Bianca Crouse has been hunting for açaí bowls on every vacation for years. Now she’s bringing them home.
Crouse and her husband Matt are launching Açaí with Me, a mobile açaí bowl truck based in Galesburg. Their debut event is Sunday, June 7, at the Rail Town Rumble car show at Lincoln Park.
Bianca answered questions from WGIL about the new business.
What is an açaí bowl?
Açaí bowls have a smoothie-like base filled with antioxidants, topped with fruits, granola, and customizable toppings. Bianca describes them as refreshing, filling, and a healthier alternative to other options.
“Every time we would be on vacation I would be on the lookout for them because they are refreshing, filling, delicious, and just make you feel good,” she said.
Her business idea came directly from the lack of local access. “My business idea came from not having access to them locally and loving them so much that I needed to share that with people in the community.”
The menu
Açaí with Me will offer five to six signature bowls, loaded toast, and smoothies. Prices range from $5 to $15.
“Many of the bowl ingredients are premium but I am also trying to keep items reasonable,” Bianca said. “Any açaí location has similar or more expensive prices.”
The menu includes bowls like the Honey Bunches — açaí base with granola, blueberries, strawberries, coconut flakes, and honey — the Power Bowl with Nutella, goji berries, granola, blueberries, chia seeds, and banana, and the Nutty by Nature bowl with açaí base, blueberries, strawberries, granola, bananas, and peanut butter.
Bianca’s personal favorite is the Berry Sweet — açaí base with strawberries, banana, blueberries, Nutella, granola, and cacao nibs.
The truck
Bianca’s original vision was a small push cart at the farmers market. Her husband Matt had bigger ideas.
“When I told my husband the idea it turned into something much more than I expected,” she said. “I wanted to be able to make it accessible to people and meet them where they are.”
As a local mobile business, Açaí with Me can adapt to customer feedback in ways a national chain cannot.
“Our goal is to deliver a better tasting bowl with friendly service that customers can’t always get from a large national chain,” Bianca said.
Where to find them
The debut is Sunday, June 7, at the Rail Town Rumble car show at Lincoln Park in Galesburg. Açaí with Me will also be at the Judy’s Pancakes 5K & Fun Run Family Day on June 13 at 2323 Windish Drive.
Bianca says to expect the truck at events, regular locations, and private bookings — including weddings.
Follow Açaí with Me on Facebook or call (309) 351-6380 or (309) 368-9029 to inquire about bookings.
