Fresh and Fruity

ENTERTAINMENT KRISTEN CASTILLO • COLLEGE TIMES Vinny Pante took the best of his culinary arts experience and blended it with his business acumen to open Acai Waffl e in Downtown Tempe. Pante’s father, ACAI WAFFLE OFFERS UNIQUE TREATS TO DOWNTOWN TEMPE waffl es on the menu instead of just having generic acai bowls,” Pante says. “You can actually come and have breakfast with us and have waffl es.” To begin customizing a buildyour-own bowl, customers may choose a small for $8 or a large for $11, and then a base of acai, pitaya, Jimmy, suggested the coconut and matcha. Then, the acai theme based on frozen puree is topped with one or his background as a more of their granola — original, personal trainer. After hemp or pumpkin fl ax. Afterward, learning more about the benefi ts of vanilla, matcha or chocolate chia the acai berry on cholesterol and pudding that sits underneath brain function, the duo opened the unlimited toppings like coconut shop. fl akes, goji berries, pumpkin seeds,

“Everybody brings a little bit of nut butter and fresh fruit. Acai is everything to the table,” says Pante, delivered weekly from California whose family owns Amici Pizza in and all fruit is organically sourced Mesa. from an Arizona farmers market.

“(My father) has been in the To adhere to social distancing industry for over 20 years. So, guidelines, Acai Waffl e only allows he knows the hospitality side. He outdoor seating and enforces a knows the ins and outs of the little 6-feet distance between customers. business tricks you can do. I grew up in the kitchen and I went to culinary school so I can bring a little fl air and bring everything up to date.”

Located on the corner of Mill Avenue and Fifth Street, Acai Waffl e is a healthy eating alternative that’s close to ASU.

“When my father told me about the benefi ts, I was like, ‘Yup. We can get behind this,’” Pante says. “I eat it. He works out every day. He trains people every day and his customers love it, too. It was just a no brainer for us to give it a shot.”

The shop specializes in customizable acai bowls, waffl es and smoothies. Customers have the option of adding a warm waffl e, cone or bowl as the foundation for the frozen puree. The Sun Devil and The Mill Avenue are two of the signature bowls.

“We know it’s the college crowd so that’s why we actually threw Additionally, the restaurant offers delivery through GrubHub so customers can order the bowls, smoothies and waffl es from their homes.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Pante says the business is dedicated to delivering fresh products to its customers.

“We’re a family that has a passion for fi tness and staying healthy,” Pante says. “We’ve been in the industry, so we bring knowledge and we love the concept. We love acai and we love everything about it.” CT

Acai Waffl e

425 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 108, Tempe 480.219.9465 acaiwaffl etempe.com