How to compose a real Canadian brunch

Canadian brunch: what to prepare?

Brunch is essentially a fairly substantial meal. The amount of food and drinks to prepare depends mainly on the number of guests. Both sweet and savory options are typically included.

The beauty of brunch lies in the diversity of what you offer. Therefore, be sure to prepare at least two different things, whether it be hot drinks, juices, breads, main dishes, or desserts.

The Canadian version, a cousin of the American one, is rich in protein, bread, sugars, and fruit.

Finally, no Canadian brunch is complete without maple syrup. Whether with pancakes, crepes, or anything else, it's the one ingredient you absolutely mustn't forget for this occasion.

Breakfast drinks

Hot drinks, which are usually enjoyed in the morning, are essential. We offer herbal teas, tea, or coffee, but also hot chocolate or hot milk to our guests. To further embrace the Canadian theme, why not offer tea? maple Or with cranberriesIt should be noted, however, that Canadians love coffee in all its forms.

Brunch is a meal that lasts several hours; you chat while enjoying your food and drinks at a leisurely pace. To keep your drinks hot, serve them in thermoses. This will save you from having to get up each time to reheat them.

Some of your guests might enjoy iced drinks, so why not create a bar area for that purpose at your Canadian brunch? Provide plenty of iced coffee, ice cubes, whipped cream, and caramel syrup. Place everything on a table so your guests can prepare their drinks. All you'll need to do is replenish the bar from time to time!

The juices

Easy to drink and refreshing, juices are a crowd-pleaser. Orange, apple, or grape: offer a few classics for your brunch. Also, plan to include... jcranberry juice for the Canadian side.

There's another drink Canadians really enjoy at brunch: Clamato, a rather special tomato juice that contains clam juice and spices. This popular Canadian beverage is the base of one of their national cocktails, the Bloody Caesar—with or without alcohol. It's simply a Bloody Mary with Clamato instead of tomato juice.

Cooked eggs

For eggs, it's up to you to decide what works best depending on the number of guests. Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or omelets can be made in large quantities and are therefore perfect for big gatherings. If you're not too many, you can try more complex cooking methods, such as poached eggs. Prepare a hollandaise sauce and you can serve your poached eggs Benedict.

Meats

Just like in the United States, bacon is a staple at breakfast and brunch. However, there is a significant difference between bacon in the two countries: the Canadian version is leaner and contains more meat. It comes in round slices and is an essential ingredient in eggs Benedict. Pork, turkey, or Strasbourg sausages are also perfect for a Canadian brunch. Smoked salmon is another excellent addition to your table.

Pancakes, crepes and other

Pancakes, crêpes, waffles, crepes, or French toast: delicious types of bread that are perfect with maple syrup. They can also be served with whipped cream, jam, chocolate, honey, etc. Muffins are also a great idea for brunch.

To bring more of Canada to your guests' plates, you can add... dried blueberries (but previously rehydrated) in pancake, waffle or muffin batter.

Savory waffles are also very popular in Canada, so why not introduce them to your guests? There are many variations: with cheese and bacon, with vegetables and salmon, with herbs, or even pizza waffles!

Breads and toasts

Plan to have several types of bread if there will be many of you: bagels, toasted sliced bread, wholemeal bread, brioche, etc.

Cut long slices of country bread so you can toast them and make toast later. You can, for example, prepare avocado, egg, chicken, or bacon toast. Salmon is very popular in Canada and is delicious on toast with cream cheese.

Vegetables

To balance the brunch, include a selection of both raw and cooked vegetables. Prepare mashed avocado, seasoned with lemon and other dressings, so everyone can spread it on toast. Salads—lettuce or a mix of different vegetables—provide fiber, vitamins, and vibrant colors.

Potatoes are a staple of the traditional Canadian breakfast. They are most commonly found sautéed or in hash browns, as a side dish with protein. For brunch, you can also prepare boiled potatoes, jacket potatoes, steamed potatoes, or baked potatoes.

Baking is also a great way to prepare a good quantity of vegetables with minimal effort once the dish is in the oven. Avoid heavy gratins and opt instead for crustless vegetable frittatas or quiches, which are as delicious as they are easy to make.

The fruits

They are served raw for their vitamins and to brighten up the table with their vibrant colors. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pears, apples, grapes, bananas: they can also be used to make a delicious and flavorful fruit salad. To sweeten it, add the juice of an orange and a splash of syrup.

Cooked fruit, whether in a tart, cake, or other type of pastry, is delicious and appeals to everyone. You can make a blueberry cheesecake, a red berry pavlova, or a sugar pie to end the meal on a sweet note. Desserts can be enjoyed with coffee, a small glass of... ice cider or ice wine to end a Canadian brunch in style!