Community Foodwaves

Saporito Oil Vinegar Spice (Gainesville, FL)

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all of the wonderful mothers out there!

I am so lucky to be able to spend mother’s day with my mother this year. She is the strongest and most energetic woman I know, and I strive to be as kind, dedicated, and loving as her.

If your mother loves cooking as much as mine does, oil, vinegar, and spices from Saporito would make a great gift for her!

My mother deserves nothing but the best, so when she asked me to bring her some quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar on my flight to her, I began searching for olive oil tasting rooms and found Saporito.

Saporito Oil Vinegar Spice (OVS for short) specializes in bringing high quality extra virgin olive oil to Gainesville. They are a family owned business that started in 2015.

Right when I walked in, I was surrounded by many different types of oils, vinegars, and spices. The shop has clear labels of all the different types of oils and a binder of information explaining what the difference between extra virgin olive oil and other olive oils, as well as the background and chemical analysis of each type of oil. A credentialed lab tests the olive oil to ensure premium quality. I found all of the information to be a little overwhelming, but at the same time reassuring as I could see the exact ingredients and purity of the oil quantified.

Since they also offer a tasting room, you can also taste all of the products before buying them if you want extra reassurance of the flavor!

They have many infused oils and vinegars, but since my mother wanted non-infused ones, I went for those.

They have many different extra virgin olive oils, ranging from mild to strong intensities. I chose the Chiquitita olive oil ($20 for 375ml bottle), which had mild intensity. This oil originated in Portugal and is described to be delicate and sweet with notes of almond and berry. The harvest date was November 2020. I liked how much information Saporito gives on the origin and exact chemical composition of the oil as well. The chemical composition of this oil is: Biophenols: 169.5, FFA: 0.13, DAGs: 97.2, Squalene: 5232.3, A-Tocopherols: 240.9. When I tasted the oil at home, I liked the taste, as it was not overly sweet or strong.

They have some very interesting flavors for infused vinegars such as the Espresso and Dark Chocolate infused Balsamic vinegar!

I chose the 18 Year Traditional Dark Balsamic vinegar, ($13 for 200ml bottle) which tasted very rich and smooth. My mother commented on how much she enjoyed the flavor and it was not too overpowering.

My mother and I have been really enjoying a combination of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar as salad dressing. Here is a salad my mother made!

Salad with greens, mozzarella tomatoes, avocado and olives, topped with olive oil and balsamic vinegar

The White truffle oil ($31 for 200ml bottle) was pricier than the other oils but definitely worth it if you like the pungent and unique taste of truffle. The flavor was strong, which I liked, and had a shallot-like taste to it. This oil would be lovely in pasta, on top of fries, or in salad as well!

I highly recommend Saporito’s for any of your oil, vinegar, and spice needs!

You can visit Saporito’s online shop for their full list of products: https://saporitoovs.com/

Location: 4401 NW 25th Pl d, Gainesville, FL 32606

Northwest 25th Place

Vegan Gator Food Truck (Gainesville, FL)

It’s Wang Wednesday and Vegan Gator’s cauliflower wings are perfect for any celebration including Cinco de Mayo and Meatless May!

Vegan Gator, which opened in at the end of 2020, has been elevating the vegan food scene here in Gainesville!

This local food truck is located at 220 NW 8^th Ave, next to the Flashbacks parking lot, starting noon Tuesdays-Saturdays. They do not have seating or delivery, so you would need to drive there to pick up the food.

Their menu consists of delicious plant based burgers, wings, and fries made from locally sourced ingredients.

For Wang Wednesdays you can get vegan cauliflower wings with a variety of flavors! For today they have Carolina Gold BBQ, Sweet and Spicy Korean Glaze, Lemon Pepper, and OG Buffalo.

Last week I tried the Carolina Mustard BBQ wings ($8.99), which were slightly crunchy on the outside with a mustardy-tangy BBQ sauce and scallions on top. If you like Carolina BBQ, you will like these.

I really liked the Thai Sweet Chili cauliflower wings ($8.99) as well, as they were very crispy and the sauce was a good mix of sweet and slightly spicy. The sauces were very flavorful and good, and the softer texture of the cauliflower inside complimented the crispiness of the batter well. I only wish the portion sizes were a little larger for the wings.

