Does the name Guy Beringer sound familiar? Until I started researching the popularity of “brunch”, I must confess I never heard of him either.

Guy Beringer was an English writer who first proposed the idea for the mixed meal in his 1895 essay “Brunch: A Plea”. His inspiration – the hangover, tailored for those folks nursing one on Sunday morning.

According to an article in mentalfloss.com, instead of rousing folks from bed and confronting them with a heavy spread of meat pies, Beringer proposed a midmorning compromise: a hybrid meal that could lead with tea pastries and segue into meatier dishes. That way, “brunchers:” wouldn’t be forced to stuff rich fare down their gullets. Instead, they could slowly shake off their headaches and calm their gurgling stomachs.

Best of all, Beringer believed that friends could share their bawdy tales of the previous evening. “Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling,” Beringer wrote. “It makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings.”

It took another 30 years for brunch to catch on in the U.S. Once it did, however, we have never looked back. Fast forward – May 14, 2017. Brunch is a great way to show Mom some love on Mother’s Day. Here is a sampling of brunch spots along Beach Drive. Be sure to call ahead for reservations.

Bon Appétit!

MFA Café: 11am to 3pm
255 Beach Drive NE
Tele: (727) 822-1032

Cassis American Brasserie: 8am to 3pm
170 Beach Drive NE
Tele: (727) 827-2927

The Birch & Vine: 10am to 4pm
340 Beach Drive NE
Tele: (727) 896-1080

Marchand’s Bar & Grill: 9am to 2pm
Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
501 5th Avenue NE
Tele: (727) 824-8072

400 Beach Seafood and Tap House: 10am to 3pm
400 Beach Drive NE
Tele: (727) 896-2400

Parkshore Grill: 10am to 3pm
300 Beach Drive NE
Tele: (727) 896-9463