Best Belize Brunch Ever (Better Bring a Bib!)

Because researchers at Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian Institution never met a topic they couldn’t remove from history to find relevance in today’s world, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the origins of brunch received editorial attention a few years back in the Institute’s magazine.

As meals go, this one is unique because it originated with England’s hunt breakfasts; repasts that wealthy Brits staged for guests before horses, hounds, and hunters embarked on ritual-filled rides dressed in formal livery. The word brunch is an amalgam of breakfast and lunch, as you may already have surmised.

This mid-morning repast was immortalized by British author Guy Beringer in his 1895 Hunter’s Weekly magazine article: “Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting,” Beringer wrote. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” Now that’s one convincing review!

Must you leave the table to go hunting in order to qualify for what is admittedly a lavish spread that is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate? That depends upon where you dine. When in Belize, only one brunch is guaranteed to satisfy the taste buds of both travelers and locals: The feast served at the Running W Restaurant at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel where brunch is elevated to an art.

What’s the best way to enjoy this monumental affair? By reserving accommodations at the resort so you can sleep in and repair to the elegant eatery the following morning! Otherwise, discover the hotel’s remodeled air-conditioned dining palace that offers guests delicious vistas of the hills below.

On the menu, find a rainbow of delights prepared from locally-grown produce, freshly-caught seafood plus selections of meats raised at the ranch run by the owners of the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. A typical brunch menu mixes Belizean dishes with international fare so you’ll be offered fried jacks, johnnycakes, hudut, and sere as well as international cheese displays, meats flavored with recado or achiote seasoning, mango salsa, and desserts worthy of a culinary competition.

Who can you thank for all of this largesse? Start with the owners of the San Ignacio Resort Hotel who have been welcoming guests visiting this popular district for over 4 decades or compliment the local chefs for their flair and talent since they are the genius behind the tasty chicken and waffles, huevos rancheros, omelets, and other brunch menu selections.

Can you get a seat at the table? You can if you plan in advance. Word has spread about this delectable brunch and it’s becoming one of San Ignacio’s trendiest experiences, so reservations are strongly encouraged. Call (501) 824-2034/2125 or reserve online at guestservices@sanignaciobelize.com. What is left to say? Bon Appetite, of course.