The White Truffle and Rosemary fries ($7.99) were also very tasty, with a creamy, truffle sauce, herbs, and rosemary on top of crispy crunchy fries. As a fan of truffle, I thought these were solid and very filling.

The Poutine fries ($7.99) were also good with plenty of mushrooms, cheese, white béchamel sauce, mushroom gravy and scallions on top of the fries. While I enjoyed these fries since it has been a while since I had poutine, these do get a little soggy with time so just be aware of that! They are also definitely heavier than the truffle fries.

Be sure to try their Vegan Cowboy burger ($15.99)! It is pricey for just a burger but it is packed with BBQ Jackfruit, crispy onion straws, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, and LTP. This burger is very big and is sure to fill you up! I liked the combination of flavors created by the BBQ jackfruit and the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. It’s a very good option for a vegan burger. I’m not even vegan and I thought this tasted amazing!

I was fortunate enough to enjoy this delicious food with a nice cold beer and amazing company! The drink of choice was Guinness Draught Stout and it was dark and delicious.

I am very happy to support this local black owned food truck that has been providing quality vegan options! Make sure to follow @vegangatorfoodtruck for the latest updates.

Hana Sushi (Gainesville, FL)

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month!

Today I’m highlighting one of my favorite sushi restaurants: Hana Sushi!

Hana Sushi, established in 2019, is located across the street from Celebration Pointe. They offer popular Japanese items such as sushi, sashimi, hibachi, bento boxes, and more. They have both outdoor and indoor seating, as well as takeout. They also offer delivery through Door Dash and Uber Eats. Their interior has a clean, modern look with dark tiles, high ceilings, wooden tables, and leather seats.

This time I tried the Love Boat ($55.95, feeds two), which came with 10 pieces of sushi, 16 pieces of sashimi (chef’s choice), 1 tuna roll, and 1 dragon roll. This boat was really more of a garden with a tree and flowers. Just a tip: only get this if you like raw fish, as the majority of items are raw.

The Love Boat meal also includes a bowl of miso soup and salad. I liked the salad dressing, which was standard Japanese restaurant-style dressing, and the miso soup was also very flavorful.

As a lover of sashimi, I was pleased to find that the fish was very good quality and fresh. The sushi and sashimi featured a mix of yellowtail, salmon, tuna, white tuna, shrimp, snapper, and surf clam. My favorite was the salmon sashimi. It was thick, tender, and had the perfect texture between firm and smooth. I also liked the surf clam sashimi, which was very tender, chewy, and slightly sweet.

As for the rolls, I liked the rice to fish ratio because sometimes restaurants put too much rice in the rolls, but these rolls had just a thin layer of rice that complimented the texture and flavor of the fish.

The dragon roll, which was stuffed with cooked eel, cucumber, and covered with avocado, sauce, and fish eggs. This roll was nicely flavored with a mix of crunchy and creamy textures.

So was it worth the price? I would say so, because of the quality of the fish and the amount of rolls and sashimi you get. However if you really like a particular type of fish, you may just want to get individual rolls or sashimi.

The boat was certainly enough food to feed two, but just to go overboard (excuse the pun), we also got the Hawaiian fried rice. This dish was around $15, but it could easily feed two people as the portion was extremely large. The fried rice has a savory, strong curry flavor to it, along with sweetness from raisins and crunch from cashews on top. It also has chunks of shrimp, chicken, pineapple, and peas. I personally liked the curry flavor and thought this was definitely worth the price. There were enough leftovers for the next day! This is also a good dish if you want cooked meat or a rice dish.

Definitely try Hana sushi to fill your next Japanese food craving!

Location: 3147 SW 45 St Ste 10, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States

Southwest 45th Street

Lulu’s Gelato (Jonesville, FL)

Ever tried a boba float?

It’s just one of the options Lulu’s offers at their gelato stand!

Lulu’s Gelato is only open on the weekends, so make sure to get your fix! You can usually find their stand from 2-6pm at the Jonesville Persimmons and Fruit Tree Nursery, but this Sunday they will also be at the Food Truck Rally/Arts & Crafts Extravaganza (GNV Commons at 100 SW 1st Ave).

