
Weve all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but the history of brunch suggests that its not always the kindest, as British writer Guy Beringer alluded to in his 1895 essay, "Brunch: A Plea." Instead of a heavy post-church breakfast of meat pies, he proposed a lighter, more convivial meal at noon to help Saturday-night partiers ease into the day. ''Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting,'' Beringer wrote. ''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 cobwebs of the week.''
Beringer went on to prescribe ''everything good, plenty of it, variety and selection,'' as well as beer and whisky (the precursor to our modern mimosa and Bloody Mary). But while Beringer is often credited with creating the concept of brunch, the history of this fabled meal also has roots in other traditions and cultures. In 19th century England, the landed class often sat down to luxurious, multi-course hunt breakfasts that included fruit cake, organ meats, and wild game, with Pimms Cupa gin-based cocktailto wash it all down. Catholics, who often fast before receiving the Eucharist, have also traditionallyeaten a large meal after Sunday morning services.

History of Brunch in the United States
Brunch started catching on in the United States in the 1930s and beyond due to three factors: one, Hollywood stars traveling cross country by train made it fashionable to enjoy a midmorning meal during theirChicago layovers. Two, hotels started promoting brunch on Sundays, since most restaurants were closed. And three, after the end of World War II, church attendance declined while the number of women in the workforce increased, fueling an interest in fun, relaxed weekend activities.
Today, brunch is more popular than ever (here in Portland, our weekend brunch lines are legendary), as crowds queue up from late morning to midafternoon for their chance to enjoy an indulgent, leisurely meal with friends. Its the same in many cities around the globe. Whats on the menu? Anything from a traditional eggand bacon breakfast sandwich to fried chicken and waffles, although overnight oats, avocado toast and ethnic cuisine have been trending nationwide. And of course, adult beverages like a mimosa or Bloody Mary is a must for those 21 and older. Oh, and coffee. Gallons, please!

How to Host Brunch at Home
Of course, you may want to skip the brunch lines entirely and host one yourself! Brunch is a great way to entertain at home: the casual, anything-goes nature of this meal means you can relax and plan an event that suits your tasteand that of your friendswithout a following a stuffy blueprint. After all, brunch food can be pretty much anything youd offer for breakfast or lunch: granola and yogurt, muffins, poached eggs, breakfast cereal, french toast, hash browns, or smoked salmon, salad. The skys the limit!
However, I do have some menu advice to offer, based on my personal history of cooking at a bed and breakfast on Marthas Vineyard. Ive found its helpful to start with two entrees, one savory, one sweet. Also, you should plan to make at least one entree ahead of time to cut down on your day-of labor (brunch is still about relaxing, after all). Examples of make-ahead and day-of combinations would be a vegetable frittata (assembled the night before and tossed in the oven the morning of) and blueberry pancakes (made fresh during the party), or
avocado toast (made right as guests arrive) and coffee cake (baked the night before). Round out your menu with fruit, bacon or sausage (meat or plant-based, crisped in the oven if youre cooking for a large group) and perhaps an easy-to-assemble side like a salad or hash.
When youre planning your menu, picture everything on a plate: does it seem balanced? Does everything mesh well together? Does it fit any necessary dietary restrictions? I often serve meat on the side and offer a vegan and/or gluten free option because of my particular friend group. For example, at my last brunch, I whipped up
Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free Muffin Mix (the banana nut variation from the back of the package!) with vegetable oil, almond milk, and a chia egg to create a treat free of gluten, dairy, eggs and soy. (Whew! They were delicious, too.)
Here are some of our favorite brunch recipes: mix and match them for your next get together!
Sweet Brunch Recipes: Make Ahead
Sweet Brunch Recipes: Day Of
- Pancakes are a brunch classic, and these Cinnamon Orange Pancakes are especially drool-worthy: tangy buttermilk, sweet orange, and spicy cinnamon unite to create an unforgettable dish!
- What could be better than waffles? How about vegan, gluten free waffles that taste like luscious carrot cake? These Carrot Cake Wafflescan be enjoyed by everyone. Pro tip: see if you can borrow an extra waffle iron or two to speed things up.
- Dutch baby pancakes (also known as German pancakes) look so elegant, but they're so simple to make! This Dutch Baby with Fresh Berries, Mascarpone Whipped Cream and Lemon is truly a show stopper.
- Smoothie bowls are another popular trend: delicious, easy to make, and infinitely customizable. Let your guests put together their own Chocolate Berry Breakfast Bowls.
Savory Brunch Recipes: Make Ahead
- Scrambled eggs can be tricky (and time consuming) for a crowd, but these Scrambled Egg Muffins are simple and scrumptious, a cross between an egg dish and a corn muffin. This particular recipe features ham, corn, and poblano chiles, but you can customize it to your palate.
- I admit, I can never get enough quiche. So delicious! So easy to slice and serve! This Potato and Kale Quiche is vegan and gluten free, bursting with kale and potato and full of savory flavor thanks to nutritional yeast, onion, garlic, dijon mustard, and lemon.
- Casseroles are always great for a crowd, and this Cheesy Polenta Casserole with Gorgonzola is fantastic: rich and flavorful, yet so easy to make. Serve with shrimp and hot sauce for a twist on shrimp and grits!
- Who says you can't have pizza for brunch? Our Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart is a sophisticated take on everyone's favorite take-out.
Savory Brunch Recipes: Day Of
- I admit, when I first heard about savory oatmeal, it sounded a little . . . unusual. However, Billy Parisi's Asian Style Steel Cut Oats with Fried Egg and Sriracha totally won me over. The combination of sesame oil, ginger, garlic, cream cheese, and honey with the hot sauce is heaven!
- Latkes are delicious any day of the year! TheseBaked Potato Latkesfrom Avra of Love Wild Live Free feature extra nutrients and fiber from flaxseed meal and are fussand glutenfree.
- Pancakes don't have to be sweet to be delicious: top these savoryBuckwheat Blini with sour cream and smoked salmon or creme fraiche and caviar, if you're feeling especially fancy.
- Ready to take brunch to the next level? Wow your guests (and yourself!) with Arugula Eggs Benedict with Crispy Farina Cakes. You can cheat a little and poach your eggs up to five days ahead of time, just reheat them in hot water. Also, if your hollandaise sauce breaks and separates (it will look greasy and curdled), whisk in a little boiling water for a quick fix.
Looking for a little something extra to round out your menu? We've got you covered:
Fruit (and Savory) Salads
- This tangy-sweet Strawberry Basil Farro Salad is equally appealing to your taste buds and your eyes!
- We especially like this Peachy Salad with Savory Toasted Oats because it features rolled oats (of course), but fresh seasonal peaches (or nectarines) make this one of a kind.
- Our Blueberry and Feta Quinoa Salad is packed full of protein, yet light and summery due to the addition of cucumber and mint.
- Add the flavors of summer to your table (or use cherry tomatoes out of season) with this Caprese Grain Salad.
- Bring a little ooh la la to your brunch with our hearty Farro Nioise Salad, studded with olives, capers and shallots, and garnished with green beans, tomatoes and hard-cooked eggs.
- For a salad that doubles as a dramatic centerpiece, check out Billy Parisi's Roasted Beet and Tomato Salad with Burrata and Toasted Pepitas, full of nuts, seeds, two kinds of cheese (yes), and roasted veggies!
Now the history and secrets of brunch are yours! Go forth and enjoy this uniquely pleasurable beginning to your day, just remember to keep the orange juice and champagne (or sparkling water) and coffee close at hand for the perfect brunch.
Do you have any favorite brunch recipes to share? Post them in the comments below!