Nestled among the shops and restaurants in small town McCall, Idaho, is a real gem: The Sushi Bar, the sustainable restaurant brainchild of married entrepreneurs, Jordan and Jennifer Ragsdale.

Small-Town Sushi

The Sushi Bar is a bustling establishment complete with world-class sushi and other international fare such as Vietnamese pho and Korean barbecue. The restaurant has the largest selection of sake in Idaho, as well as an inspiring selection of microbrews.

The menu includes a range of items for every taste -- and it's budget-friendly, too. How about a lunch bento box with miso soup, side salad, inari pocket and a 10 piece sushi roll -- all for only $8? Or maybe you'd like to stop in for the weekday happy hour and enjoy a $5 sake cocktail? You can indulge in a shrimp tempura bowl with soba noodles or rice for a mere $12. Unethically sourced or endangered fish are never served.

The Ragsdales source local food and use local vendors whenever possible, allowing the owners to reduce their carbon footprint and support the local economy.

Certified Green

If the outstanding food and drink were not impressive enough, the fact that The Sushi Bar became a 3-Star Certified Green Restaurant in 2010 most certainly is. Recycled and repurposed materials were used in the construction of the restaurant and the owners have worked hard to meet the other requirements of the Green Restaurant Association.

The Sushi Bar's green practices include: recycling all glass, aluminum, plastic tin, paper and cardboard; use of low-flow toilets; use of energy-efficient appliances; water service only upon request; use of green cleaning products; biodegradable and/or recycled content paper products. Food scraps are taken to a local chicken farm.

The Ragsdales source local food and use local vendors whenever possible, allowing the owners to reduce their carbon footprint and support the local economy.

Celebrating Surroundings

Restaurants could take their cue from The Sushi Bar. The town of McCall has embraced the owners and supported them from the get-go.

Idaho is unmarred and serenely beautiful. With an optimal locale, The Sushi Bar celebrates the natural beauty of the state, something in which all businesses can take part. By changing the way that they run their day-to-day operations, entrepreneurs like the Ragsdales can have a positive impact on their community without depleting or destroying the Earth's resources.

The Sushi Bar is a prime example that small town America is willing to embrace new business ideas. Through its green efforts, the restaurant has been able to create a reputation for itself nationwide. In addition to amazing sushi and sake, a large part of the appeal of The Sushi Bar is its pledge to tread lightly on Mother Earth.