by C. Alex Biersch
Lunching is a thing of the past—brunching is taking over.
Although Sunday brunch has typically been needed after a long night of binge-drinking, students no longer limit brunch to one day a week.
Christina Phillips, a senior marketing major, said that brunch needs to be incorporated into someone’s social life.
“Brunching is not a one time thing with my group of friends,” said Phillips. “It's a lifestyle.”
Making its way from the East Coast, “brunching,” the meal before lunch and after breakfast, has become quite the social gathering. This latest fad is slowly becoming popular to everyone, not just the extravagant foodies.
But why was brunch originally reserved for Sundays? After a long Saturday night out with friends, the likelihood of waking up early enough for breakfast was slim to none. Therefore, restaurants started offering later breakfasts.
Kathryn Hokom, a first-year law student, was just recently introduced to brunch by some of her friends and said that it is a great time for everyone to get together.
“All of us are in school or working, so getting together for brunch on the weekend for great food and drinks is a great way to spend time together and unwind a little,” said Hokom.
In the Old Towne Orange Circle, the mom-and pop-restaurants have hopped on board to serve brunch in order to appeal to the crowd of Chapman students. The Filling Station, a restaurant located just outside the Circle in Old Town Orange, now offers breakfast all day to meet this demand.
Kelsey Bartlett, a senior accounting major, has recently gone to The Filling Station and was thrilled to hear that she was able to order breakfast at any time.
“It was four in the afternoon, so I did not plan on getting breakfast,” said Bartlett. “But when I saw that they offered it, I immediately knew I was going to get breakfast.”
The menu selection ranges from classic American to Mexi-Cali dishes such as Chorizo Scramble and Huevos Rancheros.
Café Lucca, an American-Italian café in the Circle, not only offers coffee drinks and gelato, but they also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ellie Fateh, a senior communication major, makes it a point to regularly come to Café Lucca for brunch with friends.
“Not many people know how good and fresh the food is here,” said Fateh. “The amazing environment feels as though you are sitting in a café in Italy.”
Kimmie’s Coffee Cup, a small corner restaurant hidden on the outskirts of the Circle, provides a unique brunch experience for its customers.
Sienna Thornburg, a junior English major, started going to Kimmie’s for brunch when she first came to Chapman.
“I love coming to Kimmie’s Coffee Cup because they always make me feel comfortable,” said Thornburg. “With the way that it is decorated and how you are treated, it feels as though you are at your grandmother’s.”
With all the hype behind brunch, finding someone who has not fallen for the appeal is few and far between.
Ivan Barnes, a senior accounting major, has not caught on with the fad and thinks that brunch is an unnecessary time to eat.
“Honestly, Americans do not need another reason to go eat and waste time,” said Barnes. “We always center everything around food and alcohol.”
Whether or not brunch is one of your top priorities, partaking in the fad is continuing to show its relevance in restaurants and the student community.
Now let’s just hope that “linner” or “dunch” does not become a trend.
