Hummus among us
Tahini Beach Cafe, a mom-and-pop-and-daughter eatery in Bradenton Beach, opened March 5.
“We are the restaurant. This isn’t a chain; this isn’t generic,” mom Betsy Hilles Hughes said March 22. “We pour our heart and our love and our soul and our spirit into what we do and it is who we are.”
Hughes manages the front of the house while husband Emad Al-Masri, a chef with 30 years experience, prepares the cafe’s Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
Daughter Jasmine Al-Masri, the eatery’s creative director, focuses on branding and social media strategies. Her colorful paintings line the restaurant’s walls.
The quiet, cozy restaurant with a beach view, 103 Gulf Drive N., serves breakfast and lunch all day and also offers takeout.
Top-selling items include shakshuka, eggs your way in a sauce of tomatoes, onion and garlic; French toast stuffed with raspberry cream cheese; falafel and shawarma sandwiches, thinly-sliced marinated beef or chicken wrapped in pita bread.
“People are excited to experience something different on the island, I think,” Jasmine said. “They’re excited about healthy Mediterranean food and a lot of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.”
The trio purchased the restaurant — formerly the French Table — from Marieke and Christophe Celis in late September 2021.
For more information, visit tahinibeachcafe.com or call 941-251-4022.
Need a hand?
Archimedes Handyman Services owner Ron Willard is ready to help islanders get things done.
The 38-year construction and cement specialist began a project for an Anna Maria homeowner March 28 that involves re-leveling pool deck pavers and refurbishing a garage floor.
The undertaking is a typical assignment for Willard, a jack-of-all-trades.
“I’ve had people call me for just about everything,” he said.
Willard — who occasionally works his father, Ron Sr. — takes on concrete, paver and driveway refurbishment; pressure washing; painting inside and outside the home and landscaping, including tree trimming and stump grinding.
The Palmetto resident, who said he enjoys working on the island for its beautiful scenery, has lived in the Bradenton area since 1981. His father drove an island trolley for many years.
Before becoming a handyman, Willard owned Unique Concrete Brick and Block. The name of his new business honors Archimedes, an ancient intellectual thought to have invented a screw that propels liquids out of containers — the screw is still used in cement trucks today.
“I’m a reasonable, understanding, on-time man of my word and I don’t need anything from you until the job is done,” said Willard, who accepts payment on completion.
To contact Willard about a project, call 941-277-3818.
Putting islanders in motion
It’s time for a beach-training montage.
Athlete City Sports owner Donte Parker seeks to aid islanders of all ages in reaching their fitness and lifestyle goals.
Parker — a certified strength-and-conditioning coach with more than 10 years experience — aims to restore the strength, flexibility and mobility of senior residents who want to remain active.
“And I want to encourage them to move forward in life, because I know a lot of times people think, ‘Man, I’m getting more mature and I can’t do some of the things that I used to do,’” Parker said. “So, I want to give them restored confidence in the things that they can do.”
The former Manatee High School, Grambling State University and Seton Hill University football player also trains young athletes to perform at a higher level.
He’s coached several high school football, basketball and softball players who went on to compete in college, including two who competed at the NCAA Division 1-AA level.
Parker’s clients need only bring water to training sessions, which can be conducted anywhere — at a residence, his home gym, the beach or a nearby athletic field.
Parker — who hauls a mobile weight room to every appointment — is insured and CPR-certified.
For more information, call 941-730-9199 or visit the Athlete City Facebook page and @athcitysports on Instagram.
And as always…
…Got biz news? Contact Kane Kaiman at kane@islander.org or call The Islander office at 941-778-7978.