Community Foodwaves

Roger’s Farm (Gainesville, FL)

I am berry happy…because warm and sunny weather in Florida means lots of ripe strawberries!

Roger’s Farm is open so head on over to pick your own fresh berries straight from the field. The farm has been around for over 30 years now and it offers u-pick strawberries during spring, as well as hayrides and corn mazes in the fall.

The farm is a little bit of a drive but very worth it. Once you park, they hand you a bucket and then you are free to roam the field and pick as much as you would like! Since strawberries grow low to the ground, it’s a perfect activity for your little ones as well.

Some outdoor time in the fresh air might just be what we all need during this ongoing pandemic. I’ve been very trying to get more produce from local farms to support local and get food fresh from farm to table, so I feel blessed to have a strawberry farm nearby.

The field had plenty of space for social distancing, and you can bring your own gloves if you feel wary of touching the berries.

I had never seen a strawberry flower before, but it is beautiful!

They have cute murals with strawberries and peas, as well as a stand for photo ops.

Once you pick to your heart’s content, they weigh your berries and charge around $2.50 per pound. The strawberries were really sweet and slightly tart. They are not organic.

I highly recommend checking Roger’s out and be sure to follow @rogersfarmfla for updates on the status of their fields before you go.

Strawberry fields forever~

Brother Cookie (Gainesville, FL)

If you have not tried Brother Cookie’s giant cookies already, you must.

These cookies are 4.5 inches wide and thick so they are well worth the price ($3.75 for one, $20 for six). If giant cookies are not your thing, they also have mini-giants, which are half the size ($12.50 for six).

Having started as a business out of the owner’s home during the pandemic, Brother Cookie has now grown to having their own shop. The shop has a few tables for outside seating, as well as indoor seating. I really appreciate how Brother Cookie is active in the Gainesville community, featuring local artist Forester McClatchey’s paintings (you can buy them there and check out more work @forestermcclatchey) and showing their support for the GNV unite group with their poster.

As for their cookies, they have special flavors from lemon white chocolate, rosemary balsamic fig, to iced carrot cake.

Their iced carrot cake was delicious with crisp edges and a chewy inside packed with chunks of carrot and candied pineapple. The icing on the top gives it added sweetness.

Of course you can’t go wrong with the s’mores cookie. It has large chunks of chocolate and the gooiest of marshmallow baked throughout.

I recommend the chocolate and roasted walnut for the nut lovers out there, as this one has large walnuts baked inside with chocolate chips to compliment the crunch.

Pro tip: Pop a cookie in the microwave for 30 seconds if you want that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste!

These cookies are the perfect dessert or afternoon snack and would even be great as a gift for your friends or family.

They do tend to sell out so make sure to follow @brothercookiefl for updates and call ahead to see what they still have in stock!

DJ’s Cast Iron Burger (Gainesville, FL)

DJ’s is a popup burger place, usually found right in front of Serpentine Plants. They don’t have a sign or a truck so just look out for the tented area with grilling action!

I enjoyed their outdoor picnic style aesthetic with checkered print table clothes on their tables for outdoor dining. Also, check out the beautiful murals painted on the walls of the parking lot!

They recommend getting their burger with double patties since their patties are “smashed,” so they are dense and on the thinner side.

I tried the double burger ($6.50) all the way (with bacon and cheese + $2) and it was packed with fresh beef, bacon, white cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and DJs sauce, which is a creamy sauce kinda like In-n-Out’s animal style sauce. The sauce was not heavy, which I liked.

One thing that sets DJs apart is definitely how they grill the top and bottom of their buns on their cast iron. It allows for a slightly charred, grilled taste to compliment the grilled patty and fresh ingredients. You will have to wait a bit for your order, but that’s because they start grilling once you place the order for maximum freshness.

For fries I went with the vegan dirty fries, which is their thick cut fries with chili, cheese, and scallions. This was delicious and the chili was warm, flavorful, and tasty.

Their beverages are sold in the classic glass bottles so of course I had to go for Topo Chico ($2.50) for a refreshing drink for the meal.

Full meal with burger and drink — Full Meal

Everything on their menu is available vegan for a $2 upcharge, so there are options for everyone.

