French Toast

French Toast its name might literally translate to French toasted bread, but did you know that this type of bread actually didn't originate in France? The story of this bread dates back to the Roman Empire in the 5th century.

Pan Dulcis: Valuing Stale Bread in Roman Times

In Roman times, this bread was called Pan Dulcis. Romans would take old bread that had been stored for a long time until it became hard and process it to make it edible. In those days, fresh bread was difficult to acquire, so they would dip leftover bread in egg and milk and fry it, resulting in a golden-brown, crispy, and delicious bread.

During the European Middle Ages, Pan Dulcis began to gain popularity in France. The French would often season the bread with various spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, enhancing its aroma and flavor.

The Misleading Name of French Toast

Later, when French people first immigrated to America around 1742, a man named Joseph French, the owner of a restaurant in Albany, New York, began serving a dish of bread dipped in egg and milk. He named it "French Toast" to indicate that it was "French's Toast," referring to his surname, with no intention for the name to imply it originated from France.

However, it is said that Joseph French was not skilled in grammar and did not know how to use an apostrophe (') to show possession. In reality, his menu item should have been Frenchs Toast, but he instead wrote French toast. Consequently, this bread dish has been mistakenly understood as being French ever since, despite its recipe actually dating back to the Roman Empire.

French Toast in the United States and Its Diverse Adaptations

In the United States, French Toast quickly became a popular breakfast food. Americans began experimenting with other types of bread and adding various toppings to enhance the flavor, such as jelly, jam, honey, peanut butter, apple sauce, whipped cream, fruits, yogurt, ice cream, and nuts, turning French Toast into a sweet dish. However, savory versions also exist, using toppings like bacon, cheese, gravy, and tomato sauce.

Global Popularity and the Hong Kong French Toast

Over time, French Toast gained widespread popularity and became known in many countries worldwide. Each nation developed recipes to suit local tastes and ingredients. For example, in Spain, it's called Torrija, bread soaked in milk, sweetened with honey or sugar, and seasoned with cinnamon. In Mexico, it's called Cajeta, bread dipped in caramel. In India, the bread has a spicy flavor, as it uses spices, green chilies, chopped onions, and salt for seasoning. In Scotland, it's often served with sausages like a sandwich. And in Hong Kong, it's a deep-fried egg-dipped bread sandwich with a filling of peanut butter in the middle.

It's evident that today, French Toast is popular in many countries worldwide. However, the French Toast widely considered one of CNN Travel's 50 most delicious foods is the Hong Kong French Toast. This deep-fried egg-dipped bread is served like a sandwich, with two slices of bread joined together and filled with peanut butter or coconut jam, deep-fried in butter, and then topped with another pat of butter.

Although French Toast has a misleading name, this bread has evolved over centuries to become an internationally beloved dish. From its origins in ancient civilizations to its modern adaptations, French Toast continues to satisfy millions of people worldwide today.