Micanopy Mud Pie - Pearl Country Store & Barbecue

Looking for some new scenery outside of Gainesville? Head on down to Micanopy - only 20 minutes south of Gainesville!

Micanopy is sometimes called the "town that time forgot," and it's loaded with historical buildings, antique shops, and that classic Southern charm. For lunch, don't miss the Pearl Country Store & Barbecue on Highway 441. This gas station & convenience store holds one of Miconopy's hidden gems. The restaurant inside serves finger-lickin' barbecue and pies that can't be beat!

This is the Micanopy Mud Pie:


The fluffy, light mousse is sprinkled with chocolate morsels and pecans, and sits in an excellent flaky, homemade crust. It has just the right amount of sweetness, and it's the perfect compliment to a sweet & savory barbecue meal!

They have lots of other pies, and an almost-famous banana pudding! Take a day trip to Micanopy and stop in at the Pearl if only just for dessert!

Nero's Pasta & Pizza - Two-Timing Cheesecake

Nero's Pizza & Pasta works is not your typical Italian restaurant. They really strive to make you feel like you're part of the family. After barely crossing the threshold, you're greeted by a resounding welcome in a thick Italian accent. These guys are no joke - words like "badda bing!" flow out of their mouths as easily as us Southern folk say "ya'll." The dining room is decorated with large Italian murals, including a slightly cloudy sky on the ceiling, and gives the impression that you're eating in a small cafe in Italy.

The menu describes the Two-Timing Cheesecake as "layers of white chocolate cheesecake on top of a layer of milk chocolate cheesecake, topped with vanilla cream, all sitting on a thin layer of chocolate cake."

This very tall slice of cheesecake is rich & creamy but still fluffy & light, pleasantly coating the mouth as you eat. There is a noticeable difference in flavors between the vanilla and chocolate cheesecake layers, but the chocolate is not overpoweringly sweet. As the menu describes, the whole thing is sitting on a thin layer of chocolate cake. They're not kidding about the thin part! It's so thin, I almost didn't notice it. However, I think it is the perfect thickness for this dessert. It reminds me more of a crust rather than a piece of cake, but it's certainly delicious. To my chocoholic delight, they top the whole thing with whipped topping, fudge drizzles, and chocolate morsels!

This summer, take a day-cation to Italy via Nero's Pizza & Pasta - just for dessert.

Nero's Pizza & Pasta
5240 NW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 372-7430

Too Jay's - Key Lime Pie

"Key Lime Pie: A cool and creamy version of this Florida favorite beats the best of Key West," reads the dessert menu at Too Jay's.

Is it their most popular dessert? Considering it's listed second to last on the dessert menu, I'd guess not. Regardless, it deserves a tasting! What better way to jump into the summer season?


Upon my first taste, I was intrigued. It's not really cake...not cheesecake...and not pie...so what is it exactly? The texture is thick yet fluffy, custard-like yet slightly reminiscent of cheesecake. The entire thing sits on a homemade graham cracker crust and is topped with light, airy whipped topping. Overall, the Key Lime Cake is refreshing and perfectly portioned for one hungry diner or two to three just wanting a taste. Does the Too Jay's version beat those in the Key West? That's for you to decide. One thing is for sure, though, each bite will conjure up old memories of childhood summers and images of carefree days in Key West.

So visit Too Jay's, order the Key Lime Cake, and allow them to take you on a mini vacation - just for dessert.

Too Jay's Original Gourmet Deli
3410 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 244-0793
www.toojays.com

Stay tuned: We'll be returning to Too Jay's soon! They have an abundance of desserts - we have to try more than one!

Where to Next?

What does the future hold for "Just for Dessert"? Here are a few places on our list of restaurants to try. This map is interactive - you can drag it around to view more of the state, click the push-pins to get restaurant information, and zoom in and out. You can even change the view from map to satellite or to terrain. Give it a spin!

Don't see your favorite dessert hot spot? Leave a comment, and we'll be sure to add it to our list!


View Dessert Hotspots in a larger map

Gourmet Chocolate Lava Cake - At Home!

One of the most popular desserts at a restaurant is a chocolate lava cake. Top it with fresh fruit and sprinkled powdered sugar and it's unbeatable! Watch this video to learn how to create a gourmet-looking lava cake in your own home:



The recipe:
4 4-ounce ramekins
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1/4 pound unsalted butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
garnish: powdered/icing sugar, strawberries (optional)

Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare ramekins by generously buttering sides and bottoms. Place a parchment paper circle in the bottom of the ramekin and coat the inside with granulated sugar.

Melt the chocolate and 1/4 cup butter on a double boiler.

Whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour just until blended. Gradually add the chocolate/butter mixture to the flour mixture. Divide the batter evenly among the ramekins, filling each with approximately 1/3 cup of batter. Place ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake at 400F for 10-12 minutes, or until the tops are firm and edges are set.

Cool slightly. Run a butter knife around the inside edge of the ramekin to loosen the cake. Invert on a plate and garnish as desired.

Nobleton Canoe Outpost

Nobleton Outpost
29295 Lake Lindsey Road
Nobleton, FL 34661
352-796-7176
www.nobletonoutpost.com

Mochi Frozen Yogurt

It's new! It's fresh! It's hip! It's frozen yogurt! And it's fat free???

Yes, it's true! Mochi's mission is to "provide the community with a nutritional dessert alternative. [They] offer 100% non-fat, cholesterol-free tart frozen yogurt that promotes good health, not only by providing a good source of calcium, but also by boosting the immune system and maintaining a healthy digestive system."

