Citrus: an argument for the grapefruit

Our eyes met across the dining room floor: I, a thirsty customer, and her, my morning's savior. On a daily basis we, as modern humans, are presented with decisions that will ultimately have an astronomical impact on our lives. Upon rising (late) in a room that's too bright, with roommates that are too loud, a night's decisions beating down on brain signals, an evening's lost love perhaps, or maybe just a lack of electrolytes; something's got to give.

In Sunday-morning cases like this there is only one available option: the mimosa. Not just one mimosa, a carafe. Not just any mimosa, the grapefruit mimosa.

Packed with powerful antioxidants, essential vitamins, healing bioflavonoids, and other buzz-words, the grapefruit is the perfect tonic to heal a night's woes. It is only human nature to seek a balance, and brunch is nothing if not a delicate balance: the fatty wholeseome richness of the hollandaise-egg yolk mixture on the tongue can only be washed off with the tart bittersweetness of the grapefruit mimosa. After a carafe, blood begins flowing faster in the body, signals travel at breakneck speeds, and reaction times and coordination increases to superhuman levels. Upon paying for the check, a lasting glow is sure to follow throughout the day, a perfect way to end the weekend and to begin the challenges of the next week.

Best Bangs For Your Buck

1. Daylight Donuts: If you're trying to appease your sweet tooth visit Daylight Donuts for a cheap treat that will give your more options than Dunkin or Krispy Kreme. Daylight Donuts is a local favorite that will make you feel better about indulging in a sugary dessert we call "breakfast". 

2. SugarCreek Restaurant: The most quintessential American style diner, it doesn't even have a website! How quaint. Technology aside, this is the only restaurant where you can get giant heaping plates of omelettes or stacks of pancakes for basically pennies. Check out there TripAdvisor page for more info. 

3. Bay Island Coffee: Exponentially cheaper than Starbucks or trendy coffee houses (*cough VOLTA cough*) Bay Island is a small hut that sits in the parking lot across from 4Rivers in Butler Plaza. They have so many options I have died and gone to white girl heaven. I'm talking creme brûlée, cookies n' cream, sugar free hazelnut, and soy chai mochcholatteextrafoammachiatto. you get it, delicious: but most of all, inexpensive! 

The Unofficial List Of The Best Brunch In Gainesville

Here is my definitive list of the 5 best brunch spots in Gainesville: you're welcome. 

1. Paramount Grill- Prepare to spend a pretty penny, but the crusted almond and vanilla anglaise french toast might just be worth it. Worth mentioning their ever changing menu that constantly delights. Major Key: Grapefruit Mimosas. 

2. 43rd Street Deli- Definitely not as pretty as Paramount, but its the heart stopping. artery clogging. diabetes inducing goodness you know you want for brunch. Every weekend they have a special breakfast menu with items like Monkey Bread French Toast and Blue Cheese Omelettes. So bad for my body, but so good for everything else. You won't be spending more than $30 and you'll walk out the door with a DJ Khaled level style belly. Major Key: Sweet Potato Pancakes. 

3. Jones B Side- Downtown is the powerhouse of Gainesville good eats, and the Jones B Side is not to be missed. The main draw to the Jones is their collection of vegan friendly and gluten free options. However, their menu is so diverse and decadent you'll certainly be satisfied. Be sure to order the brie plate if you're a cheese lover like me. Major key: Salmon Omelette

4. Peach Valley- The quintessential brunch spot when most people think Gainesville. It has everything on the menu you could ever want from brunch. Egg white scramble to super rich chocolate chip pancakes, Peach Valley will leave you with a smile just as long as you get there early and skip the line. They even have specialty iced and blended coffees. Major Key: Apple Fritters

5. Metro Diner- The new addition to the Gainesville Brunch scene, but a winner nonetheless. Metro has all day breakfast, so how could I NOT put it on the list? They too have weekend specials that will keep you enticed every Sunday morning. You'll want to keep coming back because there is so much to try, and it is always delicious! Major key: pumpkin cream waffles (seasonal) 

Leonardo's 706

One of my favorite places in Gainesville for an over the top brunch experience. Look for free mini muffins and their special juice mix. On top of the freebies, you'll get a full international buffet from potatoes and french toast to latkes and Mediterranean rice. Enjoy! XOXO -BB

A little more about me, the Brunch Betch. Currently, I am a junior at the University of Florida studying telecommunications. As you may have guessed brunching is my passion. What draws me in to this mid-day eat fest? GLAD YOU ASKED! It's the late mornings, it's pairing booze with orange juice and knowing it's ok, it's the decadence of hollandaise sauce and raspberry mascarpone stuffed french toast, it's the atmosphere and outfits and plentiful Instagram opportunities. Mainly, it's sharing in such a cultural phenomenon that celebrates diversity and the global equalizer: great food.

The ode to the Benedict

I'll start off with an ode to the Benedict. The history of the Eggs Benedict derives from the hub of hip brunching: New York City. The origins are highly disputed, but most can agree that Lemuel Benedict walked in to the Waldorf hotel and ordered buttered toast, poached eggs, bacon, and hollandaise sauce. The hotel was so taken by this specific recipe they added it to their menu under his name. Thus forever engraving the staple of the brunch world: Eggs Benedict. Pictured is a potato pancake Benedict from a cozy little Gainesville grill, Iveys. Ivey's serves up home made food that is fresh from the kitchen, nothing you get here is formulated or repeated. But it's tiny and food runs out quickly, so get there early and grab a booth and their signature coffee brew and chow down on an infamous Benedict dish! Happy Brunching, xoxo.

Meet the Brunch Betch.

Welcome to The Brunch Betch. Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's (Gainesville) elite--brunch foods. And who am I? That's one secret, I'm totally happy to tell! I'm Andrea Marie and I am an avid brunch addict, lover, and all around enthusiast. I have garnered a passion for butter and carbs over my 20+ years of life, and it spans the entirety of the continental United States. Currently I'm a communications student at UF where my talents for scouting beautiful plates of brunch delicacies have led me to this very blog in Gainesville. I am a typical Girl-On-A-Budget. Vegan? Gluten free? Pesca-paleo-veg-whatveraterian? Not to worry, this blog will highlight all types of dietary restrictions. Here at The Brunch Betch you will find only the chicest, loveliest, and most importantly, delicious brunch options Gainesville, Fl has to offer.

A little more about me-- I like to say I'm the love child of Blaire Waldorf and Lizzie Mcguire.  A lover of all things macarons with all the class and subtle judgment of a french socialite; in tandem with the awkward grace of a pubescent middle schooler. I have a lot of opinions and snappy comebacks but they mainly culminate in my head in the form of a sassy cartoon character. And if you get any of these references, this is the blog for you! I live authentically, flaws and all-- I definitely did NOT wake up like this. And for whatever reason brunch makes me happier than most living things on this earth. Something about its comfort. Something about waking up way past 10 AM and being ok with that. Something about eating smoked salmon AND french toast AND pasta salad AND heaps of crab cake Benedict. Something about brunch.Cheers

You know you love me
xoxo,
The Brunch Betch