Hoboken Restauranteur Beats Cancer, Opens Eatery With Siblings

HOBOKEN, NJ — Working alongside her sister, Krista, and brother, Eric, cancer survivor Kiersten Gormeley is trying to pass along some tasty and healthy life lessons via food.

The siblings’ restaurants, Shaka Bowl in Hoboken, are a living example of Kiersten’s philosophy of healthy living. They’re lessons that came hard for the Wyckoff native and current Jersey City resident, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer shortly before opening their first location on Monroe Street in 2016.

For a while, Gormeley says that she indulged in “detrimental vices,” but quickly realized that recovery would require a different lifestyle. Thus began her voyage into the world of vegetarianism, which she says played a key role in her victory over cancer.

Evidently, the journey is going well; Shaka Bowl opened another location at 110 Washington Street in 2018.

Her sister, Krista Gormeley – a Wyckoff native and Hoboken resident who serves as general manager – follows a similarly healthy lifestyle as her sister. The Ramapo College graduate served as captain of the first girls’ golf team at Ramapo High School and was a four-year recipient of the varsity golf award for Ramapo High School of New Jersey. She occupies her free time with yoga, hiking and the gym.

Much of the sisters’ inspiration for Shaka Bowl comes from a year-long trip they took to Hawaii in 2014. While living in Hilo on the big island, the siblings became enchanted by what they call “the native Hawaiian healthful style of eating,” and began picking fruit on their morning walks to use to make their meals. During this time, Kiersten, a trained culinary professional, was constantly formulating recipes in her head, and the sisters were inspired to share their new-found philosophy when they returned to “the mainland.”

These days – as it was in the beginning - transparency is essential to the siblings. Every recipe is developed by executive chef Kiersten; every menu item is house-made. Meats are locally sourced, grass-fed, preservative-free and contain no hormones. And the siblings get their seafood only from Peter’s Fish Market and Fulton Fish Market, they say.

According to the sisters, Shaka Bowl’s sprouted grain breads are organic, organic vegetables and fruits are utilized whenever possible, and the frozen fruits used in the smoothies are “all organic.” The team makes their own acai and pitaya with pure fruit and no added sugar.

As part of this philosophy, the restaurants offer foods that fit a range of dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based options. In-house preparation also ensures that there is no added sugar or soy, “a claim not everyone who offers these ingredients can make,” the siblings say.

Learn more about Shaka Bowl and see restaurant info here.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Hoboken Facebook page here. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos by Kat Papera