My Personal Gainesville Restaurant Week | MUST EATS!

In honor of the Annual Gainesville Restaurant Week that has so graciously been put on each year by the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, I have decided to highlight my personal, favorite restaurants in the area.  Now, none of these are featured restaurants on this years official tour, but make no mistake about it, they are OFFICIAL IN TASTE and need to be frequented. My wife and I are self-proclaimed "foodies".  We are contacted by many in our circles and are considered  reliable and consultative specialists when it comes to food and restaurant recommendations.  I would venture to say that, between us, there isn't one restaurant door that has gone unopened in Gainesville and the surrounding areas so I have a pretty qualified opinion on most places.  We enjoy dating and family time in a good restaurant, mostly the ones that are least advertised and underground favorites. So whether you're looking for a date spot, a catered event, or a brief meeting location, these eating sanctuaries will be right up your alley!

Civilization
1511 NW 2nd Street
Nestled near the Duck Pond area of Gainesville, this quaint restaurant is ideal for quiet conversation, a

small little getaway, and, of course, a great meal.  Now, me being from the densely-populated, urban demographic of the Chicagoland area of Illinois, I have never come in contact with a buffalo, let alone ever tasted one.  But let it be known, Civilization has an undeniably great and hearty Water Buffalo burger.  I would liken it most closely to an Angus beef burger, but with a more robust and rich flavor.  It's sure to capture your taste buds and leave you full; especially on the king of buns, the kaiser roll.  This is just one of the many organic, international treats on their menu. And, for the health conscious, Civilization is greatly vegan-friendly.  Civilization is definitely a natural food lover's spot and a free-feeling ambiance to take advantage of in Gainesville.

The Top
30 N Main Street
This is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in Gainesville.  With me being a city boy, I am always on a

quest for venues, activities and restaurants that most closely resemble the food, culture and ambiance of "the big city" and, if only for a few hours, remind me of the urban, city culture.  THIS IS IT! Located right on Main street near the precise center of Gainesville (University and Main) it is always a bustling and tasty option.  But you may want to allow for a long wait time because it's always full… and well worth the wait.  If you go, and I highly recommend you do, you absolutely cannot leave with out at least ordering the corn nuggets.  I don't know how they make them, but they are similar to chicken nuggets but with a burst of seasoned cream corn, flavored just right to leave you wanting another bite each time.  You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu, though.  A MUST EAT!

Southern Charm

• 1714 SE Hawthorne Road

What good is it to live in the South and not have a viable option for "good ol' home cookin'".  I, too, enjoy southern cooking, but my biggest hang ups, most times, are that the food is heavy, in most cases, unhealthy, and usually cooked with a bunch of grease.  This makes it hard to justify eating these meals regulary and preserving my sexy LOL!  However, Southern Charm, qualifies for the best of both worlds. Nestled in the heart of east Gainesville, with a decor of an upscale, blues shack, Southern Charm is the brainchild of the same people that brought you the tasty goodness of Reggae Shack.  There are a number of guilt-free and creative dishes that they have fused together with names and tastes that we have come to enjoy such as Shrimp and Grits, Chicken and Waffles, Succotash, Okra, collard greens, apple turnovers and more!  I highly recommend the Shrimp and Waffles followed by the Apple turnovers with ice cream.

The Jones B-Side
203 SW 2nd Avenue
This upbeat, eclectic joint has moved it's home from it's East Gainesville location to one centered downtown in the party district of Gainesville. This is another new-aged, organic and naturally-raised food restaurant and it is DELICIOUS! And, for my personal taste, you can usually catch them playing some underground and old school hip-hop beats from A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Mos Def and the like. For someone like myself that just plain LOVES food, but needed to find a balance that I don't revert back to the 5'6", 200 pound frame of my former self, I have struggled to find delicious, gluten-free and/or organic alternatives to desserts that would rival my all-time favorite sweets.  But I have found some at The Jones. Let me recommend the vegan chocolate cake, the pecan bar, the chocolate chip brownie and the gluten-free chocolate chip pecan cookie.

Satchel's Pizza
1800 NE 23rd Avenue
Nestled on the Eastside of Gainesville, this iconic pizza restaurant resembles the home base of Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and their crew and it's by design.  The decor includes old 1960's games, paraphernalia, and even vehicles, in which you can dine, that resemble Scooby's mystery machine.  This theme and creative measures taken are what make Satchel's so unique and set apart from any other pizza place you will visit in the WORLD.  And it only helps that their jumbo pizzas with a wide array of toppings and flavors are mouth-watering and euphorically delicious… Come to think of it, I've often questioned whether their pizzas are baked with some other artifacts made popular in the 1960's era (please see Snoop Dogg.)  Two important things to be aware of when eating at this Gainesville Landmark: (1) allow for much wait time because it's always packed.. rightfully so, and (2) Be sure to bring cash! They're one of the few businesses that still operate on a cash basis in 2014.

