Did You Know Brunch Was Originally Meant for Hungover People? Fun Facts About Brunch Culture
At WKND CLUB, both single and non-single people from all walks of life join our gatherings. It’s not about dating. Many have just moved here, some simply want to meet new friends, and others are looking for new opportunities.
We focus on creating relaxing weekend brunches where six people share a table and connect naturally. Let’s spread the joy of the Brunch Social Culture together!
Brunch Was Originally Created for the Hungover
Brunch = Breakfast + Lunch
In the late 19th century, Guy Beringer, a writer for Hunter’s Weekly in England, first proposed the idea of “Brunch.”
He suggested that people should sleep in on Sundays and wake up to a big, comforting meal instead of a formal breakfast.
Why?
Because most people drank too much on Saturday nights and needed a meal that could help both body and soul recover.
So technically, Brunch was born for the hungover! 🍳🥓
The First Brunch Fans Weren’t Aristocrats, They Were Performers
In the late 19th to early 20th centuries, British and American actors and musicians often worked late into the night. Naturally, they woke up late, and brunch became their perfect solution.
Imagine a cozy inn after a show, a group of performers in bathrobes, sipping coffee and enjoying scrambled eggs with smoked beef, starting their lazy yet artistic mornings. 🎭
America Made Brunch Luxurious
By the 1920s, Brunch became a high-society trend in the U.S. Cities like Chicago and New York turned hotel brunch buffets into a symbol of sophistication.
Brunch was no longer just “a late breakfast,” it became a statement of lifestyle:
- Champagne Mimosas were essential
- Shrimp, crab, and even caviar appeared on the table
- Dress codes were slightly more formal than usual
It was food, fashion, and social connection all in one.
“French Toast” Isn’t Actually French
Despite its name, French Toast existed long before France itself!
As early as the Roman Empire, people soaked hard, stale bread in milk and eggs before frying it, because bread back then was simply too tough to chew otherwise.
By the Middle Ages, the idea spread across Europe. The name “French Toast” only appeared in 18th-century America, where marketers thought “French” just sounded fancier.
The Croissant Is Actually an Austrian “Victory Pastry”
That flaky, buttery Croissant we all love has roots in 17th-century Austria, not France.
When the Ottoman Empire’s invasion of Vienna failed, local bakers celebrated victory by making crescent-shaped bread to mock the crescent moon on the Turkish flag.
Later, when Marie Antoinette married into the French royal family, she brought this pastry with her, and it evolved into the modern French croissant.
Eggs Benedict Was Born From a Hangover Mistake
The classic Eggs Benedict, with poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce, and toasted English muffins, was the result of a drunken improvisation.
In 1894, a stockbroker named Lemuel Benedict stumbled into the Waldorf Hotel in New York and ordered:
“Toasted English muffins, bacon, poached eggs, and Hollandaise sauce.”
The chef loved it so much he added it to the menu and named it Eggs Benedict after its accidental creator.
Why Do People Love Brunch?
Because brunch doesn’t just fill the stomach, it nourishes the soul.
It’s a ritual of slowing down, reconnecting with yourself, and embracing life’s simple pleasures.
Socializing lets interesting people meet other interesting people.
If you’ve got time this weekend, join a table of five new friends and experience brunch the WKND CLUB way! 🥂
