One of the things I mostly love about Sundays is brunch. I mean, what’s not to love, right? Sure, it involves one of my favourite activities (eating), but that’s not all: a couple hours spent in good company, with delicious food, discussing the week that’s passed and the one ahead, fills me with energy and anticipation for the days to come (yes, even Monday).

Judging from my friends (and the hordes of people lining up outside my favourite brunch places, pissing me off), I had the impression that brunch was like the gift that keeps on giving, the perfect way to lazily spend your (very, very late) Sunday morning over food and maybe a couple cocktails. However, it seems that brunch is not as angelic as I thought it to be. Apparently, there are people who are sick of it already.

I’m not yet sure if brunch ‘is a waste of time, money and drunken pleasure that you don’t have’ and wouldn’t go as far as labelling it ‘for jerks’– but I definitely see the point of these two articles: what appeared over 100 years ago, as a newfound trend for the wealthy, has indeed become one of the most ‘divisive meals‘ (not only in America, but elsewhere as well). Not everyone brunches; not everyone has the luxury to spend their Sunday leisurely sipping (usually overpriced) cocktails and eating (often also overpriced) various breakfast- inspired dishes. Brunch requires money, time and a specific schedule which not everyone has or can afford.

At the same time, as a lover of breakfast, especially one that’s shared with others, I do see the appeal of a more elaborate mid morning meal, I really do. I love catching up with friends during the day and most of all, I love ending my week on a kind of celebratory note. However, as a meal invented to satisfy specific social circles and one that’s for the past few years emerged as a symbol-like activity enjoyed by hipsters (damn hipsters!) and other (usually) wealthy urban professionals, brunch is actually justifiably seen a much more than a meal- as a statement.

Having read these and other articles and discussed it with friends, I still find myself on the fence about brunch. While I still enjoy it very much, there’s lots to be said about its socio-economic connotations. After all, food is rarely just about food, is it?