You're "in-store" for An Incredible, Even Innovative Dining Experience at Gainesville's New Warehouse Restaurant

Farm-to-table is the newfangled culinary label that prepares the diner's palate for a fresh from the field experience. The Warehouse, one of Gainesville's newest restaurants is not only tantalizing our taste buds with fresh and yummy but is kicking this "f-to-t" term up a notch (sorry, Emeril) by going from "Tractor to Table."

Literally, The Warehouse, located in the up and coming Downtown Main Street and Depot Road area is a revitalized well, warehouse, complete with towering loft-like ceilings which was a perfect location for its original inhabitants 70 years...International Harvester Tractors. The last 30 years it was home to an import auto parts store!

Now this location has quite successfully traded selling spark plugs and carburetors to dishing up sauteed spinach and crabmeat! Whether selecting from their lunch or dinner menu, each seemingly traditional dish offers a new, delectable twist. Take the Warehouse Steak Fries for instance. In their most basic form they are lightly, cripsy, slightly salty fried Yukon gold potatoes. But that's where the basic stops --- okay, halts. These delightful potato planks only get better when dipped in your choice of Goat cheese fondue (velvety, creamy, yummy), roasted pepper ketchup (zippy and not your everyday burger condiment), mushroom fondue (earthy and delighful) or roasted garlic aioli (rich, Italian goodness in a bowl). Really, there are no bad choices here; it's just that actually making a choose is truly the challendge. But here's a tip -- ask your server if perhaps you can have more than one ramekin of heavenly dipping sauce which was most assuredly prepared by gifted foodie gods!

And a dining experience wouldn't be complete until you sink your teeth into the heavenly puffs of the apricot beignets. The vanilla creme anglaise is literally the "icing on the cake!" so to speak.

Since opening in May, The Warehouse has quickly developed a strong cult following. And with the literal roadblocks due to the Depot Road corridor construction and revamp, not to mention those figurative road blocks associated with the opening of any business (especially a restaurant), owner Richard Yon and his dedicated team, are "plowing" the way to delight many a diner indeed.

Bottom line, don't be deterred by the detours..they're temporary...the wonderful experience of dining at The Warehouse may just last you a lifetime!

Read what other lucky Warehouse diners hav e said at Yelp as well as UrbanSpoon posts

Devilishly Fun - Devil's Milhopper State Park Delivers A Great Gainesville Adventure!

Just a hop, skip, and jump away from several of Gainesville's upscale neighborhoods, are 232-steps that wind down into the devil's torture pit! Oh, well, that's according to old Florida Indian folklore and this devil's den of doom is actually a conical shaped sinkhole and the centerpiece of Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park -- one of Gainesville's six Florida State parks.

It was the plethora of animal bones that the native Floridians regularly found at the bottom of this deep bowl that lead them to conclude the Millhopper was the ultimate resting place for the devil's victims. Now it's just a great (and safe) place to visit.

Trekking down 120-feet on the winding, but ever so sturdy, wooden boardwalk is an exhilarating "only in Florida" adventure indeed. If you opt to 'trek' in summer here's the good news: your round trip descent will make for a great calorie busting workout especially if you warm-up with a hike around this State Park's 67-acre gentle hiking trails.

Your reward is that at the bottom, it's several degrees cooler. Almost cave, plus canopy-like, cooler. It's also cooler in the awe-inspiring kind of way. With trickling waterfalls and a labyrinth of green leafy vines, it's as if you've been magically transported to a exotic Tahitian island. But caveat hiker...if your exercise regime is well, a bit dusty, step slowly, take cool water and apply plenty of bug repellent.

So do hop, go ahead skip and jump at the chance to see the Sunshine State's only geological state park and one of Gainesville's natural treasures.

Eating Local Made Easy

Ironically, some of the best consumers of Gainesville's local produce are actually vacationers staying at one of the area's seven historic Bed and Breakfasts. Here's a great example of how to sample our incredible (and delectable) produce. The Grady House's veggie frittata contains plenty of ingredients that can be found in any of Alachua County's local farmers markets. The recipe goes as follows:

• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup diced bread
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (evoo)
• 1 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 small crookneck squash, chopped
• 1/2 lb. fresh baby spinah
• 1/2 lb. baby bella mushrooms
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half & half or whole milk
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 1/4 cup grated romano
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. In an baking dish, toss together two of the minced cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp evoo and the bread. Bake in oven, stirring once, for 8-10 minutes, or until bread is lightly toasted. Set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of evoo and the onion, peppers and squash. Saute the veggies for 6-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In same skillet, saute two garlic cloves in 1 tbsp of evoo. Add mushroms and saute for 6-7 minutes until softened. Season with salt and pepper.

