Book Review :: The Trouble With Brunch

Brunch is not only a concept in North America.  I recently was reading a magaine showcasing a number of brunch places in Taiwan where locals and expats (with money to spend) can enjoy a slow and relaxing meal.

The Trouble With Brunch
Work, Class and the Pursuit of Leisure
Author: Shawn Micallef

Part of the Exploded Views Series
Essays longer than magazine article but shorter than full length book.
www.chbooks.com/explodedviews

This is a post I've been working on for ages!!  After seeing a post in Toronto Life on some "blasphemous" brunch dishes in Toronto, I was reminded about this post.

This little book sure packs a lot of information in it! There were times where I wanted to go to brunch so I could share some of this info or have a discussion about the thoughts presented.  Only about a hundred pages long, it didn't take me too long to finish it when I carved out some time.
 

Micallef first paints a picture of brunch that he finds unappealling and yes, I see brunch could be as he described.  He also makes a note that it has been popular to brunch in places that are cramped and rustic to give the illusion of a working class environment but, patrons are usually not of the working class.  My brunch experiences have been mixed and I generally love having brunch but don't do it very often. 

• I don't like to line up so I too will avoid places where there is too long of a wait.
• The menu is important.
• Price also has to be fair.  Brunch can be expensive but sometimes it's just a little more expensive than lunch but you are taking a seat for a long time.  This concept is not too foreign, longer the stay, pricier the meal.

As mentioned, there are lots of thoughts packed into this book.  The book discusses "brunch" in Toronto and elsewhere. It is enjoyed by a certain group of people and is associated with class, whether it be middle and upper or "creative class" or "leisure class", it is for those with time and extra money.  And how we may see brunch as a means of defining ourselves.
 

I came from a working class family and we rarely ate dinner out.  But, when my grandparents were alive, my family and extended families would get together every Sunday morning for dim sum.  One, to socialize and two, so my relatives could spend time with my grandfather (who lived with us).  Dim sum is Chinese brunch; the meal lasts long and there are a multitude of items to eat that could be classified as breakfast, lunch, or dessert.

In the end, brunch is simply a time to connect and relax.

What I enjoyed....

Discussion on what brunch means to different people.

Discussion on the emerging "creative class". 

I also liked that there were many Toronto references and the comparisons made between his hometown Windsor and Toronto were interesting.
 

Interesting conversation piece but does it belong here...
There was a little section on farmers' markets and how different people of differing classes might view them. In some ways I have felt the same way...are farmers' markets really doing what they intend to do? I walked to my local farmers' market over the summer and had intensions to visit others but often I would think to myself, if I'm driving to another, does that make any sense? So, I just stuck to the one nearby and every so often would pick up stuff like "heirloom" tomatoes or fruit that was in season. I could not bring myself to buy corn for a dollar a cob though, knowing that supermarkets near me would be selling Ontario corn 5 for a dollar.

Anyway, I think this section may have strayed a little from the intent of the book, but it still is interesting to note.
 

What I would have liked more of...

The conclusion seemed a bit rushed.  Personally, the ending would have improved if all the thoughts were pulled together a little bit better, so in the end you can really say...yes, he's said a lot but points a, b, c really resonated.

Throughly enjoyed the book and would recommend if you are interested in the social aspect of food in our society.