FOOD/LIFESTYLE/CULTURE
Our Obsession With Brunch
Brunch with friends and family is a hot dining trend that will be around for the foreseeable future
“Brunch — a meal usually taken late in the morning that combines a late breakfast and an early lunch.”— Merriam-Webster
Going out to brunch with my family has become a time-honored tradition. We are all diehard brunch enthusiasts and look forward to it all week.
Sometimes, we plan our brunch days in advance.
It initially began when we resided in Massachusetts in the mid-aughts when the children were very young. We would sleep in late on weekends, which would make brunch particularly appealing.
Our all-time favorite brunch spot was The Cheesecake Factory. We loved the French toast, Eggs Benedict, and waffles, not to mention the steaming hot chocolate and delicious cappuccino.
As time went on, we would begin to try out several neighborhood brunch restaurants and diners. It was a great way to support local businesses while satisfying our brunch cravings.
Lately, our favorite go-to places have been First Watch, Toasted Yolk, and Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. Even when we visit family out of state, we first discuss heading out for brunch.
History of Brunch
The word brunch is a portmanteau of the words breakfast and lunch.
In Hunter’s Weekly, British author Guy Beringer, who coined the word “brunch,” wrote:
“Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and the cobwebs of the week.”
The evidence suggests that brunch first originated at the end of the 19th century in the British upper classes, where the servants would get the day off after they had laid out a buffet spread that allowed the employers to nosh on food for the rest of the day.
As brunch made its mark in the States, it was a lavish affair served in fancy hotels to the affluent upper classes.
Menu
Brunch is traditionally served between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm.
The typical brunch menu consists of heavy, greasy foods such as eggs, pancakes, waffles, bacon, and sausage. Nowadays, healthier options are also available such as fresh fruits, vegetable salads, and cereals.
Upscale brunch is also accompanied by alcoholic beverages, including mimosas, Bellinis, and champagne.
Restaurants
A brunch business can be great for the restaurant industry because it can increase sales and bring new customers.
The price points might not be as high, but items on a brunch menu are inexpensive to prepare. Additionally, if the customers order a couple of cocktails, the restaurant can make a profit.
Most brunch spots are packed on weekend mornings. You have to make reservations well in advance for some of the more high-end spots. New York was named the best brunch city in the States by Food and Wine magazine.
Final Thoughts
There is just something exciting about overindulging in a rich, decadent meal. For us, brunch is the perfect combination of savory and sweet breakfast and lunch dishes.
However, brunch is not just any old meal. It is an occasion to spend Sunday morning with family and friends. It is not nearly as much fun without them.
In this crazy, stressed-out world we live in, it can sometimes seem like there is no time for brunch. But, be that as it may, brunch is a hot dining trend that will be around for the foreseeable future.
Do you enjoy going out for brunch? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
