For some, dietary limitations and fear of unkempt food preparation areas make going out to dinner less like a treat and more like a chore. If you have to bring your own lemons to cleanse the glass rim before you take a drink or must smuggle in salt-free seasonings lest the food be bland or too salty, why go to the bother of spending your hard-earned money on dining out. You want a restaurant to cook for you like they were cooking for their grandmother or treasured loved one, using the utmost care and love to prepare your foods in a clean area. And, what about the foods themselves? You want “farm fresh,” not day-old goods served to you after a hard day’s work. The freshest ingredients of the utmost highest quality, prepared with minimal or zero processing involved in all recipes would be wonderful, wouldn’t it? For Sarasota County, there is only one place that checks all your dining out must haves. The verdict is in and Café Evergreen is serving the freshest foods available in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of Nokomis. Let’s meet for lunch, shall we?
With a mantra that dictates they “be a leader in healthy foods and drinks that are fresh, great tasting and unique,” Café Evergreen is continuously coming up with highly delectable and creative dishes. They offer healthy varieties of the standard American fare including French fries and burgers, except theirs is a sweet potato version that is not fried but is definitely to die for. And those burgers – – only pasture fed and locally raised beef makes the cut for this popular lunch item.
What else is good to eat at Café Evergreen? For starters, everything! Organic sandwiches, salads, unique wraps and a broad selection of beer and wine cover everyone’s tastes. In addition to their seasonal menus which are adjusted to take advantage of what is growing locally, a daily “Chef’s Choice Lunch” and “Chef’s Choice Dinner” are always a delightful surprise to locals who cannot wait to see what the Café Evergreen kitchen is cooking. And, because they use two-thirds less salt than most other restaurants, you can worry a little less about your health concerns while eating away from home. Their juice and smoothie bar adds another healthful component to the restaurant with fresh and delicious concoctions. With names like “Carrot Rocket Booster” and “Squeeze Me Sun,” there is no room for doubt about disingenuous ingredients ending up in your juice glass.
Another certain aspect of Café Evergreen is the history involved with their building. They are situated in the oldest structure found on US-41, all the way from Nokomis to Tampa. Now, that is a great topic of conversation to have while washing down your lunch, followed by a beautiful piece of vegan cake and a specialty coffee. Café Evergreen serves breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Lunch and dinner are served Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM and Friday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The Juice/Smoothie Bar is open Sunday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM and Friday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Much as the management at Café Evergreen expects greatness from their chefs, fresh food sources, and employees, they demand the same from organizations they belong to, including IBE. They have found IBE to be a great asset over the years. One of the main reasons is that they like the amount of cash businesses can hold onto. They love the feeling that goes with obtaining necessary items and services through bartering. When asked how they describe IBE to friends and business acquaintances, Café Evergreen owners, Ted and Annette Weinberger tell people that IBE is a “fun and creative way to meet people, expand your business, and get items you might be in need of or want.”
Ted and Annette like to treat their employees to QR Certificates around the holidays, something the staff has grown to love. They do not hesitate to call fellow IBE merchants for any AC needs and other issues around the home or office. “We look at the IBE family first for anything we need. We rarely have to look outside of the IBE network.” Ted goes on to say that “eight out of ten dining experiences he and Annette have are paid for via IBE.” They enjoy that they can eat out often, and get to try other beautiful upscale restaurants in the area.
When you have been successfully running your business for nearly 15 years, with a long list of satisfied clients, you know a thing or two about client loyalty. It was these same customers who took a chance on you when you first opened your doors. Then, after a period of trying out your services and facility, they decided that you passed the test. You became their haven for relaxation, pampering, and luxurious spa amenities. Before long, these same clients, who had come to love the professionalism and extra care your company had given them, started campaigning for you to win “Best of” contests. Now you look back at an impressive streak of being voted “Best Day Spa,” a whopping ten times. If this sounds like a fairytale episode of “how to succeed at business and win over everyone who walks in your door,” it is. But it is also the real-life story of Nicky Nagy, owner of The Blue Door Spa & Salon. She set out on a mission to supply a top-notch day spa, and now, she and her team are at the top of their game.
