When I first heard about Bowland in Maple Ridge, I was confused as to what it was all about. Maybe I was having a dense moment, but if I had read it carefully, I would've figured it was Bowl + Land. It hit me as I was walking up to the place, it serves Mexican-style bowls (with some Indian influences) and other related dishes. As such, I knew this would possibly be healthier, especially paired with a smoothie. Good thing too as eating out so much is usually quite heavy.

For their bowls, you get order a signature bowl or Build-Your-Own. We did the latter with 3 creations starting with a choice between white or brown rice. Then there are 7 choices for topping including meats, veggies and tofu. We opted for Chicken, Steak and Butter Chicken. There are choices for sauce ranging from mild-to-spicy. I went for spicy in the chipotle. Then you can top it off with a variety of items including cheese, fried chickpeas, corn and greens. My favourite meat was the butter chicken since it had the most impact by itself. Mind you, the other proteins were fine too but you needed a bit of sauce to kick up the spice level. These were filling and enough for one person.
For those who don't want to take on a large bowl, but wanted the same components except for the rice, you can opt for either their Hard or Soft Shell Tacos. You can chose between the 7 proteins including lamb, steak, chicken, butter chicken, falafel, tofu or veggies (not a protein but still a choice). We opted for the Steak and Chicken for the tacos which was a good match as the meat was robust and impactful. I personally love soft tacos more since it is easier to eat and doesn't shatter and fall apart. However, I can see the draw of the hard tacos as it provides a textural contrast.
For those really on the go and do not have time for a bowl or tacos, the best option is the Burrito. We chose the lamb as the protein in this case, hence due to its texture and flavour, it came through even with all of the other components. It was good once again due to the fresh ingredients. Something that was unexpectedly delicious was the Nachos. The fact that they baked with cheese meant the chips became smoky and nutty. Add in the melted cheese and everything else on top including chipotle and it was addictive.
To wash all of your food down, there is a selection of healthy Smoothies including Green (kale, spinach, mango, banana, pineapple juice & frozen yogurt), Mango Delicious (pineapple juice, mango & frozen yogurt), Banana Berry Blast (strawberries, banana, pineapple juice & frozen yogurt) and Chocolate Whey (almond milk, peanut butter, banana, chocolate vegan protein powder and frozen yogurt). As you can see, the components are few and straight up simple. Therefore, each smoothie tasted natural and lightly sweet. I enjoyed the Mango Delicious the most as it was tropical tasting with tang and sweetness. If you wanted something a bit more nutritious, I can see the Green doing the trick while still tasting fruity. Banana Berry Blast was a bit more mild-tasting compared to the others and thicker. However, the thickest was the Chocolate Whey and it was also the heaviest due to the components. This was more like a protein shake and great for those who want to drink a meal. Overall, the food at Bowland isn't complex nor fancy. However, the food is inexpensive, fresh and relatively healthy. A good alternative to hitting up a fast food joint.
*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*
The Good:- Fresh and tasty
- Inexpensive
- Relatively healthy
The Bad:
- Ingredients are repetitive for various items, but they do eat very differently
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