History and traditions
Breakfast is the most national of meals. North America has pancakes with syrup, Britain and Ireland the cooked breakfast, France bread and pastry. Brunch, a late weekend meal that combines breakfast and lunch, was proposed in England in the 1890s and adopted in American cities.
Food economy and industry
Eggs, flour, milk and bacon are inexpensive, so breakfast and brunch are among the most profitable meals for restaurants. Maple syrup, mostly from Quebec, and smoked salmon are the costlier items. Weekend brunch has become a restaurant trade of its own.