The History of Brunch

If you’re not brunching, what are you really doing? Brunch is one of the best things in life, and it’s been around for over a century. Brunch brings to mind family, friends, and—most essentially—a table overflowing with food. Oh, and the mimosas too. While you probably can guess why it became so popular, do you know where this meal came from?

What makes brunch…brunch?  

At its foundation, brunch is a simple combination of breakfast and lunch. Served and enjoyed between 10am and 2pm, it’s a meal in between meals. Buffets and family-style tables are common configurations of a brunch spread, but going out to eat at a full-service restaurant is another option. Typical brunch foods fall closer to the breakfast side of things, with eggs, sausage, pancakes, bagels, and pastries all being very acceptable brunch fare. To accompany brunch food—more likely than not—alcohol is present. Mimosas and bloody marys are the tried-and-true classics when it comes to brunch cocktails.

Where did brunch come from?

Well, the English put it in writing first! In the late 1800’s, a party-loving individual named Guy Beringer published an essay proposing a cure for Sunday hangovers: a delayed morning meal with friends. His logic was that by eating lighter food in the early afternoon, you’d be doing your health a favor, and putting yourself in a better mood by engaging in a cheerful social gathering with your buddies. But the idea was already in the works before Guy wrote in Hunter’s Weekly. Prior to going out on hunting excursions, it was a customary practice in England to gather for a breakfast. Catholic churchgoers often waited until after church service to have their first meal of the day, too, which could have planted the seed of brunch among the religious.

Brunch enjoyers in the 1930’s (Source: Ephemeral New York)

How did brunch get so popular? 

Here in the states, it picked up speed in the 1930’s. It gained a lot of speed by joining forces with New York classics like bagels & lox and eggs Benedict, but Chicago is where American brunch took off. Back in the day, big shots heading to L.A. from the East would stop in Chicago in the late morning hours to eat, making brunch a trendy meal amongst celebs. And you know how it goes: we’ve gotta have what the stars have. Hotels and restaurants are always ready for the new promotion, and working families suddenly had another opportunity to relax and share a meal on a Sunday morning: thus, brunch rose to power. In the 80’s, brunch was elevated to something lavish and extravagant, giving it an edge that attracted (and still attracts!) a younger crowd—think Sex and the City.

A brunch scene from Sex and the City. (Source: People)

Brunch around the world

In China, dim sum (AKA stuffed buns and dumplings) take center stage at brunchtime. Restaurants wow customers with a procession of steamed, fried, and baked treats to pick from. In Central Asia, dastarkhan is a family-style meal including meat, nuts, dried fruit, and fried bread. It refers to the table or rug around which this communal midday meal is held. Places all across the globe have their own take on this largely British and American concept; for example, Colanzo is the name brunch goes by in Italy, and it’s déjeuner-buffet in French Canada.

Tajik dastarkhan. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Your next bunch

Special occasions like Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter, and your cousin’s wedding definitely mean brunch. But what’s great about brunch is that it can be a little party any day of the week. Looking for brunch in Chicago? Order Gotham Bagels online for pickup and delivery 8am-2pm.

Don’t forget the fresh-squeezed orange juice…