Hosting a progressive brunch is a great way to spend time together during the holiday season without infringing on other obligations. Not sure what to serve? We’ve included menu ideas to make your brunch a success.
There are so many people we would like to celebrate with during the holiday season, but with only 10 weekend nights between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, it is hard to find the time. A simple way to open up another date on your calendar is to host a progressive brunch. The benefit of a progressive meal is that it allows you to see several people, show off your home and host without having to go overboard on costs.
Progressive brunches work well for people who live close to each other, whether they are in the same building, on the same block or within the same neighborhood. Each house participating in the brunch provides a meal (or at least one of the meal’s courses) and drinks. Guests arrive at a set time and usually only stay an hour before moving on to the next house and the next course. During the holidays, homes will be cheerfully decorated, making a progressive brunch a festive way to spend a Sunday.
Start Planning. Make your guest and host lists. Will your brunch include your Bunco group, neighborhood couples or families? If you host with children, it is often more fun for everyone if the children stay at one house with a teenage babysitter (or two), have their own menu and preplanned activities such as a movie or craft. Because this is the holiday season, it might be a nice idea to collect items for charity—a food drive, coat drive or a collection for Toys for Tots.
Hosting. When choosing your hosts, find out how many guests they can seat at their table. Then divide the number of guests by the number of seats available at each house. For example, if your guest list includes 12 people and each house can only seat 6, it might be a better idea to have two hosts for each course. Switch up who eats together at each house so everyone gets to socialize with different people. Another way to do it is to have your guests stand, cocktail party style, so all 12 guests can go to each house.
Menu. Have the hosts get together and make a menu so there won’t be duplicates. Be sure to consider food allergies. A brunch menu includes both breakfast and lunch items. Choose meals that can be prepared ahead or take little cooking time so when it is your time to host, you will only need to leave the party a few minutes before your guests arrive.
Cost. Splitting the cost of the food is fair to hosts and guests alike. When the menu has been decided, select two hosts to make a list and shop ahead. Divide the cost of the food, drinks and babysitters by the number of guests and collect money before shopping. Using festive disposable plates and cups will make it easier for the hosts to pick up and go to the next house.
Putting It All Together. Start the party at the first house with a celebratory mimosa and pick up meal schedules. After dropping off the kids and enjoying a quick half hour of mingling, break off into more intimate groups of 6 or 8 for the other parts of the meal. Arrive at the next house at the set time and move through the afternoon enjoying different hosts, friends and a variety of food and drinks. Head to the last house to meet up with the whole group again for dessert.
End the afternoon with a group game for adults. Try Hedbanz, Apples to Apples or The Game of Things. If your brunch includes kids, consider having a small gift exchange or see if Santa can stop by for a visit. Leave the party with wonderful memories, stronger friendships and a full stomach.
Menu Ideas for Holiday Brunch
Fruit and yogurt parfaits
Mini muffins or bagel bites
French toast sticks served in shot glasses with syrup
Cinnamon rolls
Mini Eggs Benedict
Fruit and donut hole kabobs
Ham and asparagus roll-ups made with refrigerated crescent rolls
Fruit salad served in red wine goblets
Waffle bar with fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate chips and a variety of syrups
Quiche or frittatas
Pasta salad
Cheese and sausage platters
Chicken salad served in a deseeded tomato or avocado
Shrimp cocktail
Ice cream cone cornucopias filled with fresh veggies
Smoked salmon crostinis with cream cheese and dill
Mimosas, Bloody Marys, juice, milk, coffee, tea and hot chocolate
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Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three. Her family loves themed parties and plans to host a progressive brunch during this holiday season.
Published: December 2013