Follow @djscastironburgers for their next popup!

Mac’s Drive Thru (Gainesville, FL)

There’s nothing quite like a burger and fries on a sunny day!

Mac’s Drive Thru was founded in 1987 and still has that classic vibe with both drive thru and walk up available. No dine in here. They have very limited outdoor sitting, so drive thru is the best option. Also, they are CASH ONLY, even in the pandemic.

Their menu is limited to burgers, sandwiches, fries and drinks. Sadly, no vegetarian options are available.

That being said, their prices are very good for the quality of food you get! The hamburger ($2.94) was extremely juicy and filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard.

The hamburger can be a bit small, if you are used to big burgers like me, so the double burger ($4.34) might be the option for you as you get double the meat.

The BLT (2.64) is also a solid choice if you like crispy bacon, lettuce, and tomato in burger form. They also had sandwiches ranging from ham to fish so there are plenty of choices.

Their fries ($1.74) were really good- they have the classic, skinny fries. They were crispy, fresh, and best part is that they were not overly salty. I added some fries into my burger for added savor!

Mac’s is open only until 4pm so it is the perfect option for lunch or an afternoon treat!

Southern Charm Kitchen (Gainesville, FL)

Cloudy weather got you down? How about some southern style comfort food to uplift the spirits!

Southern Charm is back up and running with indoor and outdoor dining available (when it’s not raining)!

Their pentacostal fried chicken (dark meat $11.99, white meat $12.99) is so flavorful with a thick coating of batter and chicken skin. The dark meat has juicier meat but also comes with bone in, while the white meat is also delicious so you can take your pick!

Pentacostal fried chicken dark meat, corn bread, mashed potatoes — Pentacostal dark meat, corn bread, mashed potatoes

Pentacostal fried chicken white meat, mac and cheese, pickled greens

They did not have the Meatloaf available as they were running on a limited menu.

Each entrée comes with two sides, ranging from mac and cheese to cornbread. The cornbread is phenomenal- soft, slightly grainy, and sweet. The pickled greens are also a must and very flavorful. They also have mashed potatoes even though it’s not on the menu. These potatoes are chunky with bits of herb in them, so you might not like it if you like your mashed potatoes creamy, but they are SO good. It’s the hardest decision to just choose two sides.

They also have vegan pentacostal wings and vegan mac and cheese so there are plenty of options for everyone!

If you dine in, you will see their iconic décor with older kitchen items on the colorful walls.

No need to go elsewhere for dessert, as they have large slices of freshly baked cake as well as various flavors of ice cream.

Follow @southerncharmkitchen for updates!

Teastori (Gainesville, FL)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Why not treat yoself or your favorite person to a boba Valentine on this rainy day?

Teastori has quality bubble tea with the cutest Valentines labels currently to fit the mood for love.

The labels are just a small glimpse of how Tea Stori is the definition of innovation.

They are constantly adapting to fit the desires and needs of their customers, from setting up electronic ordering machines for ordering to selling masks with LOTS of unique designs, to coming up with caramel popcorn flavored boba. They are also making a positive environmental impact by selling reusable boba cups and straws. If you are on-the-go, you can place online orders for pick up inside of the store as well.

As much as I miss hanging out and studying at Teastori (pre-pandemic days) I admire that they are taking precautions to protect public health by setting up a plastic curtain throughout the store, eliminating indoor seating, and politely but firmly refusing to serve customers who refuse to wear a mask indoors during the pandemic.

My go-to flavors are Taro Milk tea with half sugar and honey boba (when I want something sweet and smooth) or Mango Black tea with lychee (I’m team LIE-chee btw) when I am craving something lighter. I’ve tried the caramel popcorn and really liked the buttery caramel taste and appreciated how it was not overly sweet. The addition of actual caramel popcorn on top is brilliant and allows for a great aesthetic! This would be the perfect flavor for a movie night or for binge watching your favorite show.

For Valentine’s Day, I tried the Strawberry Rose Milk Tea, which was mostly milky with a hint of strawberry and sweetness.

Tip: Just make sure to add boba (+.50c) as a topping if you want it on any of your teas, as it does not come automatically included.

