Spring ushers in a season of renewal—the weather is sunnier, the colors are brighter, and even the Gulf Coast breeze is fresher. As our senses reawaken from winter’s hibernation, our bodies crave the wellness benefits of natural whole-food nutrition.  

This time of year is bursting with robust flavors, crisp textures, and hearty nutrients to nourish us for the vibrant season ahead. On that note, I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Ted Weinberger of Café Evergreen for this month’s Community Spotlight.  

Ted, who co-owns the café with his wife and business partner Annette, is passionate about the intersection of flavor and nutrition, an ethos you can taste in all the unique dishes he creates. I should know—I have eaten at this restaurant many times (the smoothies are fantastic, trust me!), and I think you’ll feel his passion in our Q&A discussion below.  

Natural Awakenings: How does Café Evergreen make high-quality nutrition both accessible and enjoyable to our local community?  

Ted Weinberger: Café Evergreen’s motto, “healthy food for a healthy life,” is central to our mission of making nutritious food that also tastes delicious. We combine wholesome, flavorful ingredients and healthy cooking procedures into all our menu items, from the raw avocado slider to the borscht soup—all you have to do is choose a dish that appeals to you!  

NA: Where does your own passion for nutritious cooking and eating stem from, and what has inspired you to share it with others?  

Weinberger: My passion for food comes from generations of family members working in the food business. I was raised with incredible cooks whose culinary creations excited my palate. Today, I still want to taste and serve amazing food, but I also want it to be nutritious.  

During my career, I’ve realized that simple but intentional decisions can make the food we eat more wholesome. For example, unlike many other restaurants, we never use fryers here at Café Evergreen. Instead, we rely on flavors, textures, and creative cooking techniques to entice your taste buds. We’re also selective about all the ingredients we source, like pasture-raised beef which offers many health benefits without sacrificing flavor. 

We offer delicious vegan options as well, such as a chipotle black bean burger, which is seasoned with over 20 spices, then infused with fresh microgreens to pack in more flavor and nutrition. These are just a few examples of how taste and health can coexist!  

NA: What are some of your favorite healthy ingredients to experiment with in the kitchen?  

Weinberger: Recently, I have been experimenting with new ways to infuse more protein into my diet. So, I start each morning with one of our new creations at Café Evergreen, the “Bean Me Up” smoothie, which includes banana, espresso, cacao, almond butter, plant-based organic vanilla lucuma protein, and organic chocolate almond milk. There is so much flavor, texture, and nutrition all packed into this tasty drink. 

As winter becomes spring, I also crave more vegetables and other fresh, wholesome ingredients to toss in salads. I am obsessed with royal quinoa—this amazing superfood is a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids.  

The royal organic quinoa I use is grown from a special heirloom strain, which can only be sourced from the mountains of Bolivia’s Altiplano region. It is superior to other quinoa varieties in that it’s both tastier and has more nutritional value. At home, I use this quinoa for a refreshing quinoa tubule salad. At the café, it also features in numerous dishes such as our famous cheesy quinoa cakes and the quinoa rice pilaf.  

NA: What would you tell someone who wants to prioritize nutrition, but is concerned this will mean deprivation or a lack of enjoyment?  

Weinberger: At Café Evergreen, we believe that switching to a more balanced, nutritious diet is not an all-or-nothing proposition. No one has to be perfect. You don’t have to completely eliminate the foods you love, nor do you have to make drastic changes all at once. A more effective and sustainable approach is to make a few small changes at a time.  

Modest goals can help you work towards maintaining a healthier lifestyle in the long-term without depriving yourself or feeling overwhelmed by a major diet overhaul. Think of this process as a number of incremental, manageable steps—like choosing a healthy salad or a refreshing smoothie from Café Evergreen. As these changes become habits, you can continue to incorporate more choices that lead to a healthy, nutritious life.   

Café Evergreen is located at 801 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis. The restaurant’s hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 941-412-4334 or visit https://cafeevergreen.net/