Has anyone ever hosted a brunch?

TarHeels&Rebels

I was just reading something about how it's a great, inexpensive way to entertain and I know I've seen it in movies in such.  But IRL?  Never seen it done and never thought of doing it.  So are your people a brunch bunch?

lsgarver

I've hosted brunches but I'd hardly say it's inexpensive.  It's usually buffet so you need lots of dishes and mine tend to have lots of meat (and seafood which gets expensive), pastry (butter gets expensive), fruit (berries and tropical fruit is expensive), and of course mimosas.  And there's always eggs which take some last-minute attention, even in a frittata or strata. Then there's the obvious--everything has to be ready to eat by like 10 or 11 am which makes for a hectic morning.

I do like them for the variety (totally different type of party menu) and the timing can work better for a bunch of guests with busy schedules.

Adjudi-Kate

We hosted a "Jazz and Champagne Potluck Brunch" and it was a huge hit amongst our friends.  We did a Saturday morning at 10:30am.  We provided the champagne and had a selection of jazz music playing.  We aren't rich, we just like having people over, so that's why we did the potluck thing.  So that we had a variety of food, I listed categories of food that people had to claim in advance.  First guests to reply got their choice of what to bring.  (Meat, potatoes, eggs, dessert, fruit, juice, bread.)  So if the guest picked "bread", they could bring muffins, doughnuts, pancakes, pumpkin bread - whatever.  We made food for the category that was left after everyone else picked (eggs = quiche).

Brunch is a little tricky because so many foods are made to order.  (Waffles, omlettes)  So, think about that when menu planning.  You want to spend time with your guests and not be making omlettes the whole party.  Also, everyone will need a place to actually sit by a table, because most brunch food is not food you want to balance on your lap.

I set the tables with nice tablecloths and the good dishes.  I put out vases of white roses.  It was fun and fancy to have mimosas and champagne (5 bottles!) with our friends.  We even had a "dressy casual" dress code.  LOL.  I was surprised that our usually beer-drinking, rowdy group of friends really got into it.  All in all, it was such a departure from the typical parties we usually have, that all the guests appreciated the novelty of it, and we had the benefit that people brought really good food!

6fsn

No.  Most home brunches I've seen tend to be more about the time of day than the actual concept.  IOW the menus are either breakfast OR lunch, they just serve it at 11 am.

TarHeels&Rebels

Adjudi-Kate:

We hosted a "Jazz and Champagne Potluck Brunch" and it was a huge hit amongst our friends.  We did a Saturday morning at 10:30am.  We provided the champagne and had a selection of jazz music playing. 

That sounds so fun!  Since so many people around here go to church on Sunday mornings, I wonder how they'd feel about giving up their Saturday morning...  But I can already think up a great menu for a fall brunch.  I love spice breads!

TarHeels&Rebels

Adjudi-Kate:

We hosted a "Jazz and Champagne Potluck Brunch" and it was a huge hit amongst our friends.  We did a Saturday morning at 10:30am.  We provided the champagne and had a selection of jazz music playing. 

That sounds so fun!  Since so many people around here go to church on Sunday mornings, I wonder how they'd feel about giving up their Saturday morning...  But I can already think up a great menu for a fall brunch.  I love spice breads!

whineymom

Bobby Flay has a new show all about brunches and nothing else. It's on the Cooking Channel. Maybe check that out for ideas. I have hosted many brunches and find that ordering a few quiches from a good french bakery is an easy but elegant thing to do. Mimosas and some pastries and you're good to go!

DZKathrynWed223151

I hosted a brunch for some friends from grad school a few weeks ago as a study break before finals. I did a parfait bar that was super easy and a huge hit. Yogurt and a bunch of toppings set out in different dishes for people to choose from. Super easy, not too expensive, and the leftovers made yummy breakfast for a few days after

BC07

I love brunches, but i tend to stay away from the made-to-order foods both when I am eating and when I am planning one.  I recently hosted a small brunch and served a variety of fruits, cheeses, breads, juices, salami, and other things of the sort. It was nice and I think everyone enjoyed.  Next time I am also including mimosas but this was an older crowd (ILs and other family).  I really like the idea of ordering the quiche and including it.

joelen&louis

I've hosted quite a few, some links below. The most recent which I have yet to blog about is an eggs benedict brunch bar I hosted a couple weeks ago.For the brunches I host, I revolve them around some kind of 'bar' where guests can be a bit more interactive. Some brunch bar ideas include - cereal, pancake/waffle, mimosa, bloody mary, omelette, donut, smoothie, etc.

Lazy Weekend Brunch For Guests

In the Kitchen: Brunch!

Crepe Cravings