Brunch

Brunch is something of a legend here. Instead of asking your buddies if they'd like to go golfing, or seeing if your girlfriends would like to hit the mall, you ask them out for brunch. Nothing cures a hangover like a little champagne and orange juice in a crystal glass the next morning. A little odd by North American standards, but definitely something we could get used to. Most of the high end hotels have brunches every Sunday Morning, and some even have them during the weekdays. As a welcome gift, KPMG took all of the new starts and their wives out to brunch at the Westin. Regularly this is a $50/person event. I'm sure our rowdy juvenile group scared most of the typical Westin clientele, but it was a blast. The brunch is set up on the sand, with white tents to keep the seagrape leaves from falling on your head. The waiters pour the champagne like it is water, and the orange juice comes quite quickly too, but try and order a water and you will be waiting awhile. Inside is the massive buffet. A fat kid's dream come true. Station after station tempts you with the warm smells and delectable fare. They must go through a bin full of melon's just to decorate and flourish all of the dishes. There is a Japanese sushi chef, complete with cleaver and white jacket. He can roll you anything your heart desires in mere seconds. At the pasta station you create your own sauce mixtures by choosing the vegetables and sauces you would like them to simmer up for you. The fruit section contains every fruit you can think of, and many you would never think of. They must have raided France to set up the cheese block because there were French labels that even I had never heard of (however, that could just have been faulty translation). Miniature yet classy jars of Welch's jams and Grey Poupon adorn the side walls. The buffet also has an ethnic section where you can find tandori chicken and naan bread or curries of all flavours. To top it all off there is the dessert section. I'm pretty sure I spent more time than necessary at this one. Every flavour of Tortuga Rum cake was available ( and trust me, there are a lot of flavours!) chocolate mousse, Key lime pie, Coconut cake, brownies, Fresh fruit and yogurt, squares and poundcakes, cookies and meringues... everything! It is a fortunate thing that the brunch runs from 11-3:30 because it actually takes you all that time to eat. Never have I reached a level of fullness as I did that Sunday. By 3:30 we had all collapsed on the beach, champagne in hand. They must pay the lifeguards extra on Brunch days so that they can fish out all the overeaters from certain drowning. The worst and best part depending on how you look at it, is that they don't stop serving the champagne until the tent is down and everything has been put away. It must have been a comical sight to see so many accountants trying to drink their weight in alcohol on full stomachs. Yes, Sunday brunches are famous here. So beware, if you plan on visiting us, start dieting now!

pictured: Blake and I at Westin Brunch, Our friend Matt loading up before closing