Brunch Party
A lazy late morning of eggs, coffee and good company
Plan a brunch party at home that feels unhurried, even for the host. Get a make-ahead menu of bakes and boards, a coffee plan that keeps up, quantities for eight to twenty, and a morning timeline that gets everything warm at once.
Countdown
The brunch timeline
Tick things off as you go — it’s a checklist.
2 weeks before
1 week before
Day before
Day of
Day after
Menu ideas
What to serve
- Slab frittataBrunch anchor; eats warm or at room temperature.
- Tray shakshukaBrunch anchor; sauce made ahead, eggs cracked at the last minute.
- Breakfast buffet boardSets out cold, replenishes from a warming tray of eggs only.
- Brown-butter hash-brown gratin with chive sour creamAssemble six hours ahead, or bake a day ahead and recrisp. Sour cream stays separate.
- Smoked fish plate, rye & picklesBought in, assembled cold, reads far more expensive than it is.
- Cold green salad, sharp dressingZero heat. Dress at the last moment.
- Bought sourdough, cultured butterDeliberately outsourced. Buys back forty minutes of the day.
- Olive oil & citrus cakeBaked two days out; keeps better than it does fresh.
- Cold-brew citrus tonicEqual parts cold brew and tonic. Build each glass. Tonic at the pour — do not combine them in a pitcher.
- Blueberry smoothie with oats, chia and kefirLiquid in the blender first. Rest one minute, blend again. For a travel cup, make it looser than feels right.
Décor ideas
- · Fresh flowers in jugs and small bottles.
- · Linen napkins and a mix of mugs.
- · A coffee and tea station with a hand-written menu.
- · Bowls of citrus and seasonal fruit on the table.
- · Natural light: open blinds and skip the candles.
Things to do
- · A build-your-own mimosa or spritz bar.
- · A slow crossword or newspaper spread for lingering.
- · A walk after eating if the weather is good.
- · Swap-a-book table for friends who read.
Drinks
- · Plenty of good coffee, including decaf.
- · Mimosas with fresh orange and grapefruit juice.
- · Cold-brew citrus tonic, alcohol-free.
- · A blueberry and oat smoothie in small glasses.
- · Tea with lemon, mint and ginger.
Music · Mellow morning, gently building.
- · Jazz piano and bossa nova as people arrive.
- · Acoustic soul and indie folk through the meal.
- · Upbeat sixties and seventies records later on.
Questions hosts ask
How much food per person for brunch?
Plan about 230 g (8 oz) of a main such as frittata or shakshuka and about 125 g (4.4 oz) of each side per guest, plus roughly one roll's worth of bread. For a frittata, that usually works out to about two eggs a head once vegetables and cheese are added.
How much coffee do I need for brunch?
As a rule of thumb, plan one to two cups per guest. A 12-cup coffee maker serves about six to eight mugs, so brew a second pot about 30 minutes in.
What can I make the night before?
Egg bakes can be whisked and chilled, gratins and stratas assembled, and sauces like shakshuka base made fully. Cakes and granola keep for days. Cook eggs on the morning itself.
How many mimosas per bottle of sparkling wine?
A 750 ml bottle makes about six to eight mimosas when mixed half and half with juice. With two drinks per guest in the first hour and one an hour after, plan one bottle for every three or four guests who are drinking.