I finally got the chance to visit the Jonesville stand and it was easy to find with plenty of parking. The setting is beautiful as well with lots of trees and plants at Tropical Roots Plant Co. right behind the stand. There is plenty of outdoor seating as well.

With the rise of AAPI hate crimes in the U.S., I love how they are donating tips for the months of April and May to Apex for Youth, an organization in NYC that helps underserved Asian and immigrant youth.

Lulu’s offers delicious flavors of gelato and sorbets all created by Chef Johnny, boba floats, which are soda, gelato, and chewy boba, as well as beignets.

Not only is their Gelato delicious, but they also offer many flavors you would not find elsewhere like Black Sesame, Sweet Taro, Honey Lavender, and Butter Finger.

Since you can choose up to 2 flavors, I chose Black Sesame and Sweet Taro gelato, which ($4) came with crushed nuts and black sesame seeds as toppings. The Black Sesame gelato had a really robust, nutty flavor mixed with smooth milky creaminess. The sweet taro flavor was also so delicious and the flavor was strong! I am already looking forward to having these flavors again.

I also added boba as a topping for $1 and the boba was very chewy and on the firmer side, but really good.

Taro flavor tasted great with boba pearls!

For the Boba Float ($5) you get to choose a soda (Sprite, Root Beer, Orange Soda, Coke) and add any flavor of Gelato or Sorbet. This is such a genius idea and so refreshing on a hot day!

Boba float with Sprite and Pina Colada gelato

I chose Sprite and was recommended the Pina Colada gelato to pair with it as they were out of their Vanilla. They even gave me some extra soda left over and it was the perfect mix of bubbly carbonation and sweet cream, along with the chewy boba.

The Beignets ($3/4 pieces, $4/6 pieces), a deep fried pastry delicacy, were fried fresh and warm with a crunchy outer shell and tons of powdered sugar on top. I tried to stop myself but ended up having five pieces!

I loved supporting this friendly family owned business that is serving up delicious desserts! Follow @lulusgelato for more updates and pop up locations!

Paramount Grill (Gainesville, FL)

I’m still thinking about the clamtastic (not a real word but accurate in this case!) pasta special offered at Paramount Grill last weekend. The food was good, but the service was what made the dining experience even better!

They have a lot of seating and the restaurant was not very crowded that night so it left plenty of space for social distanced dining indoors. They can also set up tables outdoors by request, and takeout is available as well.

Our server was really friendly and started us off with some fresh spinach and feta muffins and butter made in house. The muffins were very flavorful with a slight crust and buttery soft on the inside.

The soup of the night was a Portobello and Gorgonzola cheese soup. It had a slight taste of mushroom mixed with the slightly sharp, pungent flavor of Gorgonzola cheese.

Paramount offers seasonal dishes based on availability of local ingredients. I knew I had to try the special dish of the night, which was Fettuccini ($28) with local clams from Cedar Key, cheese, and local chestnut mushrooms.

Fettuccini with clams, mushrooms, and white wine sauce

The fettuccini was on the thinner side than what I am used to, but soaked up the creamy white wine sauce well. My favorite part of the dish was the mushrooms, as they were really tender and went perfectly with the sauce. I only wish there were more mushrooms! The clams were also tender with a slight crunch.

The food here is on the pricier side, but I did like how they use local ingredients and the dishes tasted fresh. I enjoyed the fine dining experience with classy jazz tunes and antique pictures on the walls.

Try them out for brunch of dinner in downtown Gainesville and follow @paramountgrill for the latest specials!

Brake Bread (Gainesville, FL)

Brake Bread is a microbakery that offers delicious pastries! You can message them on Instagram for orders and they even deliver!

They have weekly bakery boxes for $20 with Dairy and Vegan options.

I was so happy to support when I saw that they were offering deals with donations with proof of support to Daunte Wright’s family. They generously offered a $5 discount on the box to match my donation.

I love the work that they are doing in the community in partnering with local farms and their vision of giving back to the Gainesville community (especially focusing on East Gainesville as well). They have a beautiful goal of growing a community focused and people focused bakery that values people over profit.

The ordering process was very fast (done through instagram DM; paid through venmo) and then they were very communicative about which items I wanted, any substitutions, and when they deliver. They even have a free delivery range, so feel free to ask about their delivery options!

