Brunch – that lazy weekend meal where catching up on the week’s news is obligatory along with delicious dishes and perhaps even a glass of bubbles.
Once a week we all scramble to find our brunch location, how many of us can make it and what time we are eating. As is the case with many culinary traditions, brunch’s origins are a bit hazy.
Many consider it a byproduct of England’s hunt breakfasts where a smorgasbord of goodies was laid out for hungry huntsmen after the chase, while others consider it comes from the practice of Catholics to fast before mass and then sit down to a huge midday meal.
What happens at brunch, stays at brunch right? Here are five of our faves to get your weekend fix:
Coffee and café fare to entice all taste buds is what Brighton diners find at Olie & Ari on Were Street. An industrial-style fit-out with exposed brick walls, caged pendent lighting and a cosy courtyard combine to have locals coming back time and again for creative brunch and lunch dishes.
Stop in early for a brew of choice paired with brunch plates like shakshuka poached eggs, with tomatoes, zucchini, coriander, capsicum and goats’ feta, or scrambled eggs with grilled halloumi, chorizo sausage, roasted tomato and toast, washed down with a glass of bubbles or your brew of choice.
Expect an exceptional brunching experience at MOMO on Seymour Street in Traralgon. This modern industrial community-minded venue is set across three levels, with an open ground-level restaurant, intimate upstairs function room and stunning rooftop deck – the ideal backdrop for any special occasion.
MOMO prides itself in supporting the community by employing locals and championing locally-sourced produce wherever possible; stop in this weekend for brunch plates like smashed avocado, free-range eggs, kale, goats’ cheese, pomegranate and dukkah on toasted sourdough.
For brunch with a Mexican twist, head along Bourke Street in Blacks Beach to find food truck cantina, Jac’s Place. Nestling in a permanent location at the Big 4 Caravan Park in Bucasia, Jac’s offers visitors and locals alike a little slice of Mexico without leaving Queensland from handmade corn tortillas, burgers in custom-made Italian rolls to the best coffee in town.
Start your day the right way with a bacon, avocado, cheese and mushroom taco, washed down with a dirty chai latte; chow down on chilli chicken tacos with avocado, cheese, salsa and jalapeños later in the morning, or grilled prawns, chorizo, avocado, cheese, cactus salsa and chilli jam.
Find an authentic taste of Greece in the heart of Sydney at The Good Filo on Rocky Point Road in Ramsgate. This award-winning Greek bakehouse, patisserie and café is where good friends meet over traditional cuisine created from old family recipes including handcrafted desserts, sweets, pastries and bread, along with homestyle hot meals.
A hot spot for coffee lovers, order your cup of choice to go with all-day brunch plates such as a Greek Islands breakfast of fresh bread, boiled egg, double smoked ham, cheese, tomato, olives and tea cake; or smashed avo, feta, tomatoes, chives, spinach and poached eggs with toast.
Come for the breezy oceanfront location, stay for the cocktails and inventive takes on staple dishes at The Beach House on Aurora Esplanade in Jindalee. Sitting atop the dunes of Eden Beach with unobstructed ocean views, this venue is a hidden gem; from a casual catch-up on the deck to a long brunch in the dining room, The Beach House has all bases covered with its woodfired menu, extensive wine list, creative cocktails and 24 beers on tap.
Stop in after a morning walk for apple quinoa bircher with toasted hemp seeds, apple, pomegranate, nut granola and maple syrup, or beef cheek hash with fried potato, curry mayo, poached eggs and pickles, enjoyed with a smoked hickory Mary – vodka, capsicum, tomato, horseradish, liquid hickory smoke and spices.
