KAUAI: the perfect place for eating

KAUAI is all about healthy eating, and serving customers hearty meals that compliment their goal of staying healthy. Officially opened in January this year, this new joint in town is the perfect place for those who are all about healthy eating. 

The new baby in town is the first in the country, and is termed as a store in motion. It is partnership between the local franchise owners, and Virgin Active Gym. Located at the Virgin Active gym at Airport Junction, the atmosphere at this eatery beckons to those who are very careful about what they take. 

BG Style paid a courtesy call to the joint on Wednesday morning, and the team was blown away by the serene atmosphere and how staff members here are welcoming and serve with a smile. The fact that owners of this franchise - Tswelelo and Mavis Peloewetse Mere - are passionate about their business and so hands-on is a bonus. They swear that they have the best coffee blend in town. Try to convince Mere (husband) that there are others in town who also swear by their blends, and he will win over you, and stands by his word. 

So convincing, is he that he is prepared to put his head on the chopping block. He convinces this reporter to try their Cappuccino, which he says is so special that you do not need to take it with any sugar. And he is right. The Cappuccino made from a blend of Ugandan beans, mixed with South and Central American beans is one in a million. If you have tasted Cappuccinos in town, this one is totally different, and hits the right spots for those who are passionate about the hot blend. You take a sip, and you wonder if you will ever enjoy another Cappuccino in town. On the menu, customers are treated to an array of mouth-watering delights that are prepared right in front of their eyes, and no oil is used. The menu comprises of all day breakfast (options include Egg Hot Pot which is a free range poached egg, sautéed mushrooms, rosa tomatoes, kale, pesto, feta, and parmesan) for a small fee of P29. Other options on the menu for breakfast include Banana Almond Butter Toast, Smashed Avo Toast, Poached/Scrambled Eggs and Toast and many more. 

Wraps are also available, and they include Harvest, Tropical chicken, Spicy Burrito, Princess, ad Thai Crunch. Also on the menu, one finds options such as the Sandwiches in different flavous, Salads, Raw Juices and shots, Hot drinks, Smoothies that include the Peanut Butter bliss which we learn is a hit, Protein Smoothies, and Superfood smoothies. Besides the Cappuccino, BG Style team also sampled one of their wraps, a Tuna Protein wrap (made with tuna, free range boiled egg, green beans, carrot, rosa tomotoes, coriander, greens, celery and onion mayo, and lemon Caesar dressing), which is very scrumptious, and fills one quickly. The good thing about this wrap is the fact that is the explosion that it leaves in your mouth. 

The celery, comes through and even for those who are not fond of celery like this reporter, it is not so bad. Other ingredients dance in your mouth, and leave one looking forward to the next bite. BG Style also sampled the Thai Crunch Salad, made with free range chicken, cashews, broccoli, carrot, red pepper, cabbage, mint, sesame, pickled ginger, greens and thai peanut dressing, and after one mouthful, one can see why this is one of the favourites. Mere explains that Kauai is franchise from South Africa, and has over 150 stores, including one in Namibia. 

He says that the dream to own this concept came up after the opportunity arose for a franchise opportunity. So what is it about this place that makes it stand out on its own. Mere points out that they do not use any oil when they prepare their food, and that this compliments the diet for those who are working out. “Our slogan is Made Naturally, serve with a smile,” he explains. He also says that their menu has a lot of greens such as baby spinach, kale, and rocket herbs. 

“Our food is prepared right in front of our customers so that they can appreciate how the food is made,” he says. They recently launched their new menu, which is ideal for the winter season and that it is the rave among customers. The menu changes with seasons. 

“What also makes us popular with our customers is our smoothies. When they are done working out in the gym, they can have a smoothie, and one of the popular ones is the Peanut Butter Bomb,” says Mere, adding that the Citrus is another hit. 

Mere is a lawyer by training and has over 17 years in the industry. He says that the opportunity to open Kauai has seen him getting to interact with a lot of people from all walks of life, some of who just pop in as they also want to capture this moment in photos.