The Hyppo
214 SE 2nd Avenue
I would have never thought you could find so much value in a popsicle.  But these aren't your everyday push-pops or Rocket pops.  The Hyppo is a boutique popsicle shop that prides themselves on an extremely unique offering of gourmet popsicles made with authentically real (not from concentrate either) ingredients.  They were birthed in St. Augustine, Florida and brought their coastal exclusivity and popularity to downtown Gainesville.  Their unique flavors such as Guava Hibiscus, Pineapple Cilantro, and Mango Habanero make this not just a great symphony of flavors, but an unparalleled experience… And they are DAAAAARN GOOD!!!  My favorite is the creamy, dreamy Key Lime Pie flavored pop.



Thank you so very much for you continued support.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions pertaining to this or any other real estate related topics at (352) 246-8706 or at jhurst@mmparrish.com.  You can also visit my website at www.jasonjhurst.com.  And remember, when it comes to real estate, THINK HURST 1ST!

The City of Gainesville | #5, Should Have Been #1 to Me

For those that know me, you can vouch for the fact that I am VERY proud of my Chicagoland heritage.  Though most of my city's sports team - for which I am a devout fan of all of them - have not given me much to cheer for lately (except in hockey.. GO BLACKHAWKS!), I am still proud to call the Land of Lincoln my home.  This is largely why I made up my mind that my stay in Gainesville, Florida was going to be short-lived when I first moved here in 2006. Eight years, a marriage, great church, and one son later, I have placed roots in the great city of Gainesville, Florida.  These 8 years as a citizen roughly equate to 25% of my life and it doesn't seem that I will be moving anywhere any time soon. So, it's safe to say, I'm a "Gainesvillian!"

A recent report released by Movoto Real Estate listed our great city of Gainesville, Florida as the #5 best place to live in the entire state of florida - trailing only Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Winter Park, and Pompano Beach.  These were the reasons cited for their determination of placing Gainesville at #5:

• Low unemployment rate (7.9%)
• Low cost of living
• Low average commute time (20 minutes)
• Beautiful average summer temperature (79 degrees)…. not sure how they came up with that one
• (No surprise here) The University of Florida offering a college town vibe sparking music venues, bars, art festivals, and local improv groups.

However, having lived here for the past 8 years and deeply exploring Gainesville to make the most out of my experience living here, I have a very different view of the city which would qualify it for a #1 ranking as the, hands down, best place to live in Florida. Here are the points of my case:

• Thanks to the University of Florida, we have one of the most decorated and richest sporting and scholastic traditions in all of the world - winning multiple national championships across multiple sports, as well as graduating multiple thought leaders and merit scholars into major contributors to society.  On top of that, the university has a long-standing position as one of the top 10 largest universities in the US.

• Gainesville's State Parks are some of the most beautiful, organic, natural wonders that you will ever experience (Devil's Milhopper, Dudley Farm, Gainesville-Hawthorne Bike Trail, Payne's Prairie, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, and San Felasco Hammock.)  Not only can you come face-to-face with bull gators and bison, but you can
  
  also enter the breath-taking depths of the earth and experience one of the world's largest sinkholes.  

• Let's say, for some reason, you just can't assimilate to the culture of Gainesville and just need to get away.  Well, you'd be happy to know that Gainesville is within a 2-hour drive of some of the best and most active cities, attractions, and beaches that the state has to offer, including Daytona Beach, Orlando, Cedar Key, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Amelia Island and more!

• Now, as a Chicagoan, I am intimately acquainted with one of the nation's most eaten delicacies: pizza!  Since I come from one of the pizza capitols of the world, I have earned my stripes to offer a qualified opinion on this matter.  With that being said, Satchel's Pizza, on the east side of Gainesville is, hand's down, one of the best pizza places in the nation -- You have to experience it.. and their atmosphere is an experience in itself. 

• The natural springs of Alachua county are some of the most awe-inspiring and fun venues in all of the country.  Located just north of Gainesville on the Sante Fe River, Ginnie Springs offers tubing, cave diving, kayaking and more.  And you can also encounter one of the most gently-large, endangered species up close - the manatee.
  
   
• We have a real "Miracle on 34th Street"! Coming from an urban scene where graffiti and other expressive wall art is frowned upon, Gainesville can boast that we encourage this form of
  
  expression.  The 34th street graffiti wall is an attraction and staple of the community, offering any citizen, or friend of the city, an opportunity to express themselves at any given time.

I can seriously go on about Gainesville, Florida - the town where I met my wife, the town where my son was born, and the town that I have grown to love and call myself a proud citizen of, but there seriously aren't enough characters nor enough time for me to write it all… and retain your attention at that.  So just take my word for it… Any outsider can spend a few days here: speaking with locals, frequenting a few spots here and there, but to truly know Gainesville, Florida, is to love it! And that's why it gets a #1 ranking all day long from me.  :)

Contact me if you have further questions or need anymore information.  I also love to hear your feedback if this information has been helpful to you.  Peace and increase!!

When it comes to Real Estate, Think Hurst First!