If you cannot decide on a flavor, Teastori also has split cups so you can select two flavors in one cup!

As for other dessert options, their macarons and mochi ice cream are also delicious and there are so many flavors to choose from!

Follow @Teastori to keep up with their latest news!

Mr. Han’s Restaurant (Gainesville, FL)

Dining at Mr. Han’s restaurant in Gainesville can best be described as an experience.

You drive up to what looks like an old, dark building and follow the sign up the stairs.

There is a sign outside of the front entrance that says Mr. Han Supper Club: Proper Attire Essential.

When you walk in, you are immediately transported to a nightclub setting from the past, with dim, red lighting and mirrored poles. It takes some time for your eyes to adjust to the light, but by that time you are already transfixed by the uniqueness of the establishment. To be clear it is not a nightclub anymore, but the décor still maintains that iconic look.

Mr. Han’s Chinese restaurant was started by the Han family in 1975, and has a rich history in Gainesville as Eric Han, who co-owned the restaurant with his parents, even hosted custom tours from Gainesville to China. You can even see pictures of Mr. Han with famous actors on the walls. Although Eric Han passed away in a automobile accident in 2009, his legacy is felt in the restaurant’s many photos of him as well as tributes to him on the menu as well (some items say Han’s favorite and Han’s created).

Although there was a steady stream of people getting take out, there were hardly any people dining in, which left plenty of space for social distancing.

The ambience of the restaurant was upscale and fancy with calming music.

We chose a table towards the back windows and were given a menu. This menu is written in such a poetic way that I wasn’t sure if I was reading a menu for food or reading a work of literature with food items as the main characters.

After contemplating the menu, and asking a few questions to our waitress, who was very gentle and kind, we ended up deciding on the Sweet and Sour Pork and Szechuan Shrimp.

The food did take a little more than 20 minutes to come out, as there were many take out orders that night, but the waitress updated us and even apologized for the wait.

The Sweet and Sour Pork ($16) was on the sweeter side with thick chunks of meat surrounded by a generous coating of batter and sauce. If you like your meat crispy, I would ask if they could put the sauce on the side as the pork did get a bit soggy.

It was very good and had some slices of onions, carrot, and green pepper in the sauce as well.

The Szechuan Shrimp ($16) was more savory with a red sauce consisting of peas and onions on top of sautéed shrimp. It was not as spicy, however, as I was hoping for so I asked for the spicy pepper oil, which added a good kick.

Both items came with tiny bowls of rice.

My experience ended with a fortune cookie, to provide some wisdom for this new year. My fortune read: “Beauty surrounds you because you create it.” This message made me think more consciously about the impact of my words and actions and how to make use these to cultivate beauty and positivity. I left Mr. Han’s with some food for thought as well as a full stomach!

I would definitely recommend Mr. Han’s if you are looking for a unique setting. It has such a soothing, peaceful, almost mesmerizing vibe with the music, red lighting, and the super kind staff to create a holistic experience.

Superette Update: Now Open! (Gainesville, FL)

Superette is now open and their beautiful outdoor space is perfect for enjoying this warm weather. They have plenty of seating spaced out for social distancing, a covered area with picnic tables, and a gorgeous mural to set the mood for a good time with friends or a date night!

I was floored by how nicely they set up the indoor space as well with red brick and wooden structures. They are fully equipped with any wine to fit your occasion and Katherine, the lovely sommelier and boss lady, will give you recommendations and the stories behind the wine. Their wines are carefully selected based on environmentally friendly farming and harvesting, as well as how natural (using less harsh chemicals) it is. They are also firm on being sure workers are paid fairly to produce the wines as well. Look no further to find wine that’s good for the body and the mind!

I was recommended the Raisins Gaulois 2019, a red wine from France. This is now definitely one of my favorite wines, as it had such a refreshing taste and was light and dry. I had it with Indian food and chocolate for dessert and it complimented both very well.

