100 Favorite Dishes: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats

No. 52: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats
Few foods have attained the kind of cult worship currently reserved for acai: The Brazilian fruit has been lauded for its antioxidant properties, making its way onto lists of ingredients that supposedly cure all kinds of ills. But while we practice healthy skepticism when it comes to claims about the berry's more miraculous properties, we're still proponents of working acai into your diet — if only because it's damn delicious.

No better place in Denver to do that than at ProsperOats, a storefront at 2550 15th Street in Lower Highland turning out breakfast bowls built on grains, greens or, yes, acai. An acai bowl begins with a dense, purple pack of the frozen ground-up berry, onto which you can pile ingredients of your choice. Acai is tart, so dried fruits and nuts are always solid choices, as are coconut, granola and a touch of honey to round out this fruit's natural acidity.  

We don't trust ourselves enough to come up with a winning combo, so we make a beeline straight for the PB&B, which tops the bowl with creamy peanut butter, a sliced banana, a handful of sunflower seeds and a drizzle of agave. The agave and banana impart needed sweetness here, while peanut butter adds a nice salty note and a little creamy swirl. Against that, the best contribution of the sunflower seeds is the textured crunch. 

Whether you believe in acai's magic or not, this bowl feels like a wholesome start to a morning: It's a nice boost if you're still donning your spandex from a tough workout, and it's a delicious way to compensate for bad decisions made the night before.

Hungry for more? All of the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju's Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No. 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino's Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil' Ricci's New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery
No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
No. 72: The Tuna Poke Bowl at Ohana Island Kitchen
No. 71: Mini Chile Rellenos at La Loma
No. 70: The Combination Banh Mi at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 69: The Falafel Waffle at Moxie Eatery
No. 68: Korean Fried Duck Wings at Chow Urban Grill
No. 67:  Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola
No. 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer
No. 65: The Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado at Poppies
No. 64: Super Pass Key Special at Pass Key
No. 63: How the West Was Won at Dozens Restaurant
No. 62: Manzo With Polenta at Spuntino
No. 61: P & S Snack Mix at the Pig & the Sprout
No. 59-60: Sloppers at Gray's Coors Tavern and Diego's
No. 58: Potstickers at Zoe Ma Ma
No. 57: Griddle Cooked Bullfrog at Yum Yum Spice
No. 56: Macaroni and Cheese at Work & Class
No. 55: Lobster, Egg and Caviar Bruschetta at Bar Fausto
No. 54: Orecchiette at Coperta
No. 53: Cheese Steak at Steuben's Food Service