A question that has plagued the human population for years may be getting answered at UF: What exactly is brunch?
“Breakfast at lunchtime,” Carson Ridenhour said.
Ridenhour, a freshman studying engineering, cooks brunch for his friends on Sunday mornings.
In a poor economy, money-scrapping college students are looking for even more ways to save money. Homemade group brunches may be the solution. Ridenhour's group each bring him $3 so he can make a Publix run to buy the ingredients. The more people that show up, the more he can make.
“It’s a great way to gather friends and hang out, since there’s nothing better than good food,” Ridenhour says “And I did it because I wanted pancakes. And I figured other people would, too.”
After participating in their Sunday get together, I would have to agree that it is a great idea as well as an incredible bargain. For $3 I got three full-sized pancakes, juice and even had the option of a waffle. Not to mention that the atmosphere was friendly, relaxed and I didn't have to worry about leaving a tip.
Not only is brunch cheap, but it's perfect timing for college students. After all, how many students actually wake up in the morning for breakfast?
The dining halls of UF offer breakfast from open until 10:30 a.m., then switches to lunch. There is no technical brunch in between. A poll on Facebook asked how many students actually woke up in time for breakfast at the dining hall or even ate breakfast. Here are the results:
• 41.5 percent eat breakfast but NOT at the dining hall
• 39.6 percent don't eat breakfast
• 13.2 percent eat breakfast
• 5.6 percent said that he or she did not eat breakfast at the dining hall but did not give an explanation.
But many groups may not have a cooking leader. That's OK! Gainesville's restaurants realize the appeal that brunch can have for both college students and residents alike.
The Swamp, located on 1642 W. University Ave., has a variety of brunch options on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. It ranges from sesame-style shrimp and grits to breakfast burritos, so the focus is more on savory brunch options rather than sweet.
After having brunch there, I'm definitely impressed. I ordered the Santa Fe pulled pork breakfast and was presented with a huge plate of pulled pork, two over-easy eggs and a generous portion of cheddar cheese. In short, it was delicious. The Swamp's brunch is more expensive than the homemade brunch Carson Ridenhour and his group enjoy, averaging around $11 for a meal. The atmosphere, however, is incredible and very representative of Gainesville. I would recommend the Swamp brunch for group outings and as a good location to take visiting Gator parents.
Visit the Swamp restaurant's homepage at http://swamprestaurant.com for more information.
No matter if purveying brunch options in the UF campus or even in the kitchen, Gators love brunch and it's obvious that the ambiguous dining option is here to stay.
