A Culinary Adventure at Alpin Bistro in Gainesville, FL
Bon Appétit in Gainesville: Indulging in Authentic French Cuisine at Alpin Bistro
Website: https://www.alpinbistro.com/
Address: 15 SW 2nd Street, Gainesville, FL 32601
The StayGainesville Connection: StayGainesville's Susannah Peddie is a huge fan of Alpin Bistro. Her favorite spot is the outside patio. The Croque Monsieurs are extremely delicious and their salads are super fresh. They source the best local ingredients. Take a tour through Alpin with us: https://youtube.com/shorts/2b6t2elfPHI?feature=shared
From The Gainesville Sun:
“Joie de vivre” is a motto for the French.
It means more than “joy of life.” That’s not good enough for the French (or Italians for that matter). An adjective is needed: It means, “exuberant joy of life.”
Alpin Bistro comes as close to epitomizing that phrase as you are likely to find locally. If Alpin were a person, I might say she personifies “joie de vivre.”
As you walk in the door, you may disagree with me.
It’s a small place, basically square, with perhaps 10 tables indoors and another eight or so in an enclosed garden outside. The decor is not very joyous; it’s a study in gray and blue. Much of what’s here, even the booths, was house made by the owners.
An open kitchen is set off by a counter and takes up about half the indoor space. It gives the place some air, but most of the cooking takes place on the far (south) wall, meaning the chef has his back to the restaurant and you won’t see much of a show.
But Alpin is not about a show; it’s about food, inexpensive, French-inspired food, and I am happy to forgo a show if the food is good.
The specialties of the house are Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame. They sound amazing, right, very French? They are amazing, and very French. You may be imagining some sort of crock filled with rich soup or stew, or a croquette (a patty) of salmon, perhaps?
You would be wrong. The words mean “Gentlemen’s crunch” and “Lady’s crunch.” They are, in plain, American talk, grilled-cheese-with-ham sandwiches.
Don’t get me wrong, though. These are not your mom’s grilled-cheese sandwiches (unless your mom, like mine, was French). They are not slabs of Velveeta between two slices of white bread. Definitely not.
These are spectacular grilled-cheese sandwiches, and you will want to eat yours with a knife and fork, not your fingers.
The Monsieur combines melted Gruyere cheese with ham, sauce Mornay and a touch of Dijon mustard on crispy, decadent, toasted bread. It’s served with a nice salad of local greens for $13.50. You may think it sounds expensive for a cheese sandwich; I doubt you will think so after you eat it.
The Croque Madame is essentially the same thing with a perfectly soft-boiled egg on top. For $1 more, I’ll go with the egg every time. But on one of the days I sampled the Madame, lardons of bacon were substituted for the ham as a daily special. They overwhelmed the other flavors to some extent but still made for a memorable dish.
These croques actually are classic, casual French cuisine. They’re just not very frequently seen here.
If neither of those tempts you, consider a quiche, a savory tart, or charcuterie (sliced meats and meat products), all at around the same price. A leek and Gruyere tart was excellent.
Sourced from https://www.gainesville.com/story/lifestyle/food/2017/02/01/restaurant-review-alpin-bistro-offers-casual-taste-of-france/22565556007/
A Message from Alpin:
Imported delicacies paired with local goodness.
Quality Casual Dining & Brunch
Alpin Bistro features farm to table produce during the farming months,
Natural wines and authentic french recipes in a casual atmosphere that welcomes all!
At Alpin, everything is made fresh and not only is the food delicious,
It is also nutritious and made with a whole lot of LOVE!
Local partners: Vine Sourdough Bakery, Siembra Farm,
Swallowtail Farm, Afternoon Roasting Coffee
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The Independent Alligator featured The Laurel Oak Inn and The Camellia Rose Inn in article about the 4 locally owned bed and breakfasts in Gainesville, FL. Read about the rich history of the Inns and how Gainesville local Susannah Peddie has been a huge historic preservationist in town- not just with the Inns, but with her own home in the historic Duckpond and her 2 historic rental properties in The Duckpond. All of the Bed & Breakfasts in Gainesville are locally owned and operated.
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