I hit the foodie streets last week to scope out a new place in Chesapeake.
Kensley’s Açaí & Café opened at the end of March in the Cahoon Commons shopping center.
Owners Kensley Melendez and his wife are from Puerto Rico and came up with the business idea last year. The Navy brought Melendez to the area two years ago and he and his wife couldn’t find some of their island favorites. So they decided to open a café.
It’s spacious with plenty of seating to get a taste of Puerto Rico. The café serves acai bowls prepared with sorbet, Puerto Rican coffee and sandwiches on house-made Puerto Rican pan sobao (bread). It also offers pastries such as muffins, cheesecakes and tres leches cake (weekends).
I tried the quesito, a Puerto Rican puff pastry filled with cream cheese. The airy, sweet treat had a smidge of cream cheese. I wanted more but I enjoyed it. I paired it with my dulce de leche latte with macadamia nut milk. Yes, I drank coffee again. The caramel flavor was good but I haven’t converted into a java junkie yet.
The Kensley Bowl took a few minutes to prepare and it arrived at my table looking mouthwatering and large enough to feed two or three people. Customers near me were gawking. The bowl was a pineapple filled with four sorbets: acai, matcha, coconut and passion fruit. It was topped with granola, different fruits and coconut and almond flakes. The sorbet profiles were spot on and provided a smooth, icy sweet sensation. It was like eating dessert for breakfast, especially with the Nutella drizzled on top. The bowl made me feel special.
This must have been what Melendez meant by “everything is made with love and good seasonings.”
I also purchased a sobao bread grilled cheese. The cheddar cheese was typical but the sweet, pillowy sobao was fantastic. Together, they made a tasty sandwich.
I see a return trip in my future.
Rekaya Gibson, 757-295-8809; rekaya.gibson@virginiamedia.com
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If you go
Where: 620 Grassfield Parkway, Chesapeake
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Prices: $12.75 to $25 acai bowls; $8 to $14.50 sandwiches; $3.50 to $7.50 coffees
Details: 757-410-2819, bit.ly/Kensleys
