I went to a restaurant that had a sign out front that said ‘breakfast at any time’. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.      – Stephen Wright -

Haven’t you ever wondered…

How the French Toast got its name?

Did it originate from France?

Do the French eat French Toast?

The French are known for their devoutness to culinary perfection. Food is often prepared with ornate diligence and savoured leisurely in a bevy stream of heavy courses from appetisers to desserts. In fact, it was the French who codified and gave definition to the term haute cuisine. So simple is the preparation of French Toast that it begets the notion that it is indeed, French.

According to Food Timeline, the recipe for French Toast goes as far back to the ancient Roman times.  It was first named ”Pain a la Romaine” (Roman bread) and it was a meal of the upper classes. Recipes printed in medieval texts employed the very finest white bread available at that time with expensive spices and almond milk listed as the ingredients.

In contrary, popular beliefs behind the French Toast is that it was created by medieval European cooks who used the crusts of the bread to feed their families so that it didn’t go to waste. Old, stale bread was revived by dipping them in milk and eggs, prepped on a hot griddle laced with oil. Fast forward centuries later to modern times, the French Toast is now commonly known as “pain perdu” (lost bread) in France.

However, there is also a web claim that the French Toast is an American invention, the humble creation of a man named Joseph French who was the owner of a little roadside stall in the city of Albany in 1724.

Some say the French Toast was originally called the German Toast. It was changed to French Toast due to the negative sentiments towards the German during World War 1.

To-date, there are many variations of French Toast.

The Italians use fresh mozzarella cheese as the main ingredient, sandwiched between two slices of bread dipped in beaten egg. Hence, the name Mozzarella in Carozza (mozzarella in carriage).

The Portuegese version is called fatias douradas, made from slices of stale bread soaked in milk, coated with beaten eggs, deep fried in olive oil, and dipped in sugar and cinnamon, or coated with cinnamon-flavoured syrup.

The German version is sometimes made with wine instead of milk, hence it’s name Betrunkene Jungfrau (drunken virgin).

In Australia, it is served with banana, bacon and drizzled with maple syrup.

In India, the egg mixture consists of milk, salt, chopped chillies and onions. Commonly known as the Masala Toast.

In Malaysia and Singapore, we have pretty much adopted the Hong Kong version of French Toast, with three slices of white bread sandwiched with peanut butter, dipped in egg, deep fried till golden brown and topped with a thick slab of butter and maple syrup.

Photo from All Recipes

The French Toast is a versatile dish that can be prepared in minutes using leftover ingredients that are sitting in your fridge. Its simplicity allows for inexpensive experimental kitchen adventure for a hearty breakfast, mid afternoon snack or light dinner.  We love the Creme Brulee version from All Recipes.

References: Lyberty ; Wikipedia