"It kind of all began when I was asked to co-open Café Benowa in the Gold Coast, where I completed the layout of the kitchen, a whole new healthier menu, and was head chef," said the Waikanae local, who has cooked for the likes of The Wiggles, musicians Silver Chair, Pink, and the Veronicas, actor Cooper Gooding Junior, and famous sportspeople.
"Gold Coast is full of gym junkies and health nuts who want protein-rich foods on the go, which fuel the body but are also flavoursome.
"Since I'm diabetic, I needed to do it for myself too, so after starting with the introduction of my raw protein balls, the concept of Enerjy emerged."
Mr Adam's flair for flavour and understanding of market trends resulted in the opening of a second café just three months later, seeing him run both divisions as executive chef.
Despite wanting to stretch the boundaries of contemporary café dining, which included incorporating a diverse range of fresh, raw and healthy products, both sweet and savoury, Mr Adam found himself battling owners "still stuck in the time of toasted sandwiches and deep fried foods".
Headhunted and offered a new opportunity to co-open the Grocer and Grind in Broad Beach, Gold Coast, Mr Adam once again designed the menu and worked as head chef, with the 26-year-old's unique creations fueling the success of the area's first-ever raw kitchen.
Six months after opening, his menu won best breakfast on the Gold Coast for 2014 and, satisfied with his overseas feat, he turned his sights to returning home to New Zealand.
"My goal was to gain experience and bring it back, and I did tons and tons of research including travelling around Sydney and Melbourne visiting cafes," said Mr Adam, who received his first chefing award at age 15 at the Wellington Food Show, and was head chef at Paraparaumu Beach's Sopranos Restaurant at 20.
"New Zealand is behind in this kind of scene and I've been told there's a huge demand for it, so I've come back to start the business in my home town."
Working towards finding the tools to open his small business, the young entrepreneur is the brains behind Enerjy-inspired café concept, Inside Out.
"Inside Out is about people walking through the doors and it's like they're dining outside, with hanging baskets, plants and vertical walls of gardens.
"At the same time it's about changing their bodies from the inside out."
Mr Adam said now is "about finding the right place to do it here, securing the financials, and finding the right staff with the right attitude".
"I'm proud of what I've achieved so far, and pumped for what's to come.
"This kind of healthy outlook will really benefit the Kapiti Coast."
Email enerjysuperfoods@gmail.com.
VIBRANT: "Look out Kapiti, here comes the acai bowl," said Jordan Adam, who is bringing the vibrant purple superfood to New Zealand.
The frozen product "huge in Australia" is "a Brazilian super berry mixed with fresh fruit, freshly squeezed apple juice and coconut water, and topped with fresh fruit, edible flowers, a mix of fresh seeds and granola biscuit".