The Everyday Red was another red wine that I enjoyed that is harvested and bottled by Lusu cellars in Berkeley, California. I really like how Lusu Cellars is a family owned business that brings wine-making traditions from Portugal and Madeira to California. They use minimal sulfur in the wine and environmentally sustainable methods to grow grapes. This wine had a slightly stronger aftertaste than the Raisins Gaulois but it is not at all harsh and can be enjoyed with any food.

Superette also offers tasty options for food to pair with the wine. They have a separate lunch and dinner menu with soups, salads, toasts, and charcuterie boards made with select cheese and choice meats. Talk to Maya, another boss lady, on which dishes are available and best to pair with your drink of choice!

Superette would be an amazing option for Valentines, Galentines, or any occasion. I’m excited to see Maya and Katherine bring a new, fresh taste to the Gainesville food and drink scene! Follow @superette.gnv for hours and updates.

Sublime Tacos (Gainesville, FL)

Gotta soak in as much sun as possible before this rainy weekend!

Located as part of the 4^th Avenue Food Park, Sublime Tacos is definitely where I go when I want to enjoy some delicious food outdoors!

The park is a great place to come with family (especially the little ones) and friends! The location is also super convenient because you can enjoy any of the other restaurants located in the park there as well, or Opus coffee! Sometimes they have movie or game showings outdoors so you can follow @4thavefoodpark for updates.

Sublime Tacos has indoor and extensive outdoor dining, as well as delivery and pickup.

I usually get the 3 taco pack ~$9 and this time I went with Carnitas, Fish, and Beef short rib soft shell tacos.

I highly recommend the fish as it was so tender and practically melted in the mouth.

The carnitas, or braised pork, is also a solid choice drenched in a sweet and savory sauce.

The beef short rib was very charred but still enjoyed the juiciness. All of the tacos came topped with lettuce, red onions, tomato, sour cream, and cheese.

They also have plenty of vegetarian choices, such as eggplant, mushroom, and tempeh. The eggplant is very tender and flavorful while the mushroom has a more chewy texture.

Spicy tip: Definitely go for the red hot sauce and fresh jalapeños if you really want a kick!

Their chips are crispy with just a hint of salt-perfectly seasoned. I enjoyed the fresh guacamole and pico to dip!

Updates and specials can be found at: @sublimetaco

Tup Tim Thai (Gainesville, FL)

Ready to eat? Here’s a few reasons why you should try Tup Tim Thai! Located right across from campus, they have plenty of indoor seating or take out.

They do not have outdoor seating. I have dined there before the pandemic and went to get take out a few times since. If you driver there, they do have a small parking lot right behind the store. Keep your eyes peeled for the side street on the left of the restaurant!

I was super happy when Tup Tim Thai opened last January 2020 since it offers a variety of options in terms of Asian food. They serve Thai noodle and rice dishes, as well as Japanese sushi, bento boxes, and hibachi.

Their interior is lavishly decorated with Asian paintings and figurines. They had a front area for pick up sectioned off with a plastic wall for protection. They also had hand sanitizers and masks for anyone who needed it.

Pad Thai ($11.95) is a staple here and I like how the noodles are firm and mixed well with tons of sauce, along with your choice of meat (i chose beef), egg, scallion, bean sprouts, and topped with crushed peanuts. The lime seemed cooked by the time I got it, but that might be because the noodles were steaming hot!

The Pineapple Fried Rice ($11.95) is really flavorful and has a nice curry flavor to it along with a few chunks of pineapples, egg, onions, cashews, and raisin. I got mine with chicken, but you can choose from beef, shrimp, pork, or tofu as well.

Pad See Ew ($11.95) has wider rice noodles mixed with egg, choice of meat (I chose pork), carrots, and broccoli. It has a soy sauce based brown sauce but it was definitely mild and a bit bland so if you like spicy noodles, I would recommend the Pad Drunken Noodles more than this one.

Portions are definitely worth the price and they even have a lunch special from 11am-3pm so you can get even better deals and a free spring roll with any entrée!

Yummy House (Gainesville, FL)

Yellow baked egg tarts and crispy fried dumplings

Honey glazed pork and warm pineapple buns

Shu Mai and Har gow and Xiaolongbao

These are a few of my favorite things~

Today I am featuring some of my favorite dim sum items at Yummy House in Gainesville!

