The Paleo Connection

Are you paleo-curious?

If so, you’re not alone. The idea of a paleo diet is to eat foods that were around during the Paleolithic Era from 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eating a paleo diet—including fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and oils from fruits and nuts—is thought by those who follow it to be a more effective way to lose or maintain weight and stay healthy. A paleo diet generally does not include grains, legumes, dairy products, refined sugar, or highly processed foods.

Nikki Naggy and her husband became interested in the paleo way of eating after joining CrossFit a few years back. Naggy began preparing baked goods using a paleo approach and had friends and family asking for seconds. She was surprised because she didn’t have a formal chef or cooking background. However, she enjoyed it so much that she decided to start her own restaurant offering paleo meals.

Now open for four years, The Paleo Connection on Lockwood Ridge Road features a rustic wooden community table and “cave drawings” on the wall. The menu at The Paleo Connection changes each week, with a handful of selections at any given time. Naggy is the only employee, so she needs to make dishes that she can realistically prepare every day. The ever-changing menu also helps Naggy to maintain fresh, organic options on her menu. Online reviews praise the generous portions and healthy, satisfying fare.

You may be surprised by the scrumptious options, such as a banana chocolate chip muffin that’s so moist, you might finish it in the car on the way home (we won’t tell). Other favorites at The Paleo Connection are nachos made with tostones, a type of green plantain; and sweet potato gnocchi with chicken, mushrooms, and spinach. There’s also a Saturday brunch with a crispy cauliflower fritter and pork shoulder and a mint chocolate chip Belgian waffle served with organic maple bacon.

Pea protein, nutritional yeast, avocados, cauliflower, and lots of herbs are just some of the ingredients Naggy uses to give her offerings an extra special flavor. Paleo cooking typically uses other kinds of flours such as nut-based flours and sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.

Naggy’s loyal customers include athletes and paleo enthusiasts. Among them are several people living with chronic diseases, who swear by the restaurant’s paleo offerings to help ward off disease and inflammation. They include people living with celiac disease who cannot eat gluten. Another group of customers are those who feel they don’t have time to prep their own meals so they lean on The Paleo Connection for help.

Naggy encourages everyone to give The Paleo Connection a try, even if they don’t have a special interest in the way that our long-ago ancestors ate. “It’s just good food. It appeals to the masses,” she says.

Paleo Connection: 3515 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota; 941-960-1955; paleoconnectionsarasota.com