The perfect meal for laid-back, relaxed weekend mornings, brunch offers a bevy of food options suitable for any palate. If a late-morning meal of eggs, meats, pastries, coffee, and juice is your favorite, learn more about the history of brunch and how it has evolved over the years. Next time you’re enjoying brunch at your favorite restaurant, you’ll have a greater appreciation of this classic weekend meal.

How Brunch Began

The term “brunch,” a combination of breakfast and lunch, dates back to 1895 when it was coined in Hunter’s Weekly by Guy Beringer. This meal was proposed as a lighter alternative to heavy Sunday meals, one that combined two meals into one.

Over time, brunch gained popularity in the United States. Chicago is seen as the birthplace of brunch. The city served as a stopping point for celebrities and the wealthy while traveling across the U.S. Here, they would enjoy a lavish late-morning meal before they hopped on the train to New York or Los Angeles.

Hotels started adopting brunch as their focus on weekend mornings. As more women entered the workforce, brunch increased in popularity because it allowed them to serve just one meal instead of two, offering a welcomed break after a long week of work.

Why People Brunch Today

Today, brunch continues to be a popular weekend option. First, this meal is inherently festive. Because it’s served in the late morning, brunch encourages relaxation on the weekend, including sleeping in and then visiting a restaurant for a later meal.

Many restaurants serve brunch cocktails like mimosas. Brunch is also a popular meal choice for gatherings like bridal showers, baby showers, and mid-day wedding receptions. 

A 2015 study indicated that brunch’s popularity surged, according to Google searches between 2005 and 2015. This meal is appealing for several reasons. Individuals with disposable incomes and free time may find brunch to be appealing, giving them a chance to relax, indulge, and socialize. With restaurants across the U.S. offering expansive brunch menus, there’s no doubt that this meal will continue to be a popular option for years to come.

If you’re ready to enjoy brunch in the St. Louis, MO, area, get ready for Beffa’s, a mainstay for 113 years that will reopen its doors in July 2020 after closing in 2011. This restaurant will be located in its original location, near the Wells Fargo building in downtown St. Louis. Enjoy daily lunch and brunch options, as well as live music on the weekends this summer and beyond. Preview their menu on their website.