When it comes to eating a meal, the “brunch” can’t be beat.  “Why,” you ask.  The answer is simple.  At no other meal would it be perfectly acceptable and normal to group pancakes, bacon, curry chicken salad and frozen yogurt (all personal faves of mine) on your plate at the same time – and then wash it down with a cocktail.  You just can’t beat brunch!

So where did this genius idea of mixing breakfast and lunch together for lazy weekend afternoons?  Apparently the idea started in Great Britain during the late 19th century.  According to Evan Jones, author of ”American Food: The Gastronomic Story,” brunch became popular in the Untied States in the 1930s in Chicago.  Movie stars, celebrities, and the wealthy who were taking transcontinental train rides used to stop off there in between trains for a late morning meals.

CityView Magazine just actually came out with a list of top brunch spots here in Knoxville to check out.  The fine dining establishments that made the list include..

Best Gourmet Brunch
La Costa  (31 Market Square, 865.566.0275)
How does this sound?  Sweet potato pancakes with brandy-pecan syrup and cinnamon butter or a duck breast burrito complete with scrambled eggs, black beans, tomatoes, caramelized onions, Spanish manchego and goat cheese…and then chase it down with half-price glasses and liters of sangria.

Best Brunch in the West
Mulligans (8923 Linksvue Dr., 865.769.3786)
They’ve got a nice variety of delicacies, including herb-crusted leg of lamb and slow-roasted beef.  And then of course your regular breakfast fare.  Plus a patio to eat on outside.  Nice!

Best Saturday Brunch
The Bistro At The Bijou (807 S. Gay. St., 865.544.0537)
Brunch is typically a Sunday meal…but why eat Sunday what you can eat on Saturday?  Besides one of the few spots with a Saturday brunch menu, they also cater to the vegetarian crowd with an entire non-meat menu.

If your mouth is watering from reading this, as mine is watering from writing it, check out the rest of the article and make plans wake up late and eat this weekend!

(Photo Credit: baconhaikus)