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Host a Toast to the Mother Hen Brunch
Hosting brunch is a no-brainer when your flock produces 150-plus eggs a week. Here’s how tastemaker Gany Bernal keeps it coop-to-table casual.
When Gany Bernal first spotted the wise old banyan tree gracing the 10-acre Florida farm she now calls home, she knew this was the spot to put down roots. Situated on the eastern edge of the Everglades, the Blue Stallion Farm property afforded plenty of room for her four now-grown children, as well as ample space for a true animal menagerie, including the family’s roughly 60 chickens, four beloved horses, three dogs, two roosters, two cows, and a pig.
The year-round warm temps encourage four-season outdoor entertaining (animals always welcome!), but the backyard is especially magical come spring, when the pergola is covered in fragrant jasmine vine and the table is set for celebratory brunches (Easter, Mother’s Day) featuring sentimental dishes inspired by family recipes. “There is a soulfulness to cooking from tradition,” says Gany. “Preserving memories through recipes is a way of staying connected to all that has come before us.”
Collect Eggs from the Coop
“Many people are surprised to learn that, unlike store-bought eggs, farm-fresh eggs not only taste richer, but can also last outside the refrigerator for several weeks,” says Gany, who incorporates them into the menu and hands them out as party favors.
Set a Colorful Scene
“I gravitate toward the tactile and bright,” says Gany, who recently introduced a farm-inspired tabletop collection available through her website. “Hand-illustrated in the Netherlands, the porcelain pieces have old-world country charm,” she says. A gingham tablecloth serves as a sunny backdrop to vibrant bougainvillea flowers picked from around the pergola posts. When displayed in a handmade Tamegroute bowl from Morocco, dragon fruit makes for an easy, striking centerpiece.
Sweat the Details
Sourced on Etsy, the toile paper fans make for practical party favors in the Florida heat. “There is a sense of nostalgia that comes with the fans,” says Gany. “They take you back in time.”
Greet Them With a Refreshing Cocktail
You don't need 17 ingredients to mix up the perfect cocktail to complement your brunch menu. This Spicy Ginger Beer-and-Bourbon Cooler is a simple combination of bourbon, ginger beer, and bitters, with lemon and mint as a garnish.
Serve a Recipe that's Close to your Heart
Gany is sure to add a decadent treat to the brunch menu too. “My Romanian grandmother used to make these Fried Romanian Doughnuts, known as gogosi. They’re best served warm coated in powdered sugar!” she says.
Stun Guests with a Bowl of Homemade Yogurt
No brunch is complete without a heaping helping of yogurt and berries. And when you've spent the time to make the yogurt yourself guests will be even more excited to dig in.
Get the recipe for Homemade Yogurt with Berries and Granola.
Serve a Hearty Bowl of Greens
There is no better time to dish out a big green salad then when the fresh spring greens are in season. Served with tart pickled vegetables, crumbled goat cheese, and toasted pine nuts this salad will pair perfectly with a rich quiche.
Get the recipe for Spring Salad with Pickled Vegetables.
Make a Showstopping Main Dish
“My Turkish, Romanian, Russian, Israeli, Syrian, Colombian, and Panamanian backgrounds have all combined to create my blended life,” says Gany, whose menu includes a show stopping Sheet-Pan Quiche with Scallions, Dill, and Fava Beans.
Get the recipe for Sheet-Pan Quiche with Scallions, Dill, and Fava Beans.
Don’t Forget Dessert
It’s not a proper spring party without something on a stand, and Gany’s Date-Carrot Cake is a go-to crowd-pleaser. “The natural sweetness and chewy texture of dates pairs wonderfully with the moist, dense crumb of carrot cake,” she says, noting that the carrots also add moisture and a subtle earthiness. Ribbons of carrot, curled into flowers and embellished with mint sprigs, provide a fanciful floral flourish.
Get the recipe for Date-Carrot Cake.
Send Them Home with Eggs
Fill cardboard egg crates with a half-dozen of your flock’s finest (or pick up farm fresh eggs at the farmers market) and embellish with a striped ribbon.
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