Sometimes we all just need a little time out from the drudgery of everyday life to appreciate someone special. If you are wondering whom that person is, look in the mirror. It is you! You need to feel loved, cared for, and worthy of beautiful products and full spa services. If you have been holding out on your own needs in favor of making sure everyone else gets where they need to be, what they need to eat, and everything else they need out of life, the time to shine the light on your own empowerment is now. Do not delay in partaking in the delectable spa services at The Blue Door Spa & Salon.
What should we do first, ladies and gents? Nails and a facial or a fabulous set of new lashes and a wax? The friendly, expert technicians at Blue Door Spa are as efficient as they are skilled. You will be in and out as quick as you like or feel free to linger in the inviting and relaxing spa atmosphere. A vast array of massage offerings means there is not a muscle, joint, or nerve in your body that will not be begging for more hands-on attention. From hot stones, to Swedish, hand and foot, to deep tissue, or, a hybrid of several massages, and with affordable prices, you will not have to be a one-hit-wonder at this high-end Suncoast spa. You can become a regular, something quite common with the clients who try Blue Door Spa. They must come back for one more service and one more hour of relaxation. And that, folks, is how Nicky has been able to build her spa empire – – one completely relaxed and satisfied customer at a time.
When it comes to IBE, Nicky and her squad at The Blue Door Spa & Salon see many clients who use bartering to get massage and hair services. They credit IBE for establishing new client connections they would not have made otherwise. One aspect of IBE that Nicky particularly enjoys is the multitude of merchants who take part in IBE. It does not matter what service or item Nicky is looking for, she can always find it from IBE. Over the years, Nicky has used bartering with IBE to get AC work done, office items, and even to fund entertainment for a charity event she was organizing. But, her favorite aspect of IBE is that she has been able to give QR Certificates to her staff as holiday and incentive gifts. Because her employees spend so much of their time tending to the needs of others, Nicky loves that they, too, can feel appreciated.
The week has been treacherous; late nights, dissatisfied clients, family woes and issues with your kid’s teachers. You just want a reprieve, a break of sorts from all the noise and clutter that this week has filled your mind with. If only you could experience the luxury and transformation that the hotel up the road gives you. Or, perhaps if you had the serenity of a flower garden with a cute little bench and gazing balls to mesmerize your thoughts for a moment, you could truly unwind. A beautifully manicured lawn with fragrant rose bushes and a built-in seating area around a firepit sounds nice. You could even envision yourself sitting there, in a comfy robe with your bare feet up and a nice glass of wine in your hand. This does not have to be a fantasy for the forlorn workers of the world. Listen up, people, because Earthman Landscaping is ready to turn your outdoor surroundings into a little something called “paradise.”
With 30 years’ experience in your wheelhouse, you have a breadth of knowledge to pull from when a client says, “Let’s get creative with my backyard.” From pool waterfalls, cages, slides, and grottos to custom designs in pavers and grading, it “all comes naturally after three decades in the business.” Owner, Dave Mullins, explains it this way, “There is not much Earthman Landscaping has not done for our clients. If it is custom, people know we are usually involved.” Over the years, they have beautified the entrances to many landmarks in the area, including several country clubs and upscale residential communities.
Inasmuch as Earthman Landscaping is the benchmark leader in outdoor landscape design and architecture, they are also the consummate professionals to take care of your weekly and monthly lawn maintenance. With a variety of payment schedules to fit the needs of residents in condominium and housing developments, as well as those of mom-and-pop businesses and large conglomerates, Earthman Landscaping can carry the landscaping burdens of all. If you have been on the fence on whether to make a huge transformation in your outdoor living area, or just want to freshen things up for the upcoming holidays, give Earthman Landscaping the go-ahead to turn your home into your vacation oasis.
Having so many high-profile projects in the works and a multitude of satisfied customers to keep wowing does not leave a lot of time for socializing. But, the folks at Earthman Landscaping have enjoyed getting together after work at several IBE restaurants for a great meal and conversation. No need to bring the debit card, just a little cash for the tax and tip. That is how the amazing QR Certificates from IBE work. Those are savings that are hard to deny, which is why it has made perfect sense to remain loyal members of IBE for nearly 20 years. As Dave likes to tell his friends, “If it is something you want and can use, there is no better way to get it than through IBE.”
