No Mother’s Day brunch is complete without a toast to the person to whom you owe your very existence. Rather than reaching for the French, why not raise a glass filled with local sparkling. Your go-to is House of Arras – home to Australia’s most-awarded sparkling winemaker Ed Carr, it’s Australia’s most-awarded sparkling wine brand, earning 96 trophies and more than 250 gold medals across domestic and international wine shows. Arras Origin South Brut Cuvee NV is a Tasmanian sparkling with a bright complexity made from a variety of cold climate grapes. It’s a beautiful (and budget-friendly!) way to celebrate your beloved Mum.
- Big Moments
5 hacks for hosting the ultimate Mother’s Day brunch
Doing brunch at your place on Mother’s Day, but not sure where to start? Follow this easy guide to make your family celebration fun and stress-free.
Mums never ask to be celebrated, they do it all for the love. That’s precisely why they deserve to be showered with delicious food and drinks on the second Sunday in May. Gather the family together and throw your wonderful mother a beautiful brunch to fill her cup. Want to let her know she’s appreciated? Say it with brunch. These five tips will ensure you’ll pull off the perfect Mother’s Day brunch, while also strategically moving yourself into ‘favourite child’ position.
Sort out your menu
Brunch also means food so it’s good to have a menu in mind so you can build the drinks around it. Before you begin to panic about the need to make fiddly canapes and hand-iced cupcakes, remember, brunch is perhaps one of the most forgiving meals you can serve. It’s well geared towards do-ahead bites, cheat’s shortcuts and supermarket treats. First, you’ll be stopping by the bakery to pick up a few sweet pastries and freshly baked bagels. Next you’ll head to the deli and fresh produce section for everything you need to make delicious New York style bagels – classic Tasmanian smoked salmon with cream cheese, dill and lemon, plus crowd-pleasing toppings like sliced ham and brie or vegan cheese and avo. Lastly you’ll add to cart all the fixings for a cheese platter, from a creamy camembert or goat’s chevre to crackers, berries and grapes, before heading home to throw together a no-cook feast.
Stock up on a range of drinks for everyone to enjoy
Think about who’s coming and what they may enjoy sipping, then make sure you have enough options to cover different tastes. A crisp, brunch-style rosé is a must, such as Bijou Terre de Providence Rosé and, for those who enjoy a red, try organic Balance Nation Shiraz, which has a lively, fruity character and an oak finish. Keep in mind, not everyone chooses wine, so for something ready-to-drink and brunch friendly, why not introduce Mum to the delicious Billson’s range? From classic flavours like Creamy Soda and Fruit Tangle Vodka, Mum might find her new favourite sipper. For non-drinkers, don’t sideline their fun by directing them towards the tap water. Instead, offer premium soft drinks and mixers along with an exciting, alcohol-free spirit, such as Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Bandwagon Zero Alcohol. Its botanicals of Tasmanian pepperberry and citrus will help sober swillers feel they’re not missing out and not to mention look stunning when topped with Strangelove Tipple Toppers like blood orange or salted lime – all you need to do is plate them up and boom, not your usual G&T.
Set up a drinks station
The first rule of hosting is to engineer the whole event to be as stress-free as possible, even for you. After all, a flustered host doesn’t make for a relaxed setting. If your mum senses you’re anxious, she’s likely to jump right in and take over the proceedings to rescue you – she can’t help herself. Avoid any need for her to intervene by delegating the drinks pouring to the guests with a DIY station that you can set up before everyone arrives. This not only frees up your time – allowing you to focus on other tasks, as well as actually enjoying yourself – but it also gives your mum what she craves above all, your time and attention. Offer a range of glassware beyond your usual wine glasses; from tumblers for pre-mixed drinks like a Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin and Soda, to coupe glasses to add a bit of flare to your bubbly. Weather permitting and you’re planning to enjoy your brunch outside, keep your chilled wines close by in either a large ice bucket or esky to avoid all the back and forth trips to the fridge. Lastly, an ice bucket is a must, so your guests can top up their tipples with ease, ensuring every G&T sipped is kept cold and refreshing during the day.
Prepare your garnishes and mixers early
Every Mother’s Day get-together deserves a little sophistication and class which can be easily achieved through some fancy garnishes. The classic gin and tonic is an ever-popular, brunch-appropriate cocktail that’s refined, simple and needs no bartender training. After you select a couple of beautifully distilled gin options, such as Sicilian pink grapefruit infused Malfy Gin Rosa or Japanese Roku Gin with hints of yuzu and cherry blossom, prep some garnish options that will level up the classic mix. Citrus freezes well, so try cutting wedges of Ruby Red grapefruit, freeze on a lined tray, then add to your pink gin and tonic with a sprig of mint. Or, for minimal effort, maximum reward, make your own flavoured ice cubes that guests can add to their drinks. Arrange berries, mint leaves and lemon peel in an ice cube tray, top with water, freeze, and you’re well on the way to being awarded host with the most. Mum will be thrilled; siblings, on the other hand, may shoot you daggers for raising the bar well above a bunch of service station flowers.
As far as mixers go, we can’t look past Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water. Have a few bottles chilled and ready to be used by guests (with a few extra in the esky!) For those who are after something refreshing without the liquor, a flavoured water option is a winner. Fill a glass dispenser and add your favourite mix of fruits for guests to help themselves. Our go to flavour combo is simple and easy to prep – sliced oranges and cucumber with a bunch of mint and top with ice. Who knew hydrating could be so delicious?
Toast Mum with a local sparkling
- Also in Big Moments
- View More Post Big Moments
