A truly unique experience is having brunch in a garden, right in the center of Athens. As the temperature rises, so does the need to escape from the grayness of the city. You can enjoy sunny spring and summer days in the city’s hidden gardens, little oases where you can try unique brunch recipes and enjoy your coffee. These places have a unique atmosphere that invites you to enjoy it with your friends, surrounded by lush greenery, making you forget you’re in the heart of the capital. A garden brunch in Athens will help clear your mind of worries and fill you with positive energy.
The aroma of coffee, refreshing smoothies and milkshakes, sandwiches made with fresh ingredients, and mouthwatering brunch recipes awaken your senses in the relaxing atmosphere of a garden, surrounded by the urban landscape of Athens. Brunch is a habit that has firmly established itself in people’s hearts and seems to have a bright future. Before we focus, however, on what the future holds, we should explore its history and how it has evolved to this day. Below, we’ll see some fun facts about brunch and its past.
The History of Brunch
Although most people believe that brunch was invented by millennials, the truth is that its roots go back to 1895. Guy Beringer had the original idea of finding a way to combine lunch with breakfast, hence the wordplay in “brunch,” meaning breakfast & lunch. Brunch, therefore, gave him the opportunity to sleep a few extra hours on Sundays. At that time, people would party until the early hours of Sunday morning, and their Saturday night involved consuming large amounts of alcohol. So, waking up early on Sunday was a problem that Beringer sought to solve.
Alcohol Was Always Part of the Plan
The most popular drinks in the morning back then were coffee and tea. However, as Beringer cleverly pointed out, alcoholic drinks like whiskey and beer would be ideal substitutes. This way, they could continue their Saturday night celebrations into Sunday, extending the fun for a few more hours. Another advantage he thought of was that alcohol would be accompanied by easy, tasty, and quick food recipes.
British aristocrats were naturally the first to embrace the idea of consuming alcohol early on Sundays. They incorporated brunch into their lives as a way of socializing, and over time, alcohol became socially acceptable throughout the day. Naturally, it didn’t take long for the idea of brunch to reach the masses.
By the Early 1900s, It Crossed Borders
As with many things that start with the aristocrats, they eventually become popular among the masses, who want to take part as well. Thus, brunch crossed borders and found an audience on the American coasts, where by the 1920s, several states had developed their own brunch culture. In February 1939, the New York Times published an article that officially declared Sunday as a two-meal day. Families could now enjoy a more relaxed Sunday, as eating brunch in the afternoon meant they didn’t need to worry about cooking until the early evening.
Decline in Church Attendance on Sundays
After World War II, many began rejecting the idea of attending Sunday church services. Thus, brunch found fertile ground to grow and became more attractive, reinforcing the trend of people not attending services.
Brunch Goes Mainstream in the Restaurant Industry
Following the path of brunch in the 1980s, we see that there was massive and intense promotion from hotels and restaurants. The freedom of combining flavors and recipes was perfect for attracting a huge number of people, as they could serve almost anything they wanted.
The Garden of Usurum Gastrobar
The garden of Usurum Gastrobar, located in the neighborhood of Psirri, offers vibrancy and color to visitors in the city center. It’s a lush oasis of coolness, designed for you to enjoy brunch, coffee, or another refreshing drink in a relaxed atmosphere. It operates year-round, while in the warmer months, the roof opens up. Experience Usurum and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.
