FROM SURFING TO “SUPERFRUIT”, SHANE SYKES’ SUPERFOOD BAR IS HITTING THE SWEET SPOT, WRITES CANDICE MEIRING-BASNETT
Pictures Dawn Rouse
You might have heard of Shane Skyes. He’s a professional surfer from Salt Rock who began surfing at the tender age of 11, and has represented South Africa internationally. Besides his impressive surfing portfolio he has recently added “restaurant owner” to his repertoire.
Earlier this year Shane unveiled his latest project – Mi Acai. Based in the heart of Salt Rock this little superfood bar means big business. The laid-back vibe is quintessential of the North Coast surf culture. The exquisite bar counter has been handcrafted by Shane’s dad, made from wooden off-cuts from his various construction sites. The unpretentious ambiance is welcoming; the menu is small but jam-packed with pure goodness, and most of the options are based around the acai berry.
But being passionate about surfing, how did Shane get from riding a board to serving acai berries?
The dream tour – as many surf fans call it – can be a daunting career choice for the professional surfers on it. Besides travelling on the unstable rand, competition results are hard to come by and sponsors aren’t as financially flush as they used to be. Shane was feeling a little uneasy about his future on the tour so wanted to set up something that could ultimately be a plan B.
On his many travels, Shane came across a company called Amazonia who served up this wholesome alternative to eggs and bacon and decided “it could be cool to bring it back to South Africa,” he says nonchalantly.
“The berries need to be picked and frozen within 24 hours otherwise they lose all their nutrients,” explains Shane. That’s where Amazonia came into play. Amazonia picks, pulps, freezes the berries and exports them to its destination. Shane knew that without them he wouldn’t be able to pull off a legitimate acai superfood bar, so in true millennial fashion he messaged the company via Instagram and within a few months the Amazonia team were on the KZN North Coast ready to seal the deal.
Originally, Shane wanted to do a food truck and pop-up at a few events to serve his healthy goodness. However, after doing some homework he figured out that a brick and mortar retail space would serve him better. His friends at Premium Shapes were looking for a showroom, and the thought of sharing space with his surfboard manufacturers was like a marriage made in heaven.
The stage was set and now Mi Acai customers can drool over and order their new boards while Shane and his team whip them up a Passion Bowl, Shane’s favourite dish: 100g pure acai, banana, mixed berries, granola, kiwi, coconut flakes and passion fruit blended with coconut water.
Mi Acai is already a huge hit with locals. While sipping on a freshly squeezed juice, looking across at tall tropical palms, watching the cars creep along the curves of Basil Hullet Drive, combined with the distantly sweet aroma of fresh fruit, this is the perfect spot to kick-start a KZN summer day. And for all the single ladies, Shane is most definitely the North Coast’s most eligible bachelor.
BERRY POWER
IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD ABOUT ACAI BERRIES, HERE ARE SOME FUN FACTS:
Acai berries are small fruits that grow on acai palm trees in the rainforests of Central and South America. Because they contain pits like apricots and olives, they’re technically not a berry, but rather a drupe. Nevertheless, they’re commonly referred to as berries.
The taste is often described as a mix between blueberries and chocolate so it’s no wonder why the Amazonian tribes have included the berry as a staple in their diet for centuries.
The native Brazilian berry has been dubbed “a superfruit” and holds many health benefits. They are loaded with anti- oxidants, are said to decrease cholesterol levels, can boost brain activity, and apparently have an anti-cancer effect. While no one food is a magic shield against cancer, some foods are known to stop cancer cells from forming and spreading. The acai berry is one of them. Additionally, there are lots of links between the berry and weight loss properties. Brazilian super model, Giselle Budchen, has often referred to the fruit as her secret weapon.