When I was doing research on brunch and all of its components a few months ago, I came across markedly different stories about the origins of the Bloody Mary cocktail. The creator title is attributed to more than one person and place but with such interesting back stories that I'll take any claim to fame with a rim of salt. One of those origin stories places the Bloody Mary's creation at the St. Regis Resort's location in New York where that iconic drink was called a Red Snapper. To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the signature cocktail's birth, St. Regis Monarch Beach in Southern California is offering a Bloody Mary bar for 80 days (Memorial Day to Labor Day) which will give guests the ability to invent their own version of the hair of the dog drink. If you aren't interested in making up a concoction of your own without proven success, you can also get any one of their variations from any of their worldwide locations - they're all different! We got a chance to sip on several of these unique ones, and they were all markedly diverse though based on the same mix. Check out what some of the concoctions are!

If you're looking to spoil yourself in Orange County, take a long drive down PCH on a sunny day and enjoy the beautiful sight of the surf and sand on one side. It's a reason to love living in southern California. This view is also a main draw to snagging brunch at Motif at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. We spent a lot of my brunch visits checking out restaurants that had set menus from which one could order but Motif was the first on our list to have a buffet. When I mention buffet, I am not talking about long lines around heat lamped tables or sneeze-guarded salad bars. Given the space and the gorgeous hotel itself, Motif featured sumptuous buffet stations, some with chefs customizing your dishes live and some with multiple tiers of offerings to pick as you waltz by. The brunch at the restaurant can be enjoyed by both hotel guests and the public, and having started in 2002, it has gained a popular following. Not only are the dishes presented lavishly but the patio dining offers a breathtaking Pacific Ocean view.