Mochi is quickly causing a stir in Gainesville, and they've already jump-started their presence on Facebook, My Space, and Twitter. So what's all the commotion about?

(Photo courtesy of the Mochi Facebook site.)

Mochi is not just any frozen yogurt shop - it specializes in tart flavors and it's completely self-serve! As you enter, you're handed a few 1-oz sample cups so you can taste some of the 8 flavors, which will aparently rotate each week. This week's flavors are:
Taro
Coco-Nilla (coconut & vanilla)
Raspberry
Original (reminiscent of vanilla, but not as sweet)
Strawberry
Mango
Honeydew
Lychee

You can fill your cup with any combination of flavors, and then make your way over to the toppings bar. They offer 30 different toppings, including fresh fruit, Fruity Pebbles, Captain Crunch, sprinkles, and mochi. What is mochi? According to their facebook page, "mochi is a popular Asian rice cake made of sweet rice flour that is usually eaten as a snack or dessert." And it's actually pretty delicious on the frozen yogurt!

Once you've loaded your cup with frozen yogurt and toppings, place it on the scale near the cash register. It's only 45 cents per ounce so the small cup can range from $3 to $5, depending on the toppings you choose.

And for all the greenies out there, the cups and spoons are completely biodegradable. Even better - eat at Bento and receive $1.00 off at Mochi on the same day! Another great reason to try Mochi Frozen Yogurt - just for dessert!

Mochi
3841 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 371-7575

Sweet Dreams - Homemade Ice Cream & Sorbet

According to a Localism.com blog post by Angela Elliott, Sweet Dreams is "the best ice cream shop in Gainesville." Elliott raves, "What I like about Sweet Dreams is that they are not afraid to branch out and make unique flavor combinations, some that may even be considered a little 'weird' by some people's standards."

Sweet Dreams, which opened its doors in 2005, satisfies a large crowd of ice cream-goers by offering the classics (mint, chocolate, vanilla, cookie dough) alongside the new flavor combinations - with even a few strange ones. During my visit, the flavors included butter rum (with Meyer's dark rum), Bailey brownie, raspberry chip (delicious, in my opinion), Italian coffee, and eggs & bacon. But it doesn't stop there! The also offer dairy-free sorbet and Italian ice.

All of the ice cream is made in-house and the flavors rotate so each time you visit, you are given a new selection to choose from. In fact, according to Gainesville.com, the owners, Mike & Lisa Manfredi, make about 70 gallons of ice cream in 5-gallon batches on production days. Sweet Dreams is also a member of the Eat Local Challenge sponsored by Hogtown Homegrown. The initiative, which occurs every May, challenges residents to eat locally at least once a day, whether it be through locally-grown produce or by supporting locally operated restaurants. The participants can track their progress and enter to win prizes at the end of the challenge period.

During this visit to Sweet Dreams, I chose a S'mores Sundae, which involved vanilla ice cream covered in graham cracker crumbs, thick fudge, fluffy whipped topping, and a cherry. It was quite delicious, and perfect for 2 to share for an afternoon snack!


It's not about presentation here - ice cream is served either in a cone or a Styrofoam cup. But, if you're in the mood for a treat, whether it be a classic flavor or something new, head over to Sweet Dreams - just for dessert.

Sweet Dreams
3437 W University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 378-0532

Cabana Cove - Cheese Cake Xango

The menu describes it as "cheese cake, bananas, and caramel wrapped in a crepe, fried and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and finished with fresh fruit."


Not being a huge banana fan, I wasn't sure if I'd like the dessert, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Overall, the Xango had an excellent balance of flavors, textures, and temperature. The banana was subtly sweet, fresh, and soft, while the crepe was perfectly crisp and slightly buttery. The warmth of the fried crepe perfectly contrasted the chill of the ice cream and whipped cream. Each bite was a new experience as the many flavors and textures hit my taste buds in different orders.

The dessert arrived at the table obviously freshly prepared. There was no evidence of ice cream melting and the crepes were still deliciously warm. While the caramel flavor seemed to be a silent contributor to the taste, it served to enhance the already beautiful presentation.

The Cheese Cake Xango is definitely worth the visit to Cabana Cove, even if it is just for dessert.

Cabana Cove
2410 NW 43rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 377-3278
www.cabanacove.net

A Sweet View of Gainesville

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Melanie, and through this blog, I hope to take you on a tour of the wonderful desserts available in Gainesville, FL and the surrounding area.

Who am I and why would I do this? I am currently a graduate student researching obesity (quite ironic, isn't it?), but I have always been obsessed with baking. To me, a good dessert isn't just tasty. It must have an impressive presence on the plate. Have you ever heard the saying "you eat with your eyes first?" Consider this situation: You are presented with 2 plates. The first plate has a cleanly cut, intact piece of apple pie. It is sprinkled with cinnamon and topped with a heaping scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

The second plate contains a piece of apple pie where the filling is spilling out all over the plate, and the crust is crumbling and broken. Which would you dive into first? Sure, they may taste the same, but the experience in eating the first piece of pie would be much more satisfying. Read this interesting blog entry by Sean Kelly for more proof.

It is my self-assigned mission to scour the Gainesville area in search of praise-worthy desserts. I will visit restaurants, interview employees & customers, photo-journal the experiences, and report them all back here. Yes, I'm volunteering to do all the dirty work for you! It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!