Sunday Champagne Brunches in Ventura County…  
And elsewhere

Sunday brunch probably began as a natural outgrowth of  “Saturday Night Fever”.  If you went to bed sometime after 2 AM, the chances were that you wouldn’t be getting up in time for an early breakfast. You might, however make it for lunch.

Thus, an idea developed to create that combination of breakfast and lunch that we now call Brunch. Originally it was not that complex. It usually began with lots of coffee… and if the Fever of Saturday included alcohol, we often selected a Bloody Mary as the preferred Brunch  ‘hair of the dog”. The clean livers opted for lots of tomato or orange juice.

That form of Brunch has pretty much been swallowed up and now has been upgraded to an advanced form of mid-day dining called The Champagne Brunch. It is no longer in a coffee or breakfast environment. In fact, the event has become extremely elaborate and it usually can be found in a high ambience dining  room or large outside patio. In fact birthdays, anniversaries, engagement parties and showers are often planned around a celebratory Sunday Champagne Brunch. This set of conditions generally requires a hotel venue.

About 45 minutes away, The Ojai Valley Inn has the complete Sunday Brunch package. If the weather cooperates, the setting is spectacular. You sit midst giant oaks with a view of the famous golf course. Well-trained servers glide by quietly to serve you a free flow of Mumms Napa Cuvee, which while not true Champagne is one of the better domestic sparkling wines. 

You can start out at the Br portion of the Brunch with the usual suspect juices, any type of eggs or an omelet custom prepared to your specs along with freshly made waffles plus ham, bacon, sausage and various cheese. Cream cheese with lox (smoked salmon) and bagels are at the tip of your fork.  Freshly made breads, muffins and croissants call out to you.

As you move to the Unch section, you will find ingredients to make a Caesar, Butter lettuce or mixed green salad under a choice of dressings. Crustaceans include tail on and poached shrimp plus crab claws.

A hot meat carving station changes weekly always offering two choices such as Prime Rib, Pork Loin and Leg of Lamb supplemented by a variety of steamed vegetables. Two entrees such as Roasted Chicken with potatoes or Steamed Mahi- Mahi over rice can be found in the covered hot trays.

Naturally, there are all the pick-me-up juices and egg choices. The omelet station will prepare your choice on the spot. There are freshly made pancakes and waffles with all the toppings. The ubiquitous ham, bacon and sausage lurk alongside Lox, Cream Cheese and Bagels. Breakfast pastries abound. 

Shrimp and fresh oysters can be found at the crustacean table. Salads are prepared on the spot or you can be a do-it-yourselfer. A wide array of cheeses are offered

Personal pasta is prepared in front of you. Prime rib and turkey are carved individually. Chicken and salmon selections are kept hot in enclosed steam trays. Steamed vegetables are waiting.

Not quite as upscale but served in an attractive outdoor patio when the weather is encouraging is the Lobster-BBQ-Champagne Brunch (what a mouthful!) served at Oak Park’s La Cupola. To start there is flute of Mimosa or Sparkling Wine. A large amount of food follows.

Coffee, custom omelets, pancakes, waffles, breakfast meats and assorted juices join forces to begin the onslaught. Lox, cream cheese, bagels, and assorted pastries complete the breakfast portion.

Chicken, skirt steak, beef ribs, chicken sausage and hot dogs come off the outdoor BBQ grill. There are 5 hot buffet items such as Lobster Thermidor, Chicken Cacciatore, Tomato Pasta, Turkey Loaf, Fettucini Alfredo and assorted vegetables such as O’Brien potatoes.

A wide selection of desserts featuring cheesecake, dark chocolate fudge cake and cookies is in the lobby forcing you to walk off some of your brunch. Adults 16.95 Children 10.95

In fact, the local Peninsula is the only U.S. hotel that I know of that serves a true Champagne Brunch. You see, they serve unlimited Perrier Jouet, which is actually real French Champagne. Until about a year ago, for another $10 they served unlimited Dom Perignon. This practice was discontinued when it threatened to wipe out an entire Dom vintage. (not a bad idea in itself-for this overrated bubbly). Mounting traffic problems around the hotel every Sunday had exacerbated the overall issue. It was caused by drivers leaving The Peninsula who had been determined to get their money’s worth in the same manner that cell phone addicts walk or drive around in a daze on weekends trying to use up those 2000 free minutes

At any rate at The Peninsula you get more for your money than just food. You get some very serious ambience.  The room is exquisite along with the outside patio. Service is pristine and non-condescending. The actual food presentation is very civilized. You choose your appetizers from a tray brought to the table. This is followed by a sophisticated main course chosen from the menu and prepared by the hotel’s world class kitchen. For dessert, you must actually go to a lovely display to choose as many desserts as your 4,000-calorie diet will then allow. Those Champagne calories mount up.