They have indoor seating distanced, as well as take out. They do not have outdoor seating, unfortunately.

Dim sum is another thing I greatly miss during this ongoing pandemic. My memories of dim sum are centered on sitting around a big lazy Susan table with family and friends, stuffing ourselves with food and tea. I could not resist and went to get dim sum on multiple occasions during the pandemic, mostly choosing take out or going before the lunch hour rush (before noon). Keep in mind that Dim sum is only offered at lunchtime 11-2:30 pm.

If you choose to dine in, you will be seated and then given a menu with all of the items to choose from. Prices are different based on whether the dish falls under small ($3.50), medium ($3.95), large ($4.50), or chef’s special ($8.99).

Pan Fried Chive Dumplings ($3.95)-The dumplings are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with chunks of chive and shrimp as the filling. My favorite dish to get!

Shrimp Dumplings, or Har gow ($4.50)-These traditional Cantonese dumplings are so simple with a chewy, translucent wrapper filled with warm shrimp pieces. These are a must.

Steamed Sticky Rice w. Shrimp ($4.50)–This dish is similar to the Har gow, but different in that the outer portion consists of sticky rice and the inner filling is a chewy, bouncier shrimp mixture

Shu Mai or Siu Mai(Steamed Pork and Shrimp; $3.95)-Shu Mai is the favorite of many, as it has a chewy mix of pork and shrimp wrapped in a wonton pastry wrapper. So meaty and delicious!

The steamed rice rolls are also one of my favorites, but sadly they rarely have them available.

If you like things spicy like I do, I highly recommend the chili oil to complement any of the dumplings or rice dishes. The oil has chunks of red pepper that adds a nice kick to the dish.

Honey Glazed BBQ Pork, or Char Siu ($8.99) –This is a Cantonese style roast meat that is so flavorful. It is mostly sweet with a savor caramelized finish to the edges.

Now for dessert!

Baked pineapple buns ($3.95) –these are amazing. Seriously. Try it if you like custard as these buns have a crispy and sweet crust on the outside, and are filled with warm, yellow custard on the inside. These are different from the pineapple buns they sell at Sweet Buns (since those are filled with chunks of pineapple). I really wish they sold these at the bakery since they are delicious.

Hong Kong Style Egg Tarts ($3.95)-These egg tarts have a flaky, crispy crust with a soft, egg custard filling.

I’m grateful to have a place that serves dim sum in Gainesville, and wish for the pandemic to end so that we can go back to dining out and enjoying each other’s company without fear!

Until then, let’s keep calm and dim sum (safely, or course)!

Doxa Coffee Co. (Alachua, FL)

I’m supposed to be studying…so naturally I going to write about food instead of studying!

This post relates though, because I am discussing one of my absolute favorite places to study or grab coffee. Doxa Coffee Co. in Alachua, Florida is a bit of a drive away, but so worth it if you are looking for a quiet place to sit down, unwind, and enjoy your drink!

They do have a few small tables for outdoor seating, as well as distanced seats and a high ceiling inside.

The décor is modern and sleek with bookshelves, iron bars, and wooden accents.

My favorite area is the upstairs seating, where you go up a spiral staircase and then they have some cozy areas with couches and bookshelves with games. I cannot wait for COVID to be over so that we can go back to enjoying cafes indoors with no worries…

I got the pour over ($4), which was made of Duromina beans sourced by Ethiopia and roasted by Bandit Coffee Co. I was interested to try a fruitier blend as this one had notes of strawberry, clementine, and brown sugar. You would definitely like this if you like a coffee that is not too heavy and has a fresh aftertaste.

The vanilla latte ($4.75) was made with their espresso, consisting of Ceiba beans originated from Guatemala and also roasted by Bandit Coffee Co. This one was not too sweet and had a slightly fruity and chocolately note. The latte art was also beautifully done.

They also have tea, house-made lemonade, and hot chocolate if you would like something not coffee. I like how they sell locally sourced raw unfiltered honey ($8 per container) from Gaskins Apiaries.

Be sure to check out Doxa if you are in the Alachua area or would like to try somewhere new for coffee! Their hours and updates can be found @doxacoffee