The idea of brunch may have originated in England, but Southerners have made it a cornerstone of entertaining. A morning get-together catches guests when they’re rested, in the hours before the busyness of the day begins. Mornings work well for entertaining families with young children, before the little ones grow tired and grumpy. Brunch can fuel a full day, or just segue right into a nap on a lazy weekend day. It’s good for hosts, too, since many brunch dishes can be made the night before and baked or reheated. A morning guest is a hungry guest, so plan generously for big appetites.
Breads are the centerpiece of many satisfying brunch menus, but the Southern tradition of hot bread is more than a century older than brunch. After the popularity of hot biscuits and rolls languished for a generation of cooks, they’ve been embraced by a new generation of bakers enhancing traditional recipes and finding new ways to use old favorites to please company.