Ah, spring. Over the years, I’ve grown to really appreciate all that spring has to offer — spring green veggies, blooming flowers, the excitement that long summer days are around the corner… and spring brunchin’ with friends. So, to kick off the forthcoming “brunching season,” I got together with a few of Santa Barbara’s finest ladies in the food and flower businesses to throw a Spring Brunch with Wine Pairings — you’ll definitely want to recreate this at home!
THE FOOD
Sometimes throwing a brunch with your girlfriends is a lot more fun than going out, especially when you think beyond the ordinary dishes to make it more special. My fellow foodie friends definitely hit the nail on the head with their brunch creations. Say bye bye to the standard quiche or frittata! Those are great and all, but so expected. Instead, we had delicious Breakfast Panzanella made with bread, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil from Robin of CaliGirl Cooking. And this perfectly pretty (and tasty) Ricotta, Potato and Spring Pea Galette from Becky of Baking the Goods. Any excuse to have a galette is a good one in my book, especially when it utilizes fresh spring veggies.
These tasty and unexpected dishes will definitely elevate your brunch “streed cred” to a new level, I promise.
Because we love carbs around here, we also served homemade granola and greek yogurt, fresh bread (baked by Garibaldi Goods‘ own Vanessa) served with artisanal jams, and an assortment of brunch-worthy sweet treats from Allison of Sugar Cat Studio. Yes, those are berry french toast and maple cupcakes with maple-buttercream frosting!
WINE PAIRINGS
Although I’ve thrown plenty of brunches with breakfast-worthy party drinks, it’s hard to go wrong with wine. There are so many versatile, food-friendly wines suitable for brunch, so don’t feel limited to cheap bubbles and OJ.
When I don’t want to spend the money on Champagne, I tend to reach for alternatives that are light and fun without breaking the bank. There are plenty of awesome sparkling wine deals you can find from all over the world, but when it comes to a daytime bubbles, Prosecco is a great option. Although not as complex or serious as some other bubbles, I think Prosecco is a perfect party wine — it’s fresh, light, fruity and versatile.
For our brunch, I chose to serve the Sorelle Bronca Prosecco DOCG ($18), a fresh and clean sparkling wine made from organic grapes. Not too sweet and not too dry, it’s loaded with fruity flavors and tart acidity perfect for day time sipping. And, because mosts Proseccos are low in alcohol — the Sorelle Bronca being no exception — it’s a nice light wine for brunching.
Because no good brunch (or sunny day for that matter) is complete without rosé, my other wine of choice was the 2016 Habit Rosé ($23). I first wrote about Habit a couple of years ago and have been a fan ever since. For his 100% Grenache rosé, winemaker Jeff Fischer ages the wine on the lees (on the yeast) in stainless steel. The result is a steely, crisp wine with a hint of creaminess from the yeast. Juicy strawberries and raspberries dominate the nose, leading to a light and bright palate that is complex and tasty. No doubt you’ll be reaching for this wine all spring. FYI – It’s made in very small quantities, so get it before it’s gone!
AMBIANCE
There’s something about a nicely decorated table that can really elevate a party, and it usually doesn’t take much. For our spring brunch, Amy of Bright, Inc. put together a beautiful spring-worthy arrangement. Adding an organic pop of color really took things to the next level.
RECIPES
For the recipes included in this Spring Brunch post, head over to the sites of my talented food blog friends:
Baking The Goods: Ricotta, Potato and Spring Pea Galette
CaliGirl Cooking: Breakfast Panzanella
Be sure to also check out the small businesses of the other talented ladies involved in our brunch:
Bright Inc. for floral inspiration, Garibaldi Goods for small-batch artisan foods from local California producers, and Sugar Cat Studio for pre-made mixes to make your cupcake dreams come true!
