Breakfast Food Trends

One word: Frittatas. Italian vegetable-and-egg dish is all the rage. "The frittata feels lighter yet substantial without being rich. It's full of vegetables so it appeals to the health conscious and can be prepared with delicious cheese and herbs." Want to forgo the eggs altogether? Grilled veggies are a tasty alternative. Another hot brunch bite? "Smoked things," says Dispirito. "Not just salmon and sable -- but tuna bacon and salmon bacon, smoked tuna and smoked meats, and even smoked vegetables, which are great for late morning or early afternoon." Asian foods are invading the brunch bash as well, with delectable dim sum. "People like these well-seasoned bites of food with a surprise inside," says New York City caterer Karen Lee, who serves up these steamed buns and dumplings on stylish bamboo steamers. To add some spice to the soiree, some caterers are serving up familiar foods with a twist. Word of Mouth offers creative variations such as grilled chicken salad wraps, open-face sandwiches made on homemade dill sponge bread, and smoked salmon wraps instead of the traditional bagels and lox. Another hot trend is food stations, a lively (and less crowded) alternative to the standard buffet. One recent brunch reception we heard about featured an omelet station, a French toast station, and a crepe/pancake station (both with various toppings and syrups).