Have you watched “The Big Brunch” on HBOMax? Produced by Dan Levy, the cooking competition show brings everything you may expect from this heartwarming individual: laughter, comradery and great food. The show presents itself like a warm hug, with stories told from innovative food pioneers.
Week over week, you’re presented with homegrown culinary delights that make your head spin with “how did they even think of that?” The answer is simple, and it explains why we cook what we cook for our families: it’s the familiar dishes that come from our backgrounds. It’s why we gathered around our dinner table every holiday, Sunday, night for years. Such nostalgia, love and comfort.
Brunch can hold those memories and be an ideal vehicle for sharing – sharing big life events, sharing what happened the night before, sharing what the next year will bring.
I entered a rabbit hole of reading about the history of brunch and Sunday eating. Sunday is a big eating day in our home. Not only does it signal the start of a new week, but it allows us a moment to gather before the craziness. But this feeling couldn’t be unique to only us. I know so many families and friends that gather outside the home or with relatives to enjoy Sunday brunch.
Sunday brunch was once, understandably viewed as a meal of leisure, reserved for those with the time, money and resources. Featuring grand spreads and perhaps the occasional alcoholic beverage (hello, “late” breakfast), the scene often took place in higher-end hotels. But by today’s definition, it stretches from casual to fine dining, with a heavy lean on the former but still a time to relax and enjoy.
I linked a few of my resources that I found interesting in my quest to understand how brunch came to be, and I hope you find it intriguing as well.
Looking for a little brunch inspiration? Don’t miss my brunch highlight.
Here are a few of my brunch favorites:
Resources:
A Midwest Table 