When was the last time you were invited for brunch at a friend’s house? I don’t know about you, but I love breakfast, and there’s nothing better than a home-cooked omelette with a hot cup of coffee. So why not kick it up a notch and turn this delicious part of the day into a fun-filled brunch? Just follow our lead and we’ll show you how to make your brunch party an event to remember.

By Mikaela Kagan

What to serve
Being a host can be stressful, and it’s often difficult to relax and enjoy the party with your guests if you’re constantly worrying about the food and if everyone is having a good time. Well don’t panic! There is a solution. Look for things you can make in advance that require less effort and stress. This way, you can socialize with your guests and display your impressive hosting skills.

MAKE AHEAD
1. Brewed coffee: Coffee comes first at every breakfast/brunch event. It’s morning time, people want their warm, comforting fix, and as a good host – you need to be there with a plunger in hand, ready to turn their frowns upside down.

TRY IT: We know it’s early, but it’s a party; spoil them with our Irish coffee.

2. Muffins: Everyone loves muffins! However, it is important to have a variety of flavours on offer so that there is something special for everyone.

TRY IT: For something sweet, try out our bran, carrot and banana muffins and whip up our spinach and feta maize meal muffins as a savoury option.

3. Pancakes and waffles: This is not as easy going and can take some time to cook, but if you really want to impress your guests, simply prepare the batter the night before so that all that’s left to do is whip them up in a pan and have your guests choose their toppings.

TRY IT: Go for our spicy sweet-potato pancakes or our teriyaki waffles.

Buffet style
Hosting a brunch buffet is all about variety! It creates a comforting, more relaxed setting where guests can choose what they want to eat in their own time and also makes it easier to socialize. You’ll want the buffet to be the focus of attention, so make sure that it looks pretty and presentable. A plain white table cloth is always a good go-to. It’s simple, clean and neat, and allows the food to stand out and take centre stage. Display the food and beverages in lovely baskets, bowls, platters and juice jugs for extra effect , but make sure not to clutter the table with too many dishes.

The rest is up to you! You know your friends’ dietary requirements, so you can use your discretion as to which flavours of juice, muffins, bagels and fruits you’d like to offer. If you’d prefer to have a sit-down brunch party, that’s easy too! It’ll be more formal, but if it’s an intimate crowd, it’ll work just as well. For a sit-down brunch, its better to serve smaller portions of food. Finger-food platters can be passed around and one or two baskets of muffins or bagels can be placed at the centre of the table. Maybe spread a few petals around the table, or if you want to get crafty,  you can make special table-seating names cards for every guest.

And there you have it!