Where does the term "brunch" come from?

For those who are not yet familiar with brunch culture, it’s all about enjoying dishes usually served for breakfast at lunch time. But where does the term “brunch” actually come from?

Background

The word “brunch” is born from the combination of the English terms "breakfast" and "lunch", which simply led to: brunch. Today, it is not uncommon to hear some variations of the word such as the verb "brunching".

History

From a historical point of view, the invention of brunch goes all the way back to the 1800s from the Anglo-Saxons. Initially, brunch was defined as Saturday's party luncheon. Since the 1930s, the term has grown in popularity and has become a widespread culinary delight across the world.

Depending on the location, eating habits associated with brunch differ. For example, New Yorkers will go for pastries accompanied by a flute of champagne. Nothing less! In Dubai, brunch normally starts on Friday at noon and continues all the way through the night. Nevertheless, British brunch is closer to Quebec customs. Eggs, bacon, muffins and of course tea are all on the menu.

In Quebec

However, in the province of Quebec, there are actually no strict standards when it comes to brunch. But likely, you can still expect both sweet and savoury dishes such as pancakes, waffles, sausages, eggs, baked beans... all covered with maple syrup! Anything goes!