croque monsieur monkey bread

and hosting a simply perfect brunch

Apr 05, 2025

∙ Paid

Before we dive in, a quick moment to announce our giveaway winners! 🎉

3 annual memberships to dinner, sorted:
Ashley J. E***, Teresa Win****, Judy McG***

Hexclad combo:
Susan R***

(*are for privacy purposes) Keep an eye out for an email from me later today!

Today’s newsletter is all about brunch! I wanted to do something Easter-y (I know I’m a little early), but I feel like most people either set family traditions or skip Easter dinner altogether. For me, Easter was always more about the post-egg-hunt brunch anyway.

But whether you’re hosting Easter brunch, planning a brunch for another occasion, or just love a good brunch spread, I’ve got tips to make it all simple as can be cause hosting should be fun for you, too!

Here’s a few tips I try to follow for simple hosting:

Plan one standout dish: everything else should be somewhat low-effort. Do one thing and do it well. Better to undercommit and overdeliver.
Lean into make-ahead: prep as much as you can the day before. Chop veggies/fruit, mix dressings, set out serveware, and have your serving dishes ready to go. The less you have to do in real time, the better.
Think assembly over cooking: I always get stressed about everyones specific likes/dislikes. A well-built spread means everyone gets to choose their own adventure. A smoked salmon platter with all the fixings, a yogurt and fruit station, or a sliced baguette with spreads and cheese are an impressive but easy addition.
Set up a drink station: depending on your group size, self-serve mimosas, coffee with some fun creamers, fresh juice, or a pitcher of a welcome mocktail. People love to play bartender for a minute so let your guests play bartender!
Lean into the shortcut wins: no shame in getting pastries or jams from your favorite local shop. And if someone offers to bring something, let them.
Maybe not simple but if you want to be a bit extra, I love to do up a cute little menu on canva and print them off for guests.
And finally, for a stress-free brunch, try and do these in advance:
- slice your fruit and assemble the platter the night before.
- set the table and drinks station first thing. Then pop a bowl of ice on the table right before you sit down.
- turn on some music, light a candle, and pretend you’re hosting a breezy brunch café.