The First Stop: The Jones

I have to admit to being a little bit biased here. I love The Jones. So, it is with great pleasure that I make my most recent visit there the subject of my first local goodness blog entry. A friend of mine and I went there for brunch yesterday (and were happy to find it open, with so many places closed for Memorial Day weekend), and the food was amazing, as usual. I had the tuna melt, and their tuna salad includes things like green apples and a hint of lime, which makes it delicious. It also came with a little side salad, as you can see, which I had with their tahini ginger dressing: yum.
My friend had the special, which was a polenta dish with poached eggs and fresh pesto. She wasn't a fan of the overwhelming fresh basil taste, so she ordered another dish (the Blackhawk burrito, one of their amazing breakfast burritos), and when the bill came, the polenta dish had been taken off. A+ for customer service. (However, she was a huge fan of the pancakes, which she ordered as a side.)You can find The Jones at 401 NE 23rd Avenue, and they are open for breakfast and lunch from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day, and also for dinner Friday-Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Bring cash, as they do not take credit cards.
Given that they are not only locally owned and operated, but also dedicated to using locally produced and locally grown ingredients, they are the ultimate in Gainesville homegrown goodness. Go there soon - Eat local!
P.S. If you do go for breakfast, please have the biscuits and gravy. They were only a special for a while, and are now an official menu item due to popular demand. Beer cheddar biscuits, lots of delicious gravy...mmm...

What is Gainesville Homegrown?

Gainesville, Florida is a unique city. According to the city website's demographics, our 2008 population was around 125,000. Of those, around 50,000 are students at University of Florida. Almost 17,000 are Santa Fe College students.

As a result, one can assume that our population turns over about every 4 years with graduation. Of course, many students stay longer than 4 years, so that's just a rough estimate. There are many (like me!) who just can't stay away and come back for advanced degrees. But regardless, it's safe to say that our average population is younger than most. Again, according the city website, our average age is 27. Other Florida cities:

• Miami: 38
• Orlando: 33
• Tampa: 35
• Naples: 61 (wow)

Because our population is so transitory, new things are happening all the time: new restaurants, new bars, new bands. Gainesville has developed a reputation for great food and great music, and a big factor in that reputation is the fact that our local population is creating new things all the time right here in Gainesville. Of course, we enjoy some nationally owned chains, but with so many local options to choose from, why would anyone need to look elsewhere?

That's the focus of this blog. I hope to highlight all the ways you can support your local businesses right here in Gainesville. I'm looking for local produce, locally owned restaurants, bars and shops, and local bands. I will highlight the features of these right here for your viewing pleasure. So, feel free to give me suggestions! I hope to highlight one new example of Gainesville Homegrown goodness each week. Thanks for checking it out, and I hope we can discover some of the many reasons why we are so proud to call Gainesville our home.