Acai bowls come to East Meadow with SoBol

What began as a surfer’s favorite snack became a health food craze that has been sweeping Long Island. Now, acai bowls are available at SoBol’s newest location in East Meadow, which celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 20.

Sayville native Jason Mazzarone tried his first acai bowl while attending culinary school in San Diego, Calif. On returning to his hometown in 2014, he began selling the treats at his family’s Italian ice business papa Mia’s Ice House. The bowls were a success and Mazzarone decided to open his own business.

Patricia Duffe shares a similar story. When her son Sean, 18, brought one home for her, she loved it and soon hatched the idea to invest in the healthy food. She brought the idea to her longtime friend Joe Thompson. He has worked in advertising for 30 years and said that the idea was new to him, but he soon fell in love with it. For the past four months the franchisees have been working to open their own storefront.

“This seemed good for us,” Duffe said. “Acai bowls were right up my alley.”

The meal starts with SoBol’s original granola blend, which is topped with the main ingredient: a puree of antioxidant-rich acai berries blended with strawberries, banana and soy. More granola tops this along with a choice of toppings that include fresh fruit, nuts, saved coconut and honey.

SoBol also sells pitaya bowls, which use a base of puréed pitaya or dragon fruit, and fruit smoothies.