What time is brunch? Nowadays, the term “brunch” has become popular, but people still need a clear explanation about the time to take this meal. Knowing when is the right time to start brunch will help you prepare the meal and send the invitation.
Therefore, I will share with you some essential information related to brunch in this article. During the journey, you will learn about brunch culture, the appropriate time to start this meal, and some menu brunch sets.
Brunch – A Pleasant Meal
Brunch is a pleasant meal that has developed more like a social event than ever. It’s a perfect time to gather with friends and colleagues to have delicious food.
The History Of Brunch In British And America
Brunch is a combination between breakfast and lunch and was first mentioned in 1895 by Guy Beringer in his article Hunter’s Weekly (1). He suggested brunch as a late-morning meal on Sunday for those who don’t want to get up early.
However, the brunch concept originated early in the 1800s around the British upper class. Servants at this time were allowed to take a day off on Sundays. Therefore, they initiated a buffet for the masters to graze breakfast and lunch items when they left.
Until 1895, when the term “brunch” first appeared in British English, it was described as a hangover meal with friends while talking about the previous night’s stories.
In the early 20th century, brunch concepts came to the U.S. and became popular with Hollywood Stars by the 1930s.
However, it was until the 1960s that Americans took brunch regularly. Many restaurants and hotels serve this meal to their customers on Sundays with various menu options.
Why Do People Enjoy Brunch?
People around the world love brunch for several reasons. Brunch not only acts as a light meal but also a chance for friends and colleagues to mingle and socialize in modern life.
Nowadays, the versatility of brunch allows you to take this meal any day, anywhere you like. Besides, the wide range of food items is also one reason people fall in love with brunch.
What Time Is Considered Brunch?
Even though it is popular, many people are confused about when to start brunch. Due to the lacked formality, it’s difficult to identify the exact time to take brunch.
The Flexibility Of Brunch
Usually, brunch is taken between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. A meal after lunch and before 4:00 pm can also be a late brunch.
In short, brunch is so flexible and has no specific rule. Depending on your culture and desire, you can take brunch anywhere and anytime.
Specific Brunch Time In Some Countries
As I mentioned before, depending on your culture and desire, brunch time can be a little bit different. Below, I’d like to share some typical brunch timings following the countries.
- United States: Since the first time Americans adopted brunch, they have taken this as a culture. Usually, breakfast in America is around 8:00 – 9:00 am. Brunch, therefore, will be eaten a bit later, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
- France: French people usually have breakfast early. Thus, the time for brunch in France is moved to earlier. Usually, people will have brunch from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Sweet pastry dishes are typical for brunch.
- India: Influenced by the British, Indians also have brunch. Usually, Indians take brunch from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. A typical brunch menu consists of rice, chutneys, and lentil dishes.
- Italy: Unlike the French, Italians eat breakfast around 10:30 am. Therefore, their brunch starts quite late, around 12:00 – 3:00 pm. Espresso and cappuccino are indispensable things on an Italian brunch menu.
- Spain: Spain’s lunch is eaten late, around 2:00 pm. Therefore, to hold people over until lunch, brunch usually is served around 11:00 am – 2:00 pm with bread and pastries.
Popular Must-Have Items In Your Brunch Menu
When preparing for the brunch menu, you may be stunned due to the wide range of options. Usually, the brunch menu is a combination of sweet and savory flavors. For that reason, below are some items that you must include.
Eggs
Eggs provide a great source of protein and energy to help you get through the day. Therefore, egg dishes are popular breakfast picks worldwide.
Because brunch evolved from breakfast, it is understandable that eggs have become an essential item on this menu. Examples of brunch egg dishes are fried eggs, benedict, and omelets.
Bread
Bread has high fiber and carbon that provides energy for you all day. You can have bread on many occasions or pair it with other dishes. The versions of bread on the brunch menu are plenty, such as pancakes, waffles, and burgers.
Fruits
Fruits provide a great source of vitamins, making them an ideal option for pairing in any brunch recipe. Usually, fruits are served as a side dish or can be paired with pancakes as a topping.
Pastries
Baked goods are an indispensable good in brunch. Usually, pastries are the sweet part of any brunch table that people can’t skip. Many people confess they love brunch because of the sweet and cute cupcakes, donuts, and cinnamon rolls.
Helpful Guide For Preparing A Brunch
Even though you can have brunch at a restaurant, preparing brunch with friends or family is also an enjoyable activity. Following the below steps will help you have a memorable brunch with your beloved.
Step 1: Pick A Day
If you plan to host a brunch, picking the day and time is the first thing you need care for. Sunday would be perfect since people are relatively free and can come to your meal anytime.
The time to start is also important. Don’t start the brunch too soon since no one wants to wake up early on Sunday. Normally, 11:00 am is good as you have more time for the meal. However, a late brunch from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm is also appropriate.
Step 2: Send Invitations To Your Guests
Like hosting any other meal, you must invite your friends or family to tell them about your planned event. Sending invitations also helps you have a better plan since you can control the number of guests.
A phone call or an email is enough for a casual event like brunch. A written invitation is accepted when you want to announce something special.
Step 3: Plan Menu
For any event, a menu is crucial. It is the soul of the event. The brunch menu is relatively easy to plan because you can combine various dishes. You can choose simple dishes such as pancakes, fruit, cheese, and bacon for your brunch party since they are easy to prepare.
Step 4: Prepare Table
You can set up your table on the morning of the event. Depending on your party concepts, you can have various options for setting up the table.
If you invite many people to your brunch, setting the table like a buffet would be more convenient for your guests. Putting on some music and flowers is also a good idea.
