Six Hour Sundays: Why We Should Brunch More
Break the brioche and build community
On Sunday, I baked a quiche, poured champagne, and watched the Eagles inch closer to the Super Bowl. The good vibes were a perfect pairing for one of my favorite rituals: brunch.
Grab a Coupe Glass and Settle In
Brunch is the Sunday football of breakfast. It’s an event where you decompress from the week and indulge. There’s a dangerous amount of butter and enough salt to embalm you. I confess, I might start my day with a protein shake so I can fully lean into brunch at its rightful hour: between noon and 2 p.m. (Eggs before noon? That’s just breakfast).
Breaking Brioche Together
Years ago, I sat down for my first NYC brunch at a long table South of Houston. It was early days in my industry, and any leftover work stress melted away as we sipped mimosas and swapped social handles. Several courses and life stories later, we shopped our way down the street for "one more drink." That day launched friendships that have carried us through career highs and lows, cross-country moves, and countless brunches around the city.
I quickly realized brunch was more than just eggs and alcohol. It’s community—a space for deeper conversations—the kind that celebrate your wins and support you through losses. Happy hour can be filled with networking and obligations, but brunch is reserved for people you just like—without the worry of work or agendas. It’s a time to slow down and enjoy that egg over easy with the ones who make you feel seen.
A Toast to History
Curious about its origins, I explored the history of brunch. In 1895, British writer Guy Beringer introduced the term, envisioning it as a late Sunday meal to "sweep away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” Brunch gained popularity in America in the decades that followed, boosted by the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act. The new five-day workweek gave many people Sundays off, creating an opportunity to relax and connect.
In the 1930s, brunch became a symbol of independence for women, formerly denied the right to dine out alone. NPR notes that "the ties between daytime dining out and women's liberation" grew stronger as brunch gained popularity in America. By 1939, The New York Times declared Sunday a “two-meal day.” Instead of juggling three meals on Sundays, brunch reduced the workload to two—or just one, if you dined out—a socially supported break for women.
Different Menus, Same Good Vibes
Before avocado toast and bottomless mimosas, the Fifth Avenue Hotel served "sauerkraut juice" and "chicken liver omelets" at its Sunday Strollers Brunch. The menus have changed, but the emotional benefits of dining together remain. Planning a group brunch can be a project, but once you’re there, it acts like a "third place"—a place outside your home or office where everyone can exhale. A space that prioritizes leisure and community building, beyond the stare of a judgmental basket of laundry or blinking laptop.
The Biological Benefit of Shared Meals
Shared meals have nurtured the social fabric of communities for centuries—from hunter-gatherers eating around the fire to British afternoon tea and Italian Sunday dinners. We’re biologically designed to benefit from eating together. When we share food, our brains release oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, which chemically increases our well-being. These benefits aren’t exclusive to brunch, but there’s something about daytime dining that feels like you’re getting more juice for the squeeze.
Bring People Together for Brunch
If you’re inspired to make brunch a part of your community, here are a few ideas on how you can get started:
Start a Monthly Brunch: Whether it’s with close friends or acquaintances, start a monthly brunch group. Choose a new spot each time to explore the local brunch scene, or take turns hosting at home.
Host a Brunch for a Cause: Combine brunch with giving back. Organize a potluck brunch where the entry fee is a donation to a local food bank, or invite a speaker from a community organization to share their work. You’ll bond with your neighbors, while contributing to the community.
Explore Hidden Gems: Make an effort to brunch at places you wouldn’t usually consider. Look for smaller, independent cafés, family-run spots, or off-the-beaten-path restaurants. Supporting local entrepreneurs is always a strong move.
Welcome New People: Open up your invitation to new faces. Rally an informal host committee and have each person bring one or two new people.
Brunch Goals
One of my intentions for the new year is to brunch more. Some days, that could mean grabbing a table at Dante's in the West Village, other days, it could mean baking a quiche and hosting at home. Either way, there will be bubbles.
As we all try to reclaim free time from work that spills into the weekend and endless to-do lists, I think of my Italian cousin’s response when I said I’d be working through dinner: "You still need to eat!" (Well played, cousin).
Chronic illness and running a business have taken up a lot of space, but here’s to finding our way back to the table. It’s easy to underestimate this weekend ritual, but brunch brings us together—and we are stronger together. Now, let’s eat!
Love this positioning of brunch is an art form