You might not expect me to write about a smoothie and açaí bowl shop, but Purple Banana is somewhere I go at least a few times a month.
Why I’m always there
I travel New York and eat at new restaurants every week for a living, so keeping my weight in check takes some effort. I see a personal trainer twice a week. When I’m filming, I only take a bite or two of each dish. And when I’m not filming, I focus on protein and go easy on starches and carbs.
That’s where Purple Banana comes in. I usually grab one of their high-protein shakes and add an extra scoop of protein to hit my daily goal.
Why fall flavors, and why here
When it comes to fall, I’m about as basic as they come. Give me a scarf, a lake, changing leaves, a bowl of French onion soup and a Sam Adams, and I’m the happiest man alive. Give me a soft blanket, a rom-com and the windows open to that crisp fall air, and you’ll have me forever.
This year, though, I decided to skip the usual apple orchards and pumpkin patches. When I think about who could use help getting customers in the door, the farms with thousands of people already lining up don’t need me much. So when my favorite smoothie shop released its own take on fall, I had to go.
What I tried
The Fall Apple Harvest Toast is a thick slice of multigrain toast with peanut butter, sliced apple and a drizzle of honey.
The Pumpkin Pie Smoothie tastes like a literal slice of pumpkin pie, and it’s a protein smoothie. For me, that’s the best of both worlds this time of year. It’s honestly kind of crazy.
Go
Purple Banana was the first açaí bowl shop in Syracuse, and it sits on the SU Hill at the start of Marshall Street. They work with Syracuse University students and regularly donate to organizations around town. If you haven’t been, now’s a great time.
