, at 1622 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B, in Redondo Beach. Grand opening was Nov. 11, 2012.
The El-Hasans and their employees work very hard and put in long hours. That's where running a health food cafe has been a benefit. They regularly eat açaí bowls, which have helped keep them feeling light and energetic.
People may ask why Muhammed and Nisreen opened a second açaí cafe while the economy still struggles. The reality is that people always care about their health and eating right regardless of whether the economy is up or down. It is also good business to be part of the region's growing açaí berry market.
