The Best SoCal Winter Brunch Party

We are now officially in March and only a few short weeks away from the beginning of spring (on the calendar anyway) so let’s say bon voyage to the winter that was with an epic end-of-the-season brunch—SoCal style.

My Friends Who Fete gals, Aida from Salt and Wind and Meg from This Mess Is Ours, and I have joined forces once again to bring you a party you are going to want to recreate. From the recipes to the florals we cover every aspect of our parties so you can make them at home. Remember last winter’s Italian Polenta Party? This winter we decided to celebrate the gorgeous produce of  the season with a brunch that highlights where we live and where it’s all grown!

Here in sunny Southern California we are surrounded by the bounty of produce that just begs to be shown off and especially now when we are bursting at the seams with blood oranges, clementines, kumquats, and strawberries.

We pulled together a menu that captures these beauties and presents them at their peek then decorated our table with California grown succulents and flowers in a gorgeous, but totally doable arrangement. Brunch never looked so good!

A So-Cal Winter Brunch Menu

Blood Orange Ginger Sangria || Salt & Wind

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing and Pistachios

Spinach and Onion Quiche with Hashbrown Crust || This Mess Is Ours

Almond Ricotta and Roasted Rosemary Grape Tartines || This Mess Is Ours

Pistachio Spiced Coconut Carrot Muffins || Salt & Wind

Blood Orange Ginger Sangria

Tequila Brown Sugar Bacon

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing and Pistachios

Spinach and Onion Quiche with Hashbrown Crust

Almond Ricotta and Roasted Rosemary Grape Tartines

Pistachio Spiced Coconut Carrot Muffins

Effortless Decor

We tapped into California’s bountiful flowers for this easy centerpiece of roses and succulents tucked into vintage vases, cups, and jars. We wanted a rustic but feminine feel to mimic a easy Sunday morning affair and mixed pastels with wood, gold-rimmed dinnerware and antique bone-handled silverware. Here’s some of our favorite pieces from the brunch with links on where to buy them:

• Flora Poste Shibori Essex Linen Napkins
• Organic Gold Rimmed Dinnerware
• Juliska Petal Pink Tumbler
• Isabella Martini Pitcher
• Weck Jars
• Twig Cheese Knives
• Himalayan Salt Block
• Ridged Gray Ceramic Bowl

How To Pull It All Off

The nice thing about this menu is that much of it can be made ahead, even the night before, giving you plenty of time in the morning to put the finishing touches on the table and food. But there’s lots more to love about this party than that, here are a few more things that make this winter brunch so special:

• The quiche with it’s hashbrown crust is not only gluten-free but feeds a crowd and can be made the night before, just pop it in the oven to warm before serving.
• The sangria not only can (and should) be made ahead but makes a big batch which keeps the party going without you having to keep fetching more drinks.
• The bacon gets baked in the oven leaving your stovetop spatter-free and better yet, you don’t have to stand over it, flipping bacon pieces while your friends have a good time.
• Do yourself a solid and set the table the night before. Plates, flowers, silverware—all of it can be done ahead of time so you’re not digging around for wine glasses while the quiche gets cold.
• Get way ahead and make the muffins a few days in advance then freeze them. Rewarm from frozen right before serving.
• Even the fruit salad can be made in advance, just don’t add the dressing or pistachios until you’re ready to eat. Cover the top of the salad with a damp paper towel, then cover all the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time.
• Add a few store-bought pastries, lovely jam or jelly, and if you want something even more; make layered yogurt parfaits like we did with plain Greek yogurt and jam.

If you need more inspiration, don’t forget to follow our Friends Who Fete Pinterest board for all kinds of ideas for your next brunch.

FRIENDS WHO FETE

If you know anything about me, you know I love to get together with friends and family and celebrate for any reason…or no reason at all. That’s why every few months I join forces with Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours to throw a party and give you all the details so you can too! We call it Friends Who Fete and you can find all our fiestas here!

Many thanks to Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours for all the gorgeous photography.

One More Thing

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