I love brunch! Do you brunch out or in?
I love brunch at home or out. Whoever invented it was a veritable genius. Who doesn't it appeal to? You can have it all! Also ,there is something luxurious about being served that meal out at a restaurant. Somehow, though, it always feels like I should be enjoying it in my jammies. At-home brunch dining is certainly the better option for the more casual morning attire.
Where do you like to brunch? What are your favorite brunch dishes; more breakfasty or lunchy? Maybe those of you with more savory buds prefer dunch or linner foods. Do you go for the waffle bar or the prime rib station?
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17 Comments:
I'm not a big fan of brunches, actually. Unless you're talking about one of those days when I didn't eat breakfast and I get hungry at 10:30. That happens quite often.
But brunches at restaurants have never really appealed to me, probably because it's usually some "event" that drags out longer than it needs to, and I'm thinking about what I really need to be doing at home.
On the other hand, I do like diner-type restaurants that serve everything all the time. I don't like breakfasty foods for breakfast, so given a choice, I'd order a BLT for breakfast. Although I'm just as likely to eat eggs for lunch.
dbcurrie at 2:11AM on 03/12/08
I might be in the minority here, but I don't associate brunch with buffet. I have been to brunch buffets, but I prefer the restaurants that serve a non-buffet brunch. Definitely go with breakfasty foods, something with eggs and potatoes and meat.
We've always preferred the independently owned and operated little place that is known for the colorful owner and great food and great wine and great atmosphere...something unique that can't be found in every strip mall or fashion park in Middle America...
My favorite such place to brunch was Millie's in Richmond, VA. Oh, the lines were crazy, but it was all good because they served drinks while you waited. You always run into someone you know. Or you run into photographers from Jane magazine--for real--you just never know. The staff is always willing to joke even though they are busy as hell. And the coolest people work on Sundays, artists, djs, ex-pats, writers, etc. It takes about two bloody marys before your table is ready. I usually go with their homemade corned beef hash with poached eggs and hollandaise--I can't describe how good this dish is--I always thought corned beef was supposed to look like dogfood, but not so, it can actually look like beef and potato and onion and green pepper. Hubby always got the Cajun Mess--so good.
We haven't found the Indianapolis equivalent of Millie's yet, but we are hopeful.
wookie at 2:33AM on 03/12/08
with my work schedule I have brunch almost everyday and I usually have it at home. there's a feeling of contentment when you sit down to a meal (with your girlfriend) that you have just prepared.
brunch for me usually consists of eggs, fried rice, some form of protein (e.g., bacon, ham, etc.), and coffee or OJ.
I've tried having a quick brunch (e.g., cereals, oatmeal, etc.) but it doesn't work for me, it just doesn't have the same heft as a full meal.
ryushin at 3:07AM on 03/12/08
I love going to brunch. I do not east breakfast foods at all. I will eat egg whites from time to time, so if we go to a restaurant that serves lunch food for breakfast, I am all for it. We have gone to a wonderful buffet style brunch in Philadelphia where you go through the kitchen to get the entrees. All of the items they serve are very unique. For the most part, when we are out, we like to have our food served to us.
crazyspice at 9:04AM on 03/12/08
LOVE brunch! It's definitely at home for my husband and me -- and we often invite friends over. I love egg dishes, but my sweetie doesn't, so it's often crepes, pancakes or french toast with turkey bacon or sausage on the side, some kind of fruit and cottage cheese.
CookiePie at 9:55AM on 03/12/08
St. Louis is a big brunch town, and probably tends towards the buffets. I do both, and I lean toward the breakfast items. At home, a larger-than-usual late Sunday breakfast isn't called brunch but serves the same purpose. It's one of my favorite times to entertain, has been for years, and I serve family style, just putting everything on the table or on a warming cart that can be reached without standing up at the table. Pancakes, fritattas (there's probably a better plural for that - fritatti?), high-quality bacon and/or sausages, eggs Florentine all can be found as house specialties.
lemons at 10:03AM on 03/12/08
When I lived in NYC I brunched every weekend. It was both a social event (we’d eat brunch, have some drinks, then hit the streets to go shopping, discover new places, and people watch) as well as a time to sit down with each other and have a wonderful meal. There are a lot of mediocre brunch places but there certainly are some excellent ones, too (namely great restaurants that also serve brunch).
Now that I’m in Baltimore I very very rarely go to brunch for a few reasons: it’s not as much of a social event down here as it is in NYC, there aren’t a million places that serve brunch, and it’s just not as easy to get somewhere down here as it is in NYC (it’s very easy to get on the subway and have 4 mimosas with brunch and then go home, but you can’t really do that when you have to drive somewhere!)
These days I make brunch at home but it’s not nearly the same event that it was in NYC. Sigh. Well, it saves me money, so I shouldn’t complain!
raspberry eggplant
charm city cupcake at 10:05AM on 03/12/08
I absolutely love brunch. I'm not a big cocktail drinker but I'll have a mimosa or bloody mary anytime at brunch. My favorite brunch dish - if I were limited to one - is Eggs Benedict. I'm a big breakfast lover so I get to have all my favorite breakfast foods at brunch as well.