I tried the dairy box this past weekend, which had 6 items: a brioche bun, a scone, a danish, a croissant, and two cookies. The pastries from the dairy and vegan boxes were made with local ingredients from Siembra Farm, Play of Sunlight Mushrooms, Fehrenbacher Sausage, The Tempeh Shop, and the Alachua County Farmer’s Market.

The brioche bun was very soft and savory, topped with local sausage, a locally sourced quail egg, and cheese. The bun was really flavorful with the combination of meat and the soft quail egg baked into the middle. It was slightly burned on the bottom, but otherwise was my favorite item of the box.

Brioche bun with sausage, quail egg, and cheese

The scone was cooked perfectly with a hard exterior and a softer, exterior packed with kale and feta cheese.

If you like strawberries, you will like the strawberry and cheese danish, which had a great combination of sweet, creamy, and cheesy flavors.

The traditional croissant was wonderfully flaky and sweet. I loved the jam, which was not too sweet but more tart and had huge chunks of strawberry in it!

I was wowed by the chocolate chip cookies! These cookies are extremely good with the perfect level of sweetness.

The pastry box is a great option for breakfast or dessert, whether you are in the mood for sweet or savory!

Follow @brakebread.gville for the latest pastry boxes and pop ups!

Joyfully Baked (Gainesville, FL)

The weekend has me hyped for vegan desserts from Joyfully Baked!

Joyfully Baked is a vegan bakery only open on Saturdays and Sundays so make sure to check them out for delicious baked goods, coffee, and ice cream all made in house.

They have a wide range of flavors of donuts like Salted Caramel, Cookies and Cream, Milk and Cereal, and more. Their donut prices are at $3 glazed, $3.50 for filled, and $36 for a dozen.

They also have amazing cakes by the slice ($7) or whole (make sure to reserve for whole).

They have seating indoors and also some picnic tables outside.

I really liked the Milk and Cereal Donut, which was doughy on the inside, covered in a sweet glaze, and topped with cinnamon toast crunch!

The Cookies and Cream donut is also a must-have, as it’s filled with the most delicious cream and topped with chocolate cookie crumble for added texture.

The Boston Cream was also good but the cream filling is different from most Boston Cream fillings I have tasted, as it is more creamy than custard-like, and it is less sweet.

As for drinks they have coffee ($2.50 hot, $3.50 iced) and once you get the coffee, there is a side station where you can add your own sugar. They also have organic juice boxes ($1.50) for kids!

Their vegan ice cream was so good! It ranges in sizes from kids ($3) to small ($4) to large ($6).

I got a small Café Latte ice cream and it came with two scoops of really creamy, good ice cream. I could tell that they made the ice cream in house as it tasted fresh and it even had plenty of coffee grounds inside for added texture and bitter flavor perfect for any coffee lover out there.

They also make shakes from the ice cream so I will definitely have to try that next time. The staff are all super friendly too and made me feel so welcome! They are definitely spreading joy throughout the community.

Follow @joyfullybaked for the latest updates and flavors of the week!

Madre’s Cake (Gainesville, FL)

Have you ever felt like you could taste the love and care that went into the food you eat?

That’s what I felt eating my Brigadeiro’s Lover cake ($38) from Madre’s Cake!

Created by two empowering women, Sheyla Santana and Fernanda Freitas, Madre’s is all about sharing motherly love and dedication through their delicious, high quality cakes!

They offer various kinds of cake from Vegan Cheesecake, Apple Cake, Vegan Chocolate Cake, or even a box of Brigadeiros. You can also select a Gluten Free add on for $6.

Since they operate from home, they offer order and delivery all online on their website (madrescake.com) and you just need to order at least 24 hours in advance. They deliver free to NW Gainesville (or anywhere in Gainesville if you order $40 or above) or anywhere else in Gainesville for a delivery fee of $6. They were very communicative and accommodating in my experience.

This was my first time having Brigadeiro, traditional Brazilian truffles, and I was blown away by how good it is. If you like chocolate, you would definitely like this as it has a soft filling made of condensed milk, cocoa powder and butter, encased in a chocolate shell with crispy sprinkles on top.

