Mr. C Yacht Club: The Day I Learned to Love Brunch
I'm probably in the minority but I have never been a fan of brunch. There is something about eating all that breakfast-inspired food so late in the morning that I personally find displeasing, and I have lost many a friend over my lack of enthusiasm over brunch.
Then I went to the Mr. C Beverly Hills Belvedere Brunch and saw the light.
A series of sexy summer cocktail brunches every Sunday called “Mr. C Yacht Club,” this upscale hotel brings it with the relaxed glamour of the Mediterranean beaches. If I could ever visit the Italian Riviera, this is exactly how I imagine it would be.
With its beautiful wooden deck surrounding an intimate, inviting pool, this outdoor brunch offers large sofas, comfy chairs, huge umbrellas everywhere and even private cabanas. All of this while the clear blue California skies surround you and DJ Wade Crescent spins everything from electro to '80s R&B. There’s no possible way you cannot relax.
Adding to that relaxation is a wait staff, dressed exclusively by Façonnable, who are there to cater to your every need. Seriously, Mr. C should have a class for other hotels on how to treat a customer. If you happen to have drained your delicious Bloody Mary a bit too fast, not to worry — your drink will be refilled before you even get the breath to ask for another.
The food and drink here perfectly match the luxurious environment. Both their cocktail and brunch menus have changes made to them weekly, but everything is definitely Italian influenced. The Sunday I was there I started with prosciutto, parmesan and melon — and let me tell you, they are not stingy on the most delicious of cured meats. What followed after was just a long list of awesome: shaved parmesan, artichoke and avocado salad, truffle and mushroom pizza and, lastly, whole grilled scampi. Now that is a brunch menu!
But of course if you are billing yourself as a cocktail brunch in association with Belvedere, then you’ve got to come correct on the drink front. And Mr. C did not disappoint. Their namesake drink, the Mr. C Cocktail, had fresh mandarin, lemon juice, vodka and prosecco. It was not too sweet and perfectly tangy. The Bellini — Italian sparking wine and the juice of white peaches — was mixed perfectly. And the Mangojito (rum, mango, mint, lime) is a tailor-made drink for an afternoon outside, lounging.
Things at the Mr. C Yacht Club stay pretty mellow until about 3 pm when the DJ changes up the vibe and starts playing dance music. Then it becomes a full-blown Sunday afternoon party, complete with dips in the pool, more drinks, more food and more beautiful people. This is brunching at its most upscale. Mr. C has turned me into a true brunch convert. What’s everybody doing next Sunday around noon?
Brunch happens on Sundays this summer from 12 pm — 5 pm at Mr. C’s in Beverly Hills.