Brunch is my favorite meal to enjoy at a buffet so I can sample all my favorite stuff and even try new things. Not a big buffet person, either.
chiff0nade at 10:16AM on 03/12/08
I second everything that chiff just said. There is an upscale Chinese restaurant nearby that does an awesome Sunday brunch buffet. Everything from sushi to all the usual breakfast and lunch fare. But like chiff said it's Eggs Benedict all the way! This is something I never make at home so I kind of save my brunch appetite for it. But in NYC we used to go to Barney Greengrass for lox, smoked fish, etc. THAT'S what I miss!!
RichardCrystal at 10:27AM on 03/12/08
brunch is beautiful! if i am in manhattan my favorite spot is alice´s tea cup for a poached egg, banana bread with fresh peanut butter and preserves, and a bowl of berries. i usually order the lady grey because if you ask for coffee they serve it in a giant mug that says ´loser´. little owl is also fantastic, and is usually where i go if i have friends in town for the weekend.
san francisco, boulette´s larder, hands down.
santa fe,at pasqual´s for the best brunch in the world.
and if brunching at home, it has to be my mama´s honey whole-wheat pancakes with fried eggs and warm maple syrup.
i cannot wait for sunday!
tudogostoso at 10:35AM on 03/12/08
OH I forgot - when we do go out for brunch, we love dim sum. There's a place in Chinatown (NYC) called Nice Restaurant (well, it's descriptive) that is consistently great. Also, Prune has great brunch, but the wait tends to be insane. If you do manage to get a table for brunch there, get a bloody mary -- they have amazing flavors (I had one with no less than 4 pickled veggies in it) and each one comes with a shot of beer.
CookiePie at 11:20AM on 03/12/08
Hubby and I both love brunches, it's our regular weekend activity:-) When we brunch at home, it's usually pancakes, eggs, bacon, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and Israeli salad (red onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers, all finely chopped, with mince garlic, dill and/or parsley, olive oil and lemon juice dressing...m-m-m!) or just sliced vegs sprinkled with salt & pepper, chopped herbs and drizzled with olive oil. When we brunch out, it's either dim sum at our favourite Chinese place or a luxurious brunch at a restaurant in Atlantic City - yes, we take a 1-hour trip each way for it, it's that good! The latter is certainly our "special occasion" brunch.
brooke29 at 12:37PM on 03/12/08
Almost never in, but it's such a great way to entertain. I love going out for brunch, prefer breakfast type foods, but fill up on fresh fruit salad, and look for banana nut muffins. What a treat. Bloody Mary with horseradish and a big stalk of celery and I'm set for the day. It's a Sunday thing in my family - usually after church.
PerkyMac at 12:44PM on 03/12/08
Brunch is always my favorite. I dig the drinking in the morning factor. Mimosa, madras, bloody mary.
JerzeeTomato at 12:49PM on 03/12/08
I used to love Sunday brunch at school in the dorms! The nicest hall had made-to-order omelettes and waffles. Sunday brunch in my hall wasn't bad either. Crepes (not good ones, but not bad for college food) with cooked blueberries and whipped cream, eggs and bacon, and I was full until dinner time. Thank goodness it was a long walk to each of my classes!
I used to like the brunch buffet at Marie Callendar's.
At home, I recently got a cool waffle maker after I used one at a hotel's continental breakfast. So lazy, late Saturday mornings usually include waffles or French toast with eggs and bacon. Plus, I make fruit compote for the waffles -- usually bananas, apples or blueberries. When it comes to cooking, I do breakfast best!
misseditor at 3:29PM on 03/12/08
@tudog and charm city - Isn't brunch in NYC the absolute bomb? It is such a brunch city. I love, love, love Jane. Their fresh churros with vanilla chantilly cream are awesome. Eleven Madison is more upscale and everything is delicious, but I think I prefer the funkier, off beat places that are so worth finding. There are several places in Park Slope that are very hip brunch spots.
My hubby's favorite brunch dish is eggs benedict, so many years ago I set out to make that my special little dish on weekends for him (well, us...). He makes the homemade Canadian bacon and I do the rest. I haven't made my own english muffins yet, but I intend to some day. Some of my indulgences at home are banana/wheat germ pancakes, German apple pancake w/calvados-maple syrup, ricotta coffeecake, blueberry streusel topped muffins. For brunch guests, I make quiche or leek tarts, Brown sugar/black pepper bacon, Tex-Mex green chile breakfast burritos. We treat them pretty well - they usually stay on awhile...
So, he's the savory one and I'm not. Give me crepes, waffles, pancakes, croissants, coffee cakes and muffins. Scrambled or poached eggs are cool - I'm just not huge on breakfast meats. Bloody Marys, gallons of dark French roast, and lots of fresh fruits on the side.
When I was growing up, my family would often have breakfast foods for the evening meal. Would you call that "brinner"?
frederika at 9:31PM on 03/12/08
I love brunch! Its the best when you lazily get out of bed late Sat. morning.
My favorite place to do brunch is at Weaver St. Market - a co-op in Carrboro, NC (right next to Chapel Hill). its a buffet and super cheap and its perfect in the spring and early summer since most seating is outside and they have music on the weekends.
krispychikin at 11:12PM on 03/12/08