Isha and Shawn Bell, the husband-and-wife team behind Da Loaded Mac in Fayetteville, are bringing a healthy delicious twist to Peachtree City: the Jungle Byrd Eatery. Opened in December 2024, the café offers chef-curated, house-made smoothies, paninis, wraps, and more.
It all began as an idea typed into Isha’s notes app years ago. The culinary duo noticed a void in the market, “We really enjoy eating healthy fresh forward food,” and “[w]anted to be able to provide something different to the Peachtree City Community.”
“Everything is made in-house,” said Isha, co-owner and chef. “Nothing comes pre-made here.” That includes soups, blended salad dressings, smoothies, and yogurt bowls with real fruit, no pre-made purees. All deli meats are nitrate and preservative-free, and customers can request no added sugar in their smoothies.
Isha’s favorite menu item? “Hands down… the smokey kale wrap and the Italiano,” she said, with the latter including ham, pepperoni, salami, smoked provolone, and Italian dressing on sourdough.
Originally from North Carolina, Isha and Shawn moved to Georgia during the 2011 recession in search of new opportunities. Isha, a white-collar-marketer-turned-chef who competed on the Food Network; and Shawn, a chef with a culinary degree who has held multiple executive chef titles. After Isha’s competing on America’s Best Cook, she said, “My husband was very adamant that…we’re gonna ride this fifteen minutes of fame.”
That fifteen minutes led Isha to write Nikki Can Cook, teach cooking classes, and work with brands like Amazon and Essence.
The love for cooking came from Isha’s grandmother, “It’s something that is ingrained in me. If ever a day came that I could not cook, I think you guys could just put me in the crate.”
To her husband and business partner, she stated how incredibly appreciative she is of Shawn, who pushed it “off my phone and brought this into fruition.” And to Peachtree City she added, “The community has been so loving and kind towards us, and spreading the word…without them we wouldn’t even be able to be here.”
“If you’re looking to try something that you probably have never had anywhere else, that’s gonna be fresh and healthy, but still so delicious…definitely come and check us out. Your taste buds will thank you.”
Open Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and located at the intersection of Highway 74 and Highway 54 and near Onelife. It was previously home to Rooted Cafe at 1325 Commerce Drive Suite 100, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269.
