Verde Limon Café Offers Healthy Dining
Sol Nayarit Editor Tara A. Spears
It just got easier to eat a healthy meal while on vacation. Have special dietary needs? Don’t want to deal with food prep? Verde
Limon is perfect for you! This summer a charming new restaurant- reminiscent of a sidewalk café- opened in downtown Guayabitos. Many will recognize the sweet smile of owner Sofia Dolores Castuera, a local entrepreneur who with her husband, Daniel, operates a popular La Penita coffee shop. For all the coffee lovers, you’ll be thrilled to learn that you can get a delish cup of specialty coffee with your healthy breakfast or meal at Verde Limon. The café is open every day continuously from 7 am to 7 pm November through April: May through October the shop closes on Saturday.
“When I decided to open another café, I wanted to provide healthy, nutritious options as well as catering,” said Sofia. “I practice yoga in my free time. The heart chakra – the wellspring of love, warmth, compassion, and joy- is associated with the color green. I was thinking about what to name the new place, I wanted something simple, fresh, easy to remember.“ Verde, Spanish for green, and Limon, Spanish for lime, fit Sofia’s aim: it’s short, cheerful and lends itself to a cute logo. On another level, many people want organic produce to go with their ‘green’ environmentally friendly lifestyle. Sofia uses only fresh, quality vegetables and ingredients. “We make our waffles when ordered- no frozen stuff!”
While Verde Limon will have set entrees listed on their menu, the house specialty is made-to-order salads: a medium salad has choose three ingredients and the large has choose five ingredients added to the lettuce base. “We make all of our five dressing from scratch- no artificial color or ingredient,” explained Sofia. Currently the café offers ranch, balsamic, blue cheese, vinegarette dulce, and a spicy chipotle.
In fact, Sofia is working with a licensed nutritionist as she is building her menu. “I want customers to tell me their particular needs; glutton free, sugar free for diabetics, low calorie versions for those wanting to lose weight. Just tell me and we will prepare it as you like it!” If you can’t appreciate how unique this attitude is, I recently was dining out at a well-known area restaurant and asked for a substitution because I am diabetic. After the waiter took my order, the cook came stomping up to the table and snarled, “if you don’t want what comes on the plate, don’t eat it!” I was deeply embarrassed and won’t go back again.
Another exciting option that Verde Limon can provide is delivering multi-meals to de-stress your life. Having a club brunch meeting and don’t have time to cook? Message Sofia and she will prepare it for you. “I find that many working people want to eat healthy but don’t have the time to wash and prepare a balanced diet,” she explained. She also offers a 3 daily meals option: healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner labeled and packaged for you.
Besides the nice selection of fruit smoothie drinks to choose from, you should try the Verde Limon specialty sandwich: Atasca bagel, pictured above. Or if you love your protein, the BLT (right) is sure to satisfy. “We do not get our bacon locally but purchase select 80% meat bacon.” Whether you’re in the mood for something lite or desiring heartier fare, Verde Limon Café will accommodate you.
Sofia speaks English: cell322 115 3915 You can contact her email: castuera.sofia@gmail.com or facebook: verdelimonguayabitos
The café is located across from the Guayabitos Cine, Av. Sol Nuevo 320 Int.#1. If you drive, I recommend turning towards the ocean (right at the 4 way stop sign) then turn left at the next street. You’ll see the Cine plaza and Verde Limon is on the right side.
For those who like to hang out in La Penita, be sure to visit Chasite (pronounced in three syllables-chass/see/tay) Coffee Shop, located at the corner of streets Salina Cruz and Lucio Blanca #1, south of the main street. Your host Daniel Chavez will prepare specialty coffee just for you.
Seven years ago Sofia, Daniel, and their young daughter were working and living in Tepic. The couple met while attending university. The young family was happy until violence came to Tepic. After a scary incident too close to home, Daniel said, “That’s it! I’m moving my family to quieter La Penita!” They quit their jobs, boxed up their belonging and stayed with Sofia’s family until they could decide what type of business they wanted. They looked around the area, noting that while there were lots of restaurants there weren’t any specialty coffee shops.
One of the biggest challenges was deciding what type and brand of coffee to use. “It took months for Daniel and me to use the higher altitude coffee from the mountains of Ciapas instead of Nayarit grown.” In fact, Daniel experimented for three years to master the perfect grind for the coffee beans!
The history of the coffee shop’s name is touching and reflects the couple’s deep family ties. “CHASITE is a way for us to say thanks to Daniel’s mother. When we moved to La Peñita our savings wasn’t enough to buy a house and open a business at the same time, said Sofia. “My mother-in-law knew this and she gave us the money that we needed to get started. Her name is CHAvez Silva TEresa. So if we take the first letters you have CHASITE!”
“Sra. Chavez has been a huge support; when no one believed in our dreams, she definitely put her trust in us. I can tell you she is happy and proud of us,” said Sofia. Chasite has garnered loyal customers that enjoy a variety of coffee concoctions and the excellent BLT. Ever sensitive to customer favorites, the shop offers a tasty pastry to go with that drink. In 2017 Chasite began offering Krispe Kreme donuts once a week. The daily menu is posted on a chalk board which adds to the relaxed atmosphere. The coffee shop open early November through April each year. You’ll meet new friends when you visit. As with its sister café, Chasite will prepare take out or cater your home party if you call or message.
If you enjoy a superior cupa joe, plan your morning walk to end at Chasite Coffee shop. The charming shops Verde Limon and Chasite Coffee are just a slice of authentic Mexico- don’t miss them.
