What is brunch? Half breakfast, half lunch.
An increasingly popular experience, offered by both restaurants and bars, and as a convivial moment within the walls of the home. Brunch is a cross between breakfast and lunch. What does brunch mean? What exactly does brunch entail? Linguistically, brunch is derived from English, combining “breakfast” and “lunch” into one word, signifying a meal that sits midway between breakfast and lunch. True to its name, brunch merges the flavors and timing of both breakfast and lunch offerings.
When is brunch time?
Usually, brunch takes place late in the morning, in a time slot that goes from 11:30 onwards, to be able to calmly appreciate the day, in complete relaxation, and have enough time to eat sweet and savory recipes.
History of Sunday brunch
Brunch, a convivial tradition originating in England, is typically enjoyed on weekends when there’s ample time to savor it, hence its association with Sunday brunch. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, brunch is defined as “a meal eaten in the late morning that is a combination of breakfast and lunch,” essentially merging the best of both morning meals into one delightful dining experience.
But what is the history of brunch? The first appearance of the word brunch dates back to 1895, in an article entitled “Brunch: a Plea” by Guy Beringer of Hunter’s Weekly magazine. Guy Beringer describes brunch to the reader like this:
The word Brunch is a mix of breakfast and lunch, and Brunch seamlessly blends the comforting elements of morning fare like tea or coffee and jam with the heartier aspects of lunch. It starts around half past twelve and is divided into a main course of fish and one or two second courses of meat. Brunch is a hospitable meal. The brunch is cheerful, sociable and stimulating: it stimulates conversations with the guests. It puts you in a good mood; it makes you satisfied with yourself. It blows away the worries and cobwebs of the work week. Post Scriptum: Beer and whiskey are permitted as substitutes for tea and coffee.
Brunch foods: what do you eat at brunch?
Brunch foods make up what can be defined as a brunch menu, which invariably includes preparations that can be served as a buffet, both savory and sweet. For a brunch at home, especially if it is a Sunday brunch, you can think of different recipes in order to satisfy multiple palates and needs.
Brunch foods are potentially infinite, so we’ll give you an idea of some brunch recipes that are used on these occasions:
- Omelets, or eggs in general
- roast meat, hot and cold
- sandwich with cold cuts and cheeses
- pancakes, sweet and savory
- plum cake
- sweet cakes
- roasted vegetables
- potato salad
- tarts
- smoked salmon and avocado dishes
- fresh fruit
- Beef Wellington
- stuffed bagels
- savory puff pastry pies
- hummus and dips for crostini
- salami and cheese plates
However, what about the beverages? What do you drink at a brunch? A wide choice of drinks can never be missing from a brunch: coffee, tea, herbal teas, juices, freshly squeezed juices, extracts. In keeping with the English brunch tradition, in addition to non-alcoholic drinks, alcohol should also be included: beer, prosecco, easy-to-prepare cocktails such as Gin Tonic, Aperol Spritz, Americano, Vodka Tonic, Bellini.
Brunch: how is it prepared?
Given the large number of foods to bring to the table, preparing a brunch requires organization. First of all, the timing: typically festive, brunch is served on weekends. It’s a meal that should be enjoyed in peace, so make sure all your guests can fully enjoy this jovial event, without having to watch the clock.
In this regard, there is no written rule on the time for brunch, but it tends to be served starting from mid-morning, between 11.00 and 15.00. Obviously nothing prevents you from choosing your own time, but in this case make sure to communicate the indicated time to all participants.
Also remember that the aristocratic origins are over, now brunch is the informal meal par excellence, so reassure any guests to come in the most comfortable clothing possible.
Another dilemma could be whether to set up for eating at the table or propose a standing solution. It depends on the number of people and the space you have available; organizing a colorful and varied buffet could prove to be the best solution for your needs.
Although there is full freedom of interpretation, it is preferable not to leave out certain protagonists at the table, such as fresh fruit (both whole and in juice form, freshly squeezed or the centrifuged version), possibly without treatment, cereals with milk or yogurt, and sweeteners of side dishes such as jams and honey.
Depending on how you decide to prepare your brunch, the setup changes. In the case of a buffet, drinks, both hot and cold, must be placed in jugs for self-service, flanked by a generous number of glasses (always put more than the number of actual guests, so as not to force them to mix). Prepare some large bowls for serving yogurt, jams, and sauces, not forgetting to add an appropriate spoon to each bowl so guests may serve themselves.
If, however, you have preferred the classic choice of seated table service, it is good practice to place two glasses next to everyone’s plate, one for hot drinks and one for cold ones. However, the arrangement of yogurt, jams and sauces does not change.