Brunch: it’s the hero meal for those of us who love breakfast foods and the snooze button. It’s also expensive! If your weekly weekend brunching habit has caught up with your wallet, fear not: you can still enjoy a luxurious morning meal in the comfort of your own home. Well, that’s no fun, you protest, my dining room currently consists of a folding chair and two paper plates duct-taped together!! That’s why I GO OUT! Before you grab your beleaguered credit card and head for the door in search of bellinis, with just a few key brunch prep tips, you can spruce up any space — yes, including your own — to be brunch-ready in no time.
Set the scene
The first thing you need to host a reservation-worthy brunch? An inviting space! Luckily, it’s easy to elevate your dining room with my guest-friendly Modern Farmhouse dining set and a vase full of fresh flowers (or one of my other fun and funky table accents). And don’t forget the power of cute (eco-friendly!) cloth napkins to add a little extra pizazz!
Caffeinate the crowd
Whether your guests are popping by after sunrise yoga or sloooowly shuffling in after a night on the town, the quickest way to everyone’s hearts is to offer them a cup of fresh coffee or tea. Build your own indie coffeehouse set up (Starbucks, who?!) with a conveniently placed console table filled with carafes of your favorite brews, tasty teas, and plenty of half-and-half/milk/oat milk/soy/milk/almond milk…you get the idea. Believe me, the conversation will be much more fun if your friends are caffeinated.
Feast with friends
Once you’ve nailed your beverage station setup, it’s time for the main event: food!! This is where you should let your heart guide you: a little something savory (Egg Bites!), something sweet (French Toast Casserole!), something crunchy (Chipotle-Glazed Bacon, anyone?), and something juicy (seasonal fruit salad!) will do the trick, though feel-free to riff on the menu as your spirit and the season guides you.
Don’t know where to start? Why not get inspiration from my good friend, the queen of entertaining herself — Ina Garten, who has plenty of mouth-watering menu combos and easy-to-follow recipes.
When you’re done cooking, set up your buffet on my Modern Farmhouse drawer server for a casual yet elevated grab-yourself-a-plate vibe. How…easy is that?
And that it’s it! You did it! Once you’ve set up your ideal brunch, the best part begins: catching up with your friends. Save a seat for me!
