Here’s How Alex Guarnaschelli Hosts the Perfect Brunch

In addition to pancake mix, Guarnaschelli always has jars of Nutella in her pantry. She knows the chocolate-hazelnut spread is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. While she loves it mixed into and drizzled over pancakes, she’ll also happily serve it with waffles and toast. Guarnaschelli gives full permission to experiment in the pancake department. If you’re feeling fancy, whip your egg whites into a high foam for souffle-like flapjacks. Up your protein with cottage cheese or go tangy with buttermilk or sour cream.

To save time and space when she’s preparing a meal for a big group, Guarnaschelli uses the oven and stove top at the same time. If she’s flipping flapjacks on the stove, she’s roasting crispy bacon in the oven, and the best way to do that is by arranging the bacon on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Be sure your racks are oven-safe!

While the bacon is crisping in the oven, Guarnaschelli might have her enameled Dutch oven on the stove bubbling away with creamy grits. She likes that the pot is attractive enough to bring directly to the table for serving. Plus it can add a pop of color to her tablescape. She recommends Dutch ovens to frequent hosts because, “they’re good vehicles for cooking and serving, so you’re not overwhelmed by dishes.”

Cast iron is a workhorse in the kitchen, but it’s not just for frying eggs. Guarnaschelli likes to use her skillet to bake fluffy cornbread or an eggy frittata or shakshuka to serve guests. This is another piece of cookware that can go straight from the oven or stove to the table for guests to serve themselves. Guarnaschelli likes that it adds a warm and cozy feel to her gathering.

If drinks are on the menu, Guarnaschelli likes to go beyond your typical mimosa. She says she often has berries hanging out in the fridge that need to be used, so she’ll cook them down into a sauce sweetened with jam. She adds a dash of simple syrup and lemon juice in a big pitcher and tops it off with a bottle of prosecco (or club soda for a non-alcoholic version).