Chef Mark Hix tells Sarah O’Meara about the restorative powers of an egg-fuelled brunch.

Opening the fridge after Christmas and New Year bingeing is always a crucial first step towards hangover deliverance.

A seriously good breakfast can both relieve the effects of a great night and offer the hope of a brighter, headache-free, future.

Celebrity chef Mark Hix says there are scientific reasons why we all crave a decent brunch. “We’ve all woken up the morning-after like a bear with a sore head and instantly thought the only cure is a big fry-up of eggs and bacon,” he says.

“I discovered, after doing a bit of research, that eggs contain large amounts of cysteine and this substance can help break down acetaldehyde, a toxin which plays a part in causing hangovers. Therefore eating eggs can literally help mop up the problem.”

With this in mind, Hix, an ambassador for Clarence Court eggs, has come up with a series of luxury egg-based brunch recipes.

“At this special time of year, rather than grabbing the frying pan and tossing it all in, we can be a bit more sophisticated in feeding our hangovers,” he says.

Hix admits when it comes to finding a place to enjoy a great brunch, there’s nowhere better than New York City.

“I very much enjoy the brunch scene in New York. With their good spicy Bloody Marys they take brunch quite seriously and it’s a great place to sit back and people watch.”

Here are four of Hix’s favourite brunch breakfasts...