French Toast Near You

What Is French Toast?

Simply put, French toast is a slice of bread coated in eggs and milk and then fried.

The bread itself is usually day-old so it absorbs more of the egg mixture without crumbling. And ingredients like cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon could be added as well. As for the frying process, it is done in butter or olive oil until the bread turns brown and is fully cooked.

This dish is a great and very popular choice for breakfast. Also, it can be sweet and even savory. In other words, you could have it with toppings such as (powdered) sugar, fruits, honey, and maple syrup. Or with different herbs, spices, and sauces for a savory alternative.

Where does French toast come from?

Despite its name, French toast wasn't actually invented in France. In fact, recipes for this kind of dish could be found in old Latin texts.

How old you may ask? Well, we're talking about the "Apicius" here which is a collection of Roman recipes dating to the 1st century AD. In it, the French toast is depicted as "aliter dulcia" or "another sweet dish." And the instructions state to cover some white bread with milk and eggs, fry it, and serve it with honey.

Moreover, there is a similar German recipe from the 14th century called "Arme Ritter" which means "poor knights." Around the same time, Taillevent showcased a recipe named "tostées dorées" i.e. "golden toasts." He was a renowned person in the history of French cuisine.

Later on, in the 15h century, Martino da Como offered yet another recipe of this type. He was an expert in cooking and could be regarded as the first celebrity chef.

Another popular story ties the origin of French toast to America. There was a chef called Joseph French who allegedly invented the dish back in 1724. His intention was to call it "French's toast." However, he made a grammatical error and spelled it wrong as just "French toast."

In addition, the term "French toast" was first printed in "The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink" in 1871. But it's worth noting that similar recipes were known under different names such as "Spanish toast" and "egg toast."

Any other French toast fun facts?

Definitely, we got some more interesting information about French toast to share with you:

• In France, the dish is actually called "pain perdu" which means "lost bread." It was given this name because people made French toast with stale bread so that it doesn't go to waste. And recipes for "pain perdu" existed back in the 15th century.
• The reason for calling the toast "French" could also be marketing. See, people in the United States admire French cuisine a lot. So, having "French" as part of its name could increase its appeal and associate it with something of high quality. Plus, it sounds good and is easier to market than say "lost bread."
• At the time of the Roman Empire, a dish similar to our French toast would be known as "Pan Dulcis."
• November 28th is celebrated as National French Toast Day. We aren't aware of how this came to be. But we are certainly all for it!
• French toast was a popular dish in railroad dining cars during the early and mid-1900s. This was particularly the case for the Santa Fe railroad. They even used it as a marketing feature.

What is French toast called in other countries?

French toast is popular all around the world. Still, the ingredients and cooking process could vary depending on the country. And the same goes for the actual name of the dish. On that note, here are some popular versions of French toast:

• United Kingdom - In the UK, French toast is often referred to as "eggy bread" or "Gypsy toast."
• India - If you'd like to try some French toast in India then you should ask for "Bombay toast." Usually, street vendors sell it.
• Denmark/Germany/Norway - In these countries, the aforementioned term "Arme Riddere" or "poor knights" is used for French toast. People enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, or even as dessert in the afternoon. Also, cinnamon is used as an ingredient and a common replacement for sugar.
• Balkans - In countries such as Serbia and Croatia, French toast is called "prženice." It is typically a savory dish served with cheese, sausage, and other toppings.
• Spain - In Spain, they have a similar dish to French toast called "torrija."
• France - as mentioned earlier, the French call it "pain perdu" or "lost bread."
• Hong Kong - their style of French toast is named "sāidōsí." The preparation method includes bread slices, peanut butter, fruit jam filling, and of course, eggs. And this mixture is then subject to deep-frying.
• The Netherlands - For the Dutch people, French toast is famous as "wentelteefjes." They combine the sugar with cinnamon. And the dish is synonymous with childhood nostalgia and your grandmother serving it to you as a special treat.

How many calories are in French toast?

A single slice of French toast (65 g) consists of about 150 calories.

This includes 7 g of total fat (10%) and 75 mg of cholesterol (25%). The percentages refer to the daily value of a 2000-calorie diet.

But there are also 311 mg of sodium (12%), 87 mg of potassium (2%), as well as 16 g of total carbohydrate (5%), and 5 g of protein (10%).

As for vitamins and other minerals, we got - 6% of iron, 2% of magnesium, 6% of calcium, and 3% of cobalamin.

Restaurants that offer fantastic French toast

By now, we're sure you'd love to have French toast as your next breakfast. So, let's take a look at where you could grab some near you.

For those of you in New York, we recommend you get it from Wimpy's Restaurant. You can find this amazing eatery at 1822 Amsterdam Ave. Trust us, they make some outstanding breakfast dishes.

Next, we got Troie Halal Cafe in Baltimore. Their location is at 2435 St Paul Street, and they have many loyal customers for a reason. You can enjoy your breakfast at the restaurant or order takeout or delivery via Slice.

And one more recommendation from us for those of you in Philly is - Drougie's Pizza. They're open 7 days a week, and even provide deals and coupons. You can visit them at 3542 Cottman Ave or order pickup or delivery through Slice.