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!