The cake came beautifully wrapped and tied in a box with a personalized handwritten message saying, “We wish you much love today and always!” It’s these small details that really show their care.

I was a little afraid the cake would be too sweet with the combination of brigadeiro on chocolate cake, but the cake part was not too sweet so it balanced out the sweetness of the dulce de leche and Brigadeiro on top. I really like how the cake was moist inside. They put dark brigadeiro on this cake so it not too sweet. If it is too sweet, you can always save the brigadeiros for later or give them to someone that has a major sweet tooth! This gorgeous cake is also topped with plenty of fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, which added tartness to balance the sweet as well! I enjoyed how they also included two extra caramel colored brigadieros, which had round crunchy sprinkles on them. These were such a sweet touch and tasted delicious!

Brigadeiro’s Lover cake with two extra brigadeiro

Cake slice with brigadeiro, dulce de leche, and fruit

I had the pleasure of speaking to Sheyla while picking up the cake and she told me how much her children love this cake; I can definitely see why!

Madre’s has a variety of cakes to choose from to fit any occasion and they offer 11% discounts on select cakes every day so check out their website for more!

Madrina’s (Gainesville, FL)

Cheers to the weekend!

Madrina’s is an iconic bar in downtown Gainesville known for their classy atmosphere and signature cocktails. They are open Thursday to Sunday starting 5 pm. They have very limited seating with a few tables indoors and one table outdoor, so I suggest going right around 5pm for a seat. It can also feel a bit crowded indoors because of the small space, so just be aware of that.

While their drinks range around $10-11, during Happy Hour (5-7pm daily) you can get select drinks like Old Fashioned, Margarita, Mojitos and more for $5-6!

As a matcha lover I really enjoyed the Matcha Colada ($10), which was creamy and sweet with just a hint of bitterness. It is made with rum, pineapple, coconut cream, matcha, and maldon salt. The drink came garnished with a pineapple leaf!

The Guava The Hutt ($10) is also a fantastic choice if you like fruity drinks, as it has Vodka, Guava, Aperol, Lime, Vanilla, and lots of ice. The color of this drink was so pretty!

Which drink would you try?

Address: 9 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

They do not have a parking lot but street parking is free on weekends!

Pokébowl Station (Gainesville, FL)

Pokébowl Station has some amazing options for Pokébowls and desserts! Located right across the street from Library West at UF, Pokébowl is accessible for a quick bite or a boba run when you are near campus. They do not have a parking lot so you will have to find off-street parking. If you will be driving, I recommend going on weekdays after 4pm or on weekends when you can park on the street for free.

They offer delivery through Grubhub or 352 delivery.

If you order online on their website (www.pokebowlstation.com) you can get 15% off!

They also have lots of indoor and outdoor seating available.

I usually go for their boba since I really like the texture of their bubbles (very chewy!), but they also have amazing desserts like shaved ice and egg waffles.

But today’s post is all about them bowls!

If you are looking for a meal, they have many signature Pokébowls you can choose from, or you can always build your own bowl.

If you like spicy, The Rain of Fire bowl ($12.95) is a great choice that is packed with flavor with spicy salmon, spicy tuna, sriracha aioli, picked jalapeño, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, sesame oil, avocado, onion crisps, wasabi peas, and chili pepper for an extra kick.

They also have vegan options like the Vegan of the Sea bowl ($11.95) which comes with vegetarian chicken, tofu, edamame, cucumber, sweet corn, shiitake mushroom, sesame shoyu, red cabbage, green onion, avocado, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.

If you know what you want and like customization, the build your own bowl option is amazing! I built my own bowl and after picking how many protein choices (I got spicy tuna, salmon, and spicy salmon for $12.95) was able to choose unlimited choices of toppings, such as kale, cilantro, seaweed, crab meat, pickled jalapeño, red onion, edamame, sliced radish, such as fish flakes). You do have to pay extra for avocado for build your own bowls. For sauce, I chose the spicy ginger sauce and it was very flavorful. I got pickled ginger on the side because it pairs so well with raw fish.

These bowls are super filling and healthy with all of the fresh veggie and protein options!

Sohao Café (Gainesville, FL)

Sohao Café is my go-to place for spicy noodle soup and quality Chinese food!