Place bread cubes into a lightly oiled 9" x 13" inch baking dish. Pour veggie mixture on top. Place spinach leaves over top of veggie layer. Pour mushrooms over top of spinach leaves. Spread cheeses on top of everything.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Pour egg mixture over cheese layer. Place halved grape tomatoes on top. Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 40-50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Music Lover? Gator Fan? Start Bidding!

A "Gatorized" Steinway Piano Model M is available for bidding by the University of Florida College of Fine Arts. This custom-decorated piano also comes with player attachment that plays all your favorite gator songs: the alma mater, "We are the Boys of Old Florida," and "Go Gators." The bidding for this piece of UF memorabilia starts at $25,000--a great deal considering the piano itself is worth about $55,000, the player $17,000, and the orange and blue artwork $18,000. The auction for this prize item is open until Nov. 1, 2010. Check out the video before placing your bid. Money from the bid will go to help UF's College of Fine Arts.

Who Let the Dogs Out? Check Out Gainesville's Pet-Friendly Lodging and Activities!

Gainesville is the perfect vacation spot--for you and your dog(s). The pet-friendly lodging and attractions mean you don't have to leave that extra-special canine at home while you let loose. For the month of July, Magnolia Plantation Bed and Breakfast Inn is giving 10% off for guests who bring their dogs (only for those staying in cottages). Camellia Rose Inn, Sweetwater Branch Inn, and the Herlong Mansion also allow pets as guests.
You have your dog in Gainesville, now what? Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Paynes Prairie Reserve State Park, the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park all offer outlets where you and your dog can play and explore. Of course, there is always Dog Wood Dog Park as well.
We know how much your furry friends mean to you, so we offer a vacation experience you can enjoy with them.

Nothing Says American Like Free Concerts and Fireworks

Join other patriotic Gainesville-ians on Fourth of July weekend for free activities! Listen to the All American Song Fest for Free Fridays downtown on July 2. There will be various artists playing songs that celebrate America's past to present. The concert will take place from 8-10 p.m. in the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.

For fireworks and another free concert, head out to UF's Flavet Field on Saturday, July 3, for Fanfare and Fireworks. The concert will start at 7 p.m. with performances by 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Review, Hartley Leacock and the Collective Format Band and the Gainesville Community Band. The firework show will begin around 9:40 p.m.

The city of Alachua will once again host its "Largest Small Town Firework Display in America" on July 4 at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex. The annual event draws around 20,000 people per year and provides them with activities for kids such as a petting zoo, bounce house and water slide. For adults, there is live music, dancing and bingo. Don't miss out on any of the opportunities to celebrate 2010's Independence Day in Alachua County!

Whet Your Appetite Wednesday

The featured recipe this week is: Cinnamon Raisin Souffle from the Camellia Rose Inn. It was chosen because of its inspiring list of ingredients to this already-hungry author. They are:

• 1 large or 1 1/2 loaves of cinnamon raisin bread (chopped enough to fill a 9'x13" baking pan)
• 12 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 6 oz. butter, softened
• 3/4 cup maple syrup, divided
• 10 eggs
• 3 cups half & half
• cinnamon sugar
• more maple syrup

Place chopped bread into well-buttered 9"x13" glass baking dish. With a mixer, whisk cream cheese, butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup until smooth. Spread on top of bread, leaving some openings to pour egg through mixture. Beat eggs, half & half and 1/2 cup maple syrup. Pour over bread. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cover and leave overnight in the refrigerator. Uncover and bake 60 minutes (covered with foil for last 10 minutes to keep from burning) at 350 degrees. Cut into squares and sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with maple syrup. Serves 8-10.

This is a great treat for the family on Father's Day which is coming up Sunday, June 20. Make sure Dad gets the biggest piece with breakfast in bed. For more mouthwatering recipes, visit the Camellia Rose Inn or better yet...make a reservation for Dad at this charming Bed & Breakfast -- one of Gainesville's seven historic inns!