Victoria declared brunch capital of Canada by Food Network

Victoria's brunch spots have been bringing home the bacon (and eggs) in a major way for some time now, and the Food Network has taken notice, declaring Victoria the brunch capital of Canada.

You Gotta Eat Here! host John Catucci says the main reason Victoria took the title is there are just so many places to choose from.

"I think every second restaurant is a brunch place in Victoria," he told All Points West host Robyn Burns.

"In Victoria, it's not just weekends, though … You can have brunch every day of the week. Which is fantastic."

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But is brunch in the capital really all it's cracked up to be?

Many of the top places in the city have notoriously long line-ups.

"I know the weekend lines are ridiculous … but there are so many restaurants," Catucci said. "When you're going to a place that makes their own bacon in-house, you wait in line. You know?"

And, yes, the food tastes good, but can't you just make it all at home?

"It's not just the recipe. You could have the recipe at home and do it, but it's just not the same," he said.

"Like John's Place, when you walk into John's Place, you see all those pictures and posters of all the people and all the places he's been, and the waitresses and waiters who've been there for 20 years, it just feels awesome."

And what about brunch-haters, at home and abroad, who say brunch is an overrated trend? An indulgence for the urban middle class?

"Just shush it," is his reply. "Have an eggs benny and just relax."

This story originally appeared on CBC Radio One's All Points West

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Rise and shine! Victoria declared brunch capital of Canada