Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 28th, 2021. Did you know today is National French Toast Day? I wish David was home I would make French Toast for us for Breakfast but is working and Charlie doesn’t eat French Toast.
National French Toast Day– #NationalFrenchToastDay
Five facts to know about French Toast:
- Did you know French toast was not invented in France.? In fact, French Toast was around long before France even existed as a Country.
2. The earliest reference to French Toast dates all the way back to 4th Century Rome. The name for French Foast in France is “pain perdu”, which means “lost bread.”
3. French Toast was created by Medieval European cooks who needed to use every bit of food they could find to feed their families. The cooks knew day-old bread could be revived when moistened and heated and they added Eggs for additional moisture and protein.
4. In Scotland, French toast is traditionally served with Sausage between two slices of French Toast, eaten as a Sandwich.
5. Did you know in Scotland, French Toast is traditionally served with Sausage between two slices of French Toast, eaten as a Sandwich.
There is no need to wonder about what to make for breakfast on November 28th. It’s National French Toast Day. We all know French Toast that’s become a staple of the American breakfast diet. Writing about this topic has me thinking about heading out for breakfast and can you guess what I’m having? French Toast and Sausage of course.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL FRENCH TOAST DAY
Here’s the first thing you need to know about French Toast: The French do not call this French Toast. It’s called “pain perdu,” or “lost bread,” because you can literally use stale Bread to make French Toast. Most Americans, however, might find that questionable.
French Toast, according to Frenchly, comes from a desire to not waste food. Note that it’s a major faux pas to throw Dread way. Did you know Bread has a Religious meaning.) Most experts agree that French Toast dates back to ancient Rome. A similar recipe can be found in the book of Apicius from the 5th Century BC. The Romans dipped slices of Bread in Milk and sometimes Eggs before frying them, and called it “Pan Dulcis.”
Fast forward to the 1400s and you’ll find a similar recipe at the court of Henri V where the “lost bread” attracted many fans. Still, it wasn’t until the mid 17th Century that the term “French Toast” appeared in England. Food Historians believe the term “French” does not even mean France; instead, it refers to the verb “to French” which means “to slice” in Old Irish.
So, “French toast” is actually “Sliced Toast.”
Irish settlers traveling to the U.S. and Canada may have brought the term with them. The phrase “French toast” first appeared in The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink in 1871. However, similar recipes were also called “Egg Toast,” “Spanish Toast,” and even “German Toast.”
There’s another less exotic theory. French Toast may have been called “French” because it enabled Chefs to raise the price. “Traditionally in the United States, we have an admiration for French Cuisine, which we consider elaborate and gastronomic,” says Kitchen Project Editor-in-Chief Stephen Block. “That’s probably why this dish was named that way. It’s just marketing. There’s no chance that ‘Lost Bread’ could have worked. Since the dish was successful and the recipe was easy, the name spread.”
NATIONAL FRENCH TOAST DAY FAQS
Is there a National Breakfast Day?
Check out National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Which we love but are sure 4 out of 5 doctors would not approve of.
What is French toast?
French Toast, consists of Bread (preferably thick Bread ) dipped in Egg Batter and fried which is just the beginning.
What’s a simple French toast recipe?
French Toast works with many types of Bread. Dip the Bread in a wash of Egg and Milk, then cook on a griddle until browned, then top with Butter, Fruit, or Syrup.
NATIONAL FRENCH TOAST DAY ACTIVITIES
Make French Toast for one of your meals today.
If your family is home gather them in the kitchen and create French Toast together!
Learn the history
Culinary History is filled with fascinating tales of trial and error. French Toast has such a long, History, you’re bound to stumble upon interesting stories.
Volunteer
It’s sometimes easy to forget those less fortunate than us. On a Holiday like National French Toast Day, which is a celebration of food, take time to volunteer at a Homeless Shelter.
5 THINGS MOST PEOPLE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT FRENCH TOAST
1. French Toast has got a bunch of names
2. Did you know French Toast is also known as Eggy Bread. 3. French Toast isn’t “French Toast” in France
4. In France, it’s called “pain perdu,” which means “lost bread.” 5. French Toast isn’t even French and the recipe is first found in Roman documents from the Fourth or Fifth Century BC.
French Toast isn’t just for breakfast anymore.
Americans like French Toast for breakfast, but other Countries and Cultures eat it at other times of the day.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL FRENCH TOAST DAY
French toast is funny.
Check out Steven Wright’s classic joke about how he went to a restaurant that served “breakfast at any time,” so he ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.
French Toast isn’t actually that bad for us:
While French Toast certainly isn’t a health food, French Toast can be a part of a healthy moderated diet. For example, French Toast contains decent amounts of essential nutrients, such as Riboflavin, Vitamins B6 and B12, Thiamine, Niacin, and Folate.
French Toast is a sweet way to start the day:
Many of us like to load up for breakfast. Although opinions vary as to whether or not breakfast really is “the most important meal of the day,” there’s no doubt that there are worse ways to start the day than with something sweet including French Toast.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
