Why does every brunch seem to involve the same spread of bacon and fried eggs, or bagels and lox? With no disrespect to the classics, we’re leaving those menus behind with these four out-of-the-box brunch ideas—from breakfast soups (don’t knock ‘em until you’ve had pho in the morning) to cocktails that go beyond the mimosa (sorry, oranges, it’s time for other fruits to get their turn).
Make one dish the star of your next brunch party, or take on the whole menu with the 48" Miele Dual Fuel range. Its convection oven, speed oven, warming drawer, and up to eight burners mean you can tackle half a dozen different dishes at once, keeping each one at an ideal serving temperature while you move onto the next project. Brunch for 10? You've got this.
In much of the world, noodle soups tend to be breakfast fare—from pho in Vietnam to miso soup in Japan. Why not channel that idea and make a huge pot of soup the centerpiece of your brunch?
Try a quick pork pho, making use of store-bought broth, enlivened with a host of spices and aromatics; or the classic khao soi, a Northern Thai noodle soup with a rich curry-coconut broth. Still feeling the effects of last night's drinking? There's no better day-after remedy than ramen—rich, meaty, and salty, with as much chili oil splashed on top as you want.
A kimchi-tofu stew, spicy and complex with Korean hot pepper paste gochujang and tons of funky kimchi, is another ideal brunch dish. Or think beyond Asia with a Mediterranean-inspired fava bean soup with rice and tomato.
Bonus: soups are ideal make-ahead fare. So get the pot going well before your guests arrive (or even the night before), heat it up when your party gets started, and let everyone serve their own bowl. The M Pro Dual Stacked Burner System gives every burner both power and precision; bring that broth up to temperature in no time, then use the True Simmer burner to keep your soup at an ideal serving temperature—no attention required.
Do pancakes sound too predictable? Only if you're opting for the same, simple recipe. With pancakes, it's all about variation, and no, adding bananas or blueberries doesn't count. Think beyond the standards when you heat up the griddle.
Try these Vietnamese-inspired Hoi An pancakes, also known as banh xeo, made from a rice flour batter and filled with shrimp and greens. And there are any number of other savory pancakes to consider, like these sophisticated carrot pancakes with salted yogurt, crispy and naturally gluten-free, or chickpea pancakes with leeks, squash, and yogurt that feature a simple make-ahead batter. Miele’s M Pro Infrared Griddle provides the constant, even heat so essential to making perfect pancakes; with your griddle held steady at a precise temperature, you’ll never have to worry about scorching some pancakes and undercooking others.
Prefer to stay on the sweet side? Consider the showstopper that is a Dutch Baby, one large pancake beautifully presented in a cast-iron skillet. If you can get your hands on good peaches, go for a Peach Dutch Baby with cherry compote or the puffy Apple Dutch Baby with an apple cider syrup; slip them into Miele’s powerful convection oven and let them bake while you tackle the rest of your brunch spread.
Ever tried to do fried eggs or omelets for a crowd? Sadly, there's no better way to ensure that you're in the kitchen all morning while your guests enjoy the fruits of your labor. Consider flavorful baked egg dishes instead, letting the oven handle all of the work. Try Portuguese baked eggs, spiced up with jalapeño and paprika; the aptly named "Company Eggs," made brunchtime-hearty with Swiss chard, heavy cream, and lots of sharp white cheddar; and the lighter skillet-baked eggs with spinach, yogurt, and chili oil.
Or consider a Mediterranean favorite, shakshuka, like this version where eggs are baked in a spiced tomato sauce with chickpeas and feta. Start sautéing on the Miele range cooktop, then slide the skillet right into the oven to finish it off.
Every egg dish needs good bread to sop up all those yolks. Perhaps you’re ambitious enough to bake your own (may we suggest brioche?) or perhaps you’re just warming up a loaf from the local bakery. Either way, Miele’s oven is perfectly suited to the task. Its Moisture Plus feature raises the humidity of the oven while cooking, making sure your bread comes out with a beautiful crust and a soft, warm interior. And if baking your own is a little intimidating, use the MasterChef Plus, which automatically selects the mode, time, and temperature for what you’re cooking. All you have to do is hit the “brioche” button and the oven will adjust every setting to create the optimal baking conditions for that bread.
Bloodies and mimosas are staple brunch drinks, but why stop there? Any sparkling cocktail is ideal for brunch. Consider the Saint-Florent cocktail with orangey-bitter Aperol, gin, and a big float of bubbly; the Cosmopolitan Champagne Cocktail, bringing cranberry and Cointreau together with sparkling wine, and simple to make ahead for a group; or the classic French 75, where lemon and gin are a perfect match for Champagne.
Sparkling wine—like all wine—requires proper storage. (You’re not keeping your wine anywhere warm or with direct sunlight, are you? Good.) And Miele’s wine conditioning units go beyond mere refrigeration, offering ideal conditions for at-home bottle storage. The Sommelier Set not only chills wine, but sports a glass holder, chilling the glasses for your guests so whatever you’re sipping stays colder, longer.
Our recommendation: Make a batch of one of these drinks in advance, leaving out the sparkling wine. Chill both the cocktail and wine properly —topping them off with bubbles when guests arrive—but pour yourself one first drink while you’re at it; putting on a brunch this successful deserves a toast to the chef.