Step 5: Prepare Yourself
The last step is to prepare your attire. All you need is suitable clothes and a welcoming smile to greet your guests. After all, you can have a perfect brunch to relax and gather with your beloved.
Let’s check out the following tips to prepare for your successful brunch.
Popular Brunch Styles In U.S Cities
The brunch concept has developed a lot since more people enjoy this pleasant meal. Depending on the city, there may be a difference in the brunch menu and the time.
New York
New York is a dynamic city with all-night parties. Therefore, New Yorkers rarely get up early for their breakfast. Instead, they will have brunch around 12:00 pm when they fill their stomach and have some drinks.
When you’re in New York, you’re in the capital of brunch. This city has many brunch places, from a five-star hotel to a local coffee shop.
Los Angeles
Being a coastal city, Los Angeles has a unique brunch style. Most of the time, people have brunch at restaurants nearby or on the beach. In this city, brunch starts pretty early, around 10:00 am.
Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., seems not the best place for a long brunch event since people here take brunch as a light meal before lunch. While you can find some luxury brunches in New York (D.C), people tend to avoid taking so much time and money for this activity.
Compared to New York, which may serve brunch until 4:00 pm, restaurants in Washington D.C stop serving brunch at 1 or 2 pm since no one wants to have brunch after lunch.
Chicago
There is no right time for brunch in Chicago since restaurants serve brunch items for the whole day in this city. It isn’t difficult to find French toast, avocado toast, and some other simple brunch recipes at a food vendor in Chicago around 9:00 pm.
Therefore, for brunch lovers, this is the perfect city for you!
Atlanta
One special thing in Atlanta is they usually hold an event for brunch. Most of the time, there are many food vendors at the event, and if you buy a bottomless brunch ticket, you can try unlimited drinks. Rather than a brunch, this is a big food festival for young people.
Suitable Drinks Can Bring The Brunch To The Next Level
Many people like brunch because this is a chance for day drinking. The taste of food is also enhanced if paired with a good drink. Therefore, learning more about drinks for brunch always helps.
Alcohol
Cocktails or mixed drinks are always excellent choices to make your brunch exceptional. Brunch is a time to sit back and chill with your friends while trying delicious cocktails. Besides, consuming alcohol can help you reduce stress and elevate your mood. (2)
- Bloody Mary: This is the signature drink for any brunch. Generally, bloody mary has a taste of fresh tomato and is a bit spicy. But since its base is vodka, you can customize the drink according to your liking.
- Mimosa: Mimosa’s sunny yellow color is popular as a Champagne orange mix in French. This cocktail is made from orange juice and sparkling white wine, so it tastes as good as these ingredients and perfectly fits for brunch.
Non – Alcohol
Brunch is not all about alcoholic drinks. If you don’t like alcohol or don’t have a plan for a drink, there are still some substitutes. Coffee, tea, lemonade, juices, and so many others are all offered for brunch, and this is all free alcohol.
Popular Recipes For Brunch You Should Know
Brunch is loved for its diversity and delicious food. So, when it comes to brunch, you can learn many great recipes. Let’s prepare to learn since I’ll give you all the popular recipes for brunch.
Egg Benedict
Egg benedict is a luxury option for the brunch menu. First, egg benedict is popular in New York, but now many people have it at a weekend brunch.
The combination of English muffins, Canadian bacon, and a poached egg on top creates a mesmerizing creation for any meal. Egg benedict has a rich taste thanks to the hollandaise sauce, made with egg yolks, butter, and lemon juice.
Discovering the right way to make a perfect egg benedict.
Pancakes
Pancakes are one popular dish for breakfast and brunch. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of this tasty food is a stack of pancakes with berries.
Usually, pancakes are paired with syrup. Maple syrup is famous due to its delicate flavors of caramel and vanilla. You can also try honey since it has sweet, bland, and drizzle.
Most pancakes are plain, but the benefits of uplifting mood are numerous. One bite of it can bring happiness since it has a comfortable sweetness.
Chicken & Waffles
Chicken & Waffles is one typical dish around the United States, first seen in Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. Nowadays, most Americans have chicken & waffles in their brunch.
The combination of sweet and savory makes chicken & waffles bridge the gap between breakfast and lunch.
French Toast
French toast is made by soaking up the bread in milk and frying it in a pan. Usually, French toast is crispy on the outside and possesses a silky custard on the inside. This dish is fluffy, indulgent, and delicious.
The best French toast is served with maple syrup. However, you can include many other ingredients, like berries for sweetness or ham, beef, and ketchup for savoriness.
Why don’t you try to make French Toast at home? This recipe is so easy to follow.
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is great for breakfast, lunch, late afternoon, or even a snack for your midnight movie times since it’s healthy and delicious.
One layer of avocado on the bread is all you can have for this dish. However, I recommend adding one more poached egg. Generally, you can feel the fatty smoothness of the avocado for the first bite.
FAQs
This article is all you need to know about brunch and the time to start this pleasant meal. However, if you want to know more, keep reading for the frequently asked questions below.
Brunch Is A Culture Rather Than A Meal
Brunch has become an essential part of modern life. Rather than a meal, brunch is a culture among many people because it provides a suitable time for friends, family members, or colleagues to hang out and chat over the meal.
Do not forget to like and share this article with those who need to explore more about brunch. If you have any opinions about the topic, I always welcome you to leave them in the comment section.
References
- Boyd, C. Lunch: A history (Megan Elias) and brunch: A history (Farha Ternikar). Megan Elias. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. pp. 204, index, bibliography.
- Health risks and benefits of alcohol consumption (2000) Alcohol research & health: the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