Now combined with Gator Suyaki, Sohao offers an extensive array of options ranging from Sichuan String Beans (available with or without pork), Spicy Fish Fillet, delicious rice and noodle options. There are plenty of vegetarian options available such as the Eggplant with Garlic sauce, General Tao’s tofu and eggplant.

My favorite dish is the Sichuan Mala noodle soup ($11-14). You can pick from a variety of meat choices like duck, lamb, fish fillet, tofu and more. The noodle soup is packed with veggies like cilantro, broccoli, a variety of mushrooms, and cauliflower. For takeout, they pack the noodles and soup separately so the noodles do not get soggy. However, sometimes the soup is very hot and so the plastic container might melt a little. I like getting the lamb option, which I recommend only if you like the flavor of lamb.

The soup is so flavorful with plenty of chili peppers, spice, and the signature mala flavor. You have been warned that this soup is very spicy!

If you like rice dishes, their bento boxes ($11) are a great option as you can choose from many choices like General Tso’s Chicken and Mapo Tofu as the main dish. Each bento box comes with a crispy egg roll and a delicious salad with picked lettuce, onions, cucumbers, and scallions and a seasoned, boiled egg.

General Tso's Chicken Bento Box — General Tso’s Chicken Bento Box

Their portions are big so you might even have leftovers for another meal!

If you are looking for dessert, I like their Steamed Mochi covered with soybean powder and sugar. If you are a mochi lover like me, I’m sure you will enjoy it!

Sohao Café does not have outdoor seating, but they have a lot of tables indoors and delivery available through Grubhub and Doordash. You can also order for takeout! They are open for lunch and dinner every day except Tuesdays.

Where is your go-to for Chinese takeout?

Sohao location: 3045 Southwest 34th Street#16, Gainesville, FL 32608

Embers Wood Grill (Gainesville, FL)

Making plans for Easter weekend?

Embers is a great choice for celebrating Easter or any special occasion! They are usually only open for dinner but for Easter they are offering their full menu starting 11am!

I finally got to try Embers, a local upscale restaurant, as it is known as quite the fancy spot in Gainesville. I was hesitant to try it for the price, but so glad I did as I can say it was definitely the best steak I’ve had in Gainesville.

Once you enter through the grand entrance decorated with a red carpet, you can get seated outdoors or indoors. They do have a beautiful seating area outdoors, but space is limited so make sure to get a reservation if you would like to sit there!

Once you are seated, you are given the menu, which ranges from seafood, soups, salads, and of course, their steaks. Our waiter was really friendly and took time to explain what sets Embers apart. Embers prides itself on its 100% USDA prime beef hand cut and trimmed in house, and all beef is grilled on their Hickory, Pecan, and Cherry wood grill. You can choose your level of doneness from Pittsburgh to Well done. Each steak also comes with two sides ranging from Grits, Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Mac and Four Cheeses with Truffle oil, and many more!

You are first given some bread before the meal and there were three bread choices: three cheese, garlic, and sea salt. I chose the three cheese and garlic, and the garlic was definitely my favorite. The bread, cooked in house, has a soft inside with a slight crust. The herb butter really complimented the bread as well.

The 10 oz Filet Mignon ($44) was cooked to perfection (I chose Medium-Rare) with a beautiful seared crust and tender red center. The meat melted in my mouth and the wood grill definitely adds a smoky flavor to compliment the juicy texture. I did not even need steak sauce as my sides added plenty of savory flavor.

The Lobster Mashed Potatoes were filled with chunks of lobster in the soft layers of potato, while the Grilled Asparagus with Bearnaise added a nice texture to the meal.

If you want a bigger Bone-In steak, you might like the 22 oz Bone-In Cowboy Cut Ribeye ($52). The meat was a bit tougher for me compared to the Filet Mignon, but it had a very nice flavor to it and was very chewy and tender. Pictured is the Ribeye with Lobster Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Wild Mushrooms. The mushrooms, which had Shiitake, Crimini and Portobello mushrooms, were tender and flavorful.

The steaks were so filling that we had no room for dessert that night! But I will definitely be back to try their desserts next time…

I highly recommend Embers for their amazing food, service, and atmosphere!