Paradise Bowls provides a new, local flavor

By Quinn Kropschot
Staff Writer

Fresh and tropical smells permeate through the streets in Manhattan Beach as the Paradise Bowls’ staff blends an array of healthy fruits.

Paradise Bowls specializes in the creation of açai and pitaya fruit bowls. Both açai and pitaya are considered super-fruits, which are foods that promote weight-loss and anti-aging. The base of the yogurt-like dessert is made up of either a cold açai or pitaya purée and topped with fresh fruits,
granola and honey.

“Paradise Bowls is one of my favorite places,” junior Makenna McCarroll said. “Whenever I go there I always leave with a full stomach.”

One of the most popular items on the menu is the Gaucho Bowl. This dish is made up of an açai, strawberry and banana blend and is topped with bananas,
strawberries, blueberries and honey.

“My favorite bowl is the Manhattan Peach, which has blended açai, peanut butter and almond milk,” sophomore Gillian Searer said. “I order it every time I go there, and I never get tired of it.”

Paradise Bowls provides a new, local flavorHermosa Beach locals Justin Segal and Alex Graham opened Paradise Bowls in January of this year in downtown Manhattan Beach. Segal and Graham attended University of California, Santa Barbara where they played baseball for the school’s NCAA Division I team. Segal and Graham later moved on to play major league baseball for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres, respectively.

“Justin and I realized that we had to eat healthy so that we could be on top of our game,” Graham said.

As athletes, Segal and Graham found out about açai bowls from a Santa Barbara eatery, Backyard Bowls. They ate blended açai and pitaya fruits everyday because they are extremely rich in antioxidants.

“Backyard Bowls was quite an inspiration to us, and now we serve as an inspiration to them,” Graham said.

In the future, Graham and Segal plan to open new locations in Venice, Santa Monica and Malibu.

“The success of a company is all about location,” Graham said. “If you have a good location your products will catch on. We love our business and our location on 919 Manhattan Avenue.”