A champagne brunch has a reputation of being snooty, staggeringly expensive and overindulgent. And it is…if you dine in swanky places. But at your dining table, it’s nothing short of a simplistic feast!

While a champagne brunch should be lighthearted and unfussy, it also has to be filling since it’s literally two meals in one. To strike a balance, choose substantial foods that are easy to cook and eat (preferably with your fingers, so you can flip through the papers uninterrupted!)

Here, stacks of eggplant, tomato and cheese form the foundation of this spread. Garlic mussels offer a welcome relief from the heavy food, while a mud pie and a stack of banana fudge pancakes act as a fitting finale. Champagne, as the guest of honour, should be enjoyed throughout…and even after!

The cheese and seafood bring out the champagne’s sharpness marvellously, and since these foods also line the stomach, the bubbles are less likely to make you teeter when it’s time to leave. Always wrap up such decadence with a sweet dessert and good coffee.