By Stephanie Rubio
Staff Writer
Acai bowls are taking social media by storm as they are seen trending all over instagram’s explore page. Everyone is trying to get one of these new popular treats as they are a healthy alternative to a typical desert. Roots & Rye a small shop located in Old Town Pasadena opened only a couple of weeks ago and offers acai bowls, toast, coco shakes, coco freezes and smoothies. After a long day at school, my sister and I decided to take a trip to Roots and Rye to see if all the hype was true.
We arrived in Old Town Pasadena around 5 p.m., public parking in the area is free for the first 90 minutes and is within walking distance. The shop was generally small but had a modern aesthetic filled with cute wall decorations and places to take pictures.
The worker was very sweet and very understanding, she gave samples and was willing to explain the entire process to us given we had never had acai bowls before. All the topping are spread out behind a glass so customers can choose what they would like to add to their bowl given that they offer unlimited free toppings including; fruit, granola, coconut, butter, and various syrups.
I ordered a 12 oz acai bowl with strawberries, blueberries, banana, cranberries, granola, coconut and nut butter. To my surprise everything is done in front of you and all fruits and toppings are fresh. The banana and strawberries that I ordered were cut in front of me and hand added to my bowl.
On the other hand my sister decided to order a Coco Shake made of almond milk, mocha maca chips, strawberries, blueberries, honey almond granola, and pumpkin seeds. The coco shakes are all $8 but can be personalized to every customers liking.
The acai bowl was so pretty to look at it was hard to come to eat it. But as I began it was hard to stop, the mx of fruit with the cold acai melted in my mouth. The granola also added texture to the bowl and a sweet crunch.
The coco shake, was thick and very smoothly like but overall tasted amazing, All of the topping in the drinks could be tasted but it was not overwhelming. At the top of the drink the pumpkin seeds and granola were sprinkled on top to make the drink look more appealing.
The acai bowls range from $7 to $13, with 12oz being $7, 16oz being $9, and 24oz being $13. Smoothies and coco shakes are $8 while toast is only $5 and coco freeze is $5 for the regular size and $7 for the large.
Overall both the acai bowl and coco shake make for a great snack after a workout or desert after a meal. With great customer service and a delicious cold treat, Root & Rye is definitely here to stay. Root and Rye is located at 36 W Colorado Blvd #7, Pasadena, CA 91105
