February 3rd 2023
One term that has gained traction in recent years in the world of dining is “brunch”, and of course, it might seem self-explanatory exactly what brunch is: a hybrid of breakfast and lunch.
To be more specific, the noun “brunch” has been defined as “a meal usually taken late in the morning that combines a late breakfast and an early lunch”.
Such has been the increased prominence of the term over the last few years, that many observers might imagine it to be predominantly a trendy Millennial or Generation Z “buzzword”.
The reality, however, is that the history of brunch can be traced back to the late 19th century – seemingly among the British upper classes.
An August 1896 edition of the satirical magazine Punch made explicit reference to the phenomenon, stating: “To be fashionable nowadays we must ‘brunch’. Truly an excellent portmanteau word, introduced, by the way, last year, by Mr. Guy Berlinger in the now defunct Hunter’s Weekly, and indicating a combined breakfast and lunch.”
The comment went on: “At Oxford, however, two years ago, an important distinction was drawn. The combination-meal, when nearer the usual breakfast hour, is ‘brunch’, and, nearer luncheon is ‘blunch’.”
Getting to the essence of 21st-century brunch, with a satisfying menu
Now, you might wonder why we are setting out so much backstory about what “brunch” is, especially as a great amount has changed since then.
For one thing, many people today associate brunch in particular with the weekend, which is when they often have the chance to sleep in a little longer. Nor are the stated hours of brunch in the 2020s necessarily very restrictive – and here at Manthan, we reflect this, making our brunch menu available every day of the week, from 12:30pm to 5:00pm.
That menu can be viewed on the Manthan website, and diners essentially have two sharing menus to pick from: the meat-oriented Brunch Signature, or Brunch Vegetarian.
Whatever your own choice might be, you can expect much the same impeccable professionalism, elegance, and taste sensation that defines the Manthan experience when you pay our establishment a visit at any other time.
Manthan is not just another stylish Indian restaurant in Mayfair. Instead, we present a distinctively high-end and innovative culinary experience in a beautiful townhouse setting on Maddox Street, albeit one also evocative of the home cooking that inspired our co-founder and chef, the Michelin-starred Rohit Ghai, from his earliest days.
Rohit has come to enjoy quite the reputation on the London gastronomic scene already, including in partnership with co-founder and business partner Abhishake Sangwan at the helm of both Manthan and the duo’s first restaurant, Kutir, which opened in Chelsea in 2018.
In short, when you are on the lookout for the ideal destination for your next brunch in Mayfair, whether with a colleague, client, or loved one, there is no need to look further than Manthan, which is showing just how delicious and refined a quintessentially Indian brunch can be.
Manthan is a reflection of chef Rohit Ghai’s life in food.
From the markets of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (where he grew up) to professional kitchens all over the world, Ghai has experienced myriad flavours and cookery techniques, all of which come together in his new Mayfair kitchen.
