I like brunch, but am tired of decadent pancakes and eggs benedict. What is a boy to do?

Brian L., Chicago, IL

How boring. Brunch is supposed to be about sacrificing one or two days per week in order to indulge  in the type of homemade fatty breakfast shit that no one has time to make each morning. Though I totally do not identify with this problem at all, it isn’t the first time this issue has been voiced either.  In fact, a close friend’s parent recently shrugged off brunch, saying, “I just want a bowl of cereal in the morning!” Who needs to leave the house with this type of empty motivation?

If you are comfortable with the idea of settling with a bowl of cereal (yawn) or oatmeal (Zzzz), you are in luck as both are common items on the brunch menu. Glenn’s Diner is stocked with a menagerie of classic cereals from Life and Wheaties to Apple Jacks and Froot Loops, while Scarlet Bar will hook you up with cereal, cartoons and a $12 bottle of Champagne during their Liquid Brunch on Sundays. Clearly not a headlining menu item, homemade granola is available at Over Easy and Milk and Honey Cafe.

Want a bowl of oatmeal like mom used to make (or if you were a latch key kid, pretending you had a parent who actually cared), find baked almond oatmeal at Southport Grocery, steel cut Irish oatmeal with toasted almonds, pear and huckleberry compote at Uncommon Ground and three varieties of hot oats Yolk.

Don’t forget that one of the best parts of brunch is that it encompasses both breakfast and lunch. So if you are not in the mood for standard breakfast fare, grab a sandwich or burger and be on your merry way.

— Carly Fisher

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