Any exhausted parent who resorts to the fast food drive-thru or speed-dials the nearest pizza place on the way home from work knows the guilt that comes from giving the kids junk for dinner … again. And anyone who’s ever thrown a dinner party knows how time-consuming it is to assemble all the elements: order the meat or fish at one place, pick up dessert at another, hit the supermarket for fresh salad fixings, and swing by the wine shop. Now there’s a faster, easier, healthier option: Nourish by Hollyberry.

Just opened in Warson Woods, Nourish is a cafe, a retail space and a catering-to-go market. “We offer real, delicious, healthful food that you’d make yourself, if only you had time,” explains owner Holly Cunningham. “You can stop in for lunch and a glass of wine with a friend, or pick up a box lunch. Or you can visit us after work for dinner to-go for the entire family, everything from appetizers to entrees, sides, made-to-order salads and dessert. We can also help you plan your next dinner party or baby shower. We want Nourish to be a one-stop haven and resource for busy people, so they don’t have to run all over town to get what they need.”

Cunningham, 41, didn’t look far to find inspiration. “My husband and I are working parents who are juggling everything at once—our jobs, our family—while trying to maintain a little bit of sanity,” she says. “I kept hearing the same thing from my friends: ‘Yes, we’d like to cook a delicious, balanced meal every single night, but we just don’t have time!’ I wanted to give people an option.”

Nourish features food for every occasion and need. “A family-friendly dinner might include our Chicken Confetti Spaghetti—pasta tossed with chicken, cheddar cheese and lots of fresh vegetables,” Cunningham says. “Kids love it!” Having guests for dinner? Try the prosciutto-wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with gouda cheese. Need to lose weight or get more Omega-3’s into your diet? Mission accomplished with Nourish’s blackened salmon and cauliflower puree. Customers can pre-order from a seasonal menu, and pick up their fresh or frozen selections on the specified day. “Or, if they need something fast, they can call ahead and see what’s ready for pickup,” she notes. Delivery also is available.

Cunningham started baking at age 5 in her Holly Hobbie oven. Today she runs a $1.7 million business with 75 employees. Nourish follows Hollyberry Baking Co., launched in 1998, and Hollyberry Catering, established in 2001. She raised $25,000 toward the new venture through Indiegogo, an online crowdfunding website. “I love to cook and I care about good food, but I don’t want to spend every spare moment at the stove—I’d rather help my girls with their homework,” she says. “Nourish is all about living life better. Our dream is to nourish you, so you have more time to nourish your family.”

Pictured: A made-to-order salad
Photo: Bill Barrett

[Nourish is located at 10037 Manchester Road in Warson Woods. For more information, call 314.835.9196 or visit nourishbyhollyberry.com.]