by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer 

Fact: spring is one of my absolute favorite times of year to nosh on Florida-grown produce. The colors are vibrant. The textures are crisp. The flavors are bold. The nutrients are rich.  

The first memorable bite of these seasonal ingredients is a sensory experience I look forward to just as soon as March rounds the corner—and I cannot think of a more delicious local restaurant to satisfy those cravings than at Café Evergreen.  

In my humble opinion, not much in life can rival a meal which tastes so indulgent, it’s hard to believe that it also packs a nutritional punch. But this is what Café Evergreen consistently delivers. You don’t have to take my word alone for it, though.  

In this month’s edition of the Community Spotlight, Ted Weinberger, who co-owns the café along with his wife and business partner Annette, was kind enough to share what makes this Southwest Florida mainstay so unique and special.  

From the peak-of-freshness menu items to the creative use of ingredient combinations, healthy eating has never been simpler or more enjoyable, thanks to Café Evergreen. But I’ll turn it over to Weinberger now—he will have your taste buds salivating for sure!    

Natural Awakenings: Can you describe what sets Café Evergreen apart from other health-conscious restaurants in the Southwest Florida area? 

Ted Weinberger: Café Evergreen is unique in that we are a taste-driven restaurant. Anyone can make healthy food, but it can be a challenge to also make that food appealing. We never sacrifice the flavor depth or nutritional value.  

NA: Are there any new seasonal items on the menu for this spring that you are particularly excited about sharing with the community?  

Weinberger: One benefit to being located here in Florida is the abundance of amazing crops we’re able to experience in these cooler months. We also partner with hydroponic farmers who can grow local, organic, heirloom crops for us all year-round, so expect to see a variety of fresh microgreens, pea sprouts, lettuces and kales on our menu.  

NA: How do you choose and source all the ingredients you use, and what are some of your personal favorite ingredients to work with? 

Weinberger: Sourcing local ingredients is extremely important to the café. In order to serve the best possible food, it must be of the freshest quality. Working with local farmers ensures that we can offer more nutritious food items than many other establishments. As soon as you cut into a vegetable, it starts to lose nutritional value, but we receive our hydroponic produce within just a few hours of being cut—not weeks, as with the produce at most restaurants.  

One of my favorite ingredients to use is local microgreens. Not only is this produce visually stunning, it tastes delicious. We incorporate microgreens in our award-winning Café  Club Sandwich. This menu item won the national title of the best-tasting vegetarian sandwich in the United States. It’s made with thick whole wheat bread, cheesy quinoa cakes, pickled beets, tomatoes, housemade pesto ranch dressing and, of course, spicy microgreens.  

NA: Which ingredients or menu items seem to be the most well loved among both your first-time and repeat diners here at Café Evergreen?  

Weinberger: Our guests never seem to get tired of avocadoes—whether they order it in our grilled guacamole, our avocado wrap, or just about anything in between. In the avocado wrap, we also use microgreens, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, roasted red peppers and hummus to create an irresistible taste sensation.  

We also offer avocado as a topping on our famous salmon filet sandwich or bison burger. Another menu item our guests love is the onion bread avocado slider, a raw vegan option made with dehydrated onion bread. 

NA: What are some other recommendations you have for those who are looking to nourish their bodies with healthier choices throughout 2022? 

Weinberger: There are tons of ways to incorporate more nutrition in your diet without the use of a knife and fork. For example, we offer a housemade kefir water with natural probiotics that we use to create tasty drink concoctions. You can also load up on vitamins with our wheat grass shots or organic spirulina. On cooler days, our matcha tea is warm and soothing too—with 137 times more antioxidants than normal green tea.      

Café Evergreen is located at 801 South Tamiami Trail in Nokomis. The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lunch, dinner, and the juice/smoothie bar are available during these times. Breakfast is also served on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 941-412-4334 or visit CafeEvergreen.net. 

Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota–Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer. Her personal blog HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com features tips for embracing an active, nutritious, balanced and empowered lifestyle.