An elegant holiday brunch is the perfect way to start a relaxed day spent with close friends and family. The holidays are a special time of warmth with close friends and family gathering to spend time together. I have hosted a holiday brunch for a large group of our family and friends for the past few years, and have tried to balance an elegant spread that is eye catching and has something for every age group, with the need for a short preparation time that allows the chef (me) time with this gathering of all my loved ones.

Our family is spread over many generations from my Grandparents to my little niece and my best friends’ 5 year old son. It is a challenge catering to everybody’s differing tastes and I find that my best friends in this endeavor are the two ‘P’s’ – Planning and Preparation. For my holiday brunch I always plan a menu around one special hot dish like a breakfast frittata, the extras include an assortment of sweet breads, fresh sides, a platter of meats and sandwiches and beverages.