Celebrating Brunch

For some of us, it’s cold pizza eaten when we finally roll out of bed. For others, it’s a way to celebrate a holiday, toast a bride-to-be or welcome a couple to the neighborhood. And for some, it’s a high-dollar, high-calorie tour of a vast and varied buffet-table landscape.

Whatever the reason, and whatever the season, the Sunday brunch is a growing ritual in Southern California. Not only does the climate encourage leisure, but the pace of weekday life demands a weekend respite. Typical of the region, there’s no shortage of individual expression.

Brunch can be warm coffeecake and a fruit compote for late-rising houseguests, or potatoes and eggs served from the skillet to a few close friends. For the more ambitious, there are glorious platters of fresh fruit; a selection of cheeses; raisin toast, croissants and brioche, and the finest butter and jams you can find. Want more? Add a frittata with sausages. Strapped for time? A spiral-cut ham would do just fine.

If you want to leave the work entirely to someone else, the region’s hotels and restaurants are redefining what once was a simple mid-morning meal, making everything from sushi to exotic cocktails part of this fast-changing Southern California tradition. We thought it was time to chronicle that revolution.