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.

Each morning, the proprietors at the charming inns busily dish up traditional favorites --

many made with fresh ingredients purchased at one of Gainesville’s growing number of

Farmers markets.

area’s rich history,” says Cornelia Holbrook, owner of the 16-room Sweetwater Branch

Inn located in Gainesville’s Southeast Historic District. “And supporting our local

farmers, our economy and the environment are all traditions we hold dear,” said

Holbrook.

Just around the corner from the Sweetwater, Patricia McCants, owner of the cozy

Camellia Rose Inn, prepares one of her most requested breakfast dishes, a savory

Tomato Basil Quiche – made with fresh summer tomatoes carefully selected from

Gainesville Downtown Farmers Market and fresh basil plucked from her side yard.

“Guests appreciate that you’ve taken the time to search for the best, freshest

ingredients,” said McCants. So strolling down the street to the Gainesville downtown

farmers market or a quick jaunt to Ward’s Market, Gainesville’s locally owned and

operated grocery is a daily to-do for this busy B&B owner.

The same dedication to-all-things-Florida-fresh holds true with Lucie and Paul

Regensdorf, owners of The Grady House, a cozy 1917 bed and breakfast in High

Springs, just 20 minutes northwest of downtown Gainesville. “It’s such a treat to see our

guests swoon over our fresh berry medley. The mix of juicy, freshly picked berries

drizzled with locally produced honey truly is a simple palate pleaser, but rich in flavor

and true to our Florida roots,” adds Lucie.

Strolling through the bountiful produce at the Farmers market in High Springs is as

much of a social experience that Lucie recommends as part of a down home experience

to their guests. So it’s not the least bit unusual for Grady House guests to see

yesterday’s Farmer’s markets produce delectably transformed into a piping hot Farmer’s

Market Veggie Frittata at breakfast the next day. The Grady House Breakfast potatoes

are a morning menu mainstay too, says Regensdorf.

‘What says Southern hospitality better than delicious, locally harvested food,’’ shares

Holbrook. Each of our bed and breakfasts cherish the traditions and stories passed

down to us. In Holbrook’s case that history was actual recipes discovered in the tattered,

hand-written recipes she found in the attic of the McKenzie house. “As best we’ve

determine so far, many of these culinary finds are actually passed down from the

McKenzie family, the original owners of Sweetwater property. ‘We are carefully

compiling these recipes and printing them in our very own cookbook. In the meantime,

we are certainly enjoying taste testing each treasure!” admitted Holbrook.

Each of the Gainesville B&B’s, built between the 1867 and 1920, have been

exquisitely restored to their original charming grandeur including large wrap-around

porches and inviting verandahs -- perfect vistas for relaxing and unwinding.

Gainesville is conveniently located in North Central Florida between two of the state’s

main thoroughfares, Interstate 75 and US Highway 441 and is almost equidistant from

the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Gainesville is located approximately 129

miles from Tallahassee; 96 miles from Orlando; 118 miles from Tampa and 298 miles

from Miami.

Marcheta Cole Keefer at the Gainesville/Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau

toll-free at (866)778-5002 or 352/374-5260.

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