20 Sept 12th-Sept 18th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Functional Fungi Simply Shroom Cafe opens in Scottsdale. BY PRESLIE HIRSCH W hen Crystal Carroll and Sharmi Kneller became friends through their cardiol- ogist husbands, they had a lot in common. Each has a few successful business ventures under their belt, a shared love for Phoenix-area living and aspirations to build the next big thing. What could that be? The duo decided on a functional mushroom cafe in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. “My late husband, unfortunately, passed away with cancer,” Kneller says. “But during his struggles, we turned over to a new lifestyle and started using mush- rooms. I found a big difference in my life when I started taking one for energy and one for brain health and one for my immune system. I wasn’t getting colds anymore or getting sick at all. And I was feeling younger and happier. And I was like, ‘wow, these are amazing.’” With her background in business, which includes being a “Shark Tank” Season 9 contestant for her business SmartGurlz, prior pharmaceuticals experi- ence and self-run trials, Kneller knew she needed to capitalize on her newfound belief in mushrooms, and came across the perfect business partner who shares her affinity for functional fungi. “I met Crystal, and she’s from the restaurant business, and she was like, ‘How about a mushroom cafe?’ I was like, ‘great idea,’” she recalls. Carroll is a commercial property manager maven, the former owner of AccuSearch, a background check company in the Southwest, and has 20 years of quick-service restaurant experience on her resume. “The drink industry…it’s a billion-dollar industry. It’s for men, by men, and we (women) are almost 70% of the consumer,” Carroll explains. “We thought, let’s come up with something that’s by women, for women and it’s healthy. You get a little bit of yummy, a little bit of health.” And sure enough, that mission is displayed in every corner of Simply Shroom Cafe, which opened its doors in early August. From the wall tiles in the bathroom to the tabletop signs and the paper tray covers your food is served on, there are reminders of the benefits of each of the mushroom types all over the shop. Upon entering, you’re greeted by pink accents, cheeky signs (like M.I.LF. Man, I Love Fungi), mushroom-shaped table lights and your friendly neighborhood “shrooministas” — a barista with excep- tional knowledge on the various health benefits associated with mushrooms. Functional mushrooms are entirely different from psychoactive ones, and patrons won’t feel any different by consuming food, beverages or supplements prepared at the cafe. The advertised benefits compound over time and work in your body more similarly to a vitamin. All of the drinks on the menu and some of the food items contain a proprietary, tasteless 4-M mushroom extract, which combines four mushrooms: Reishi, Shiitake, Antrodia and Oyster. Reishi is known for providing stress and immune support while improving feel- ings of fatigue. Shiitake is said to help lower cholesterol, boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Antrodia, used in both traditional Salads and wraps join coffee, smoothies, boba drinks and more on the menu at Simply Shroom Cafe. (Photo by Preslie Hirsch) >> p 22 ▼ Food & Drink
