While the name suggests a French origin, various iterations of French toast have been created around the world for centuries. The earliest known reference to the dish is in a collection of recipes from the Roman Empire called the Apicius, thought to have been compiled in the first century. The simple recipe, described in Apicius as “aliter dulcia” (“another sweet dish”), involved breaking white bread into large pieces, soaking it in a mixture of milk and beaten eggs, frying it in oil, and then covering the golden creation with honey.
Similar recipes that sought to make use of stale bread appeared in 14th-century Germany as “Arme Ritter” (“poor knight”) and, around the same time, in an influential French cookbook, Le Viandier, as “tostées dorées,” or “golden toasts.” Today, the French call the dish “pain perdu” (“lost bread”), the Germans still call it “Arme Ritter” (in several Nordic countries, it is also called “poor knights” in their languages), the Spanish call it “torrija,” and the Portuguese call it “rabanadas.”
So how exactly did French toast get the name “French Toast” in the U.S.? Is there anything Parisian about the toast? Well, nobody knows for sure. There are several origin stories and legends — according to one, a chef named Joseph French invented his own version of the dish in Albany, New York, in 1724. Failing to use an apostrophe, he called his culinary invention “French toast,” rather than “French’s toast.”
A more likely scenario, however, is that the name French toast was first used in England in the 17th century (perhaps the British picked up the recipe on a trip across the channel) and then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America with the early settlers.
Whatever the name and no matter the origin of the dish we like to call French toast, making good use of stale bread continues to produce delicious results: a sweet, eggy, golden dish fit for a fancy brunch or last-minute breakfast for the kids.
If you’re craving this breakfast of champions, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spots for digging into this dish.
Top toasts
Acorn Cafe
Tiramisu French Toast ($17)
The Healdsburg brunch favorite Acorn Cafe has a Goguette brioche French toast topped with raspberries, cocoa nibs, dollops of whipped mascarpone and coffee ice cream. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, acornhealdsburg.com
Costeaux French Bakery & Cafe
Pain Perdu ($18)
Thick slices of housemade cinnamon walnut bread topped with berries, fig spread, whipped sweet crème fraîche and pure Vermont maple syrup. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
The Parish Cafe
Bananas Foster Pain Perdu ($19)
French-style pain perdu topped with caramelized bananas, bourbon maple syrup and powdered sugar. 60 Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-431-8474, theparishcafe.com
The Wild Poppy Cafe
Berries & Cream French Toast ($16)
Ciabatta bread with maple butter, sweet cream and seasonal berry lemon compote. 9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, 707-503-6332, thewildpoppycafe.com
Willow Wood Market Cafe
Challah French Toast ($18.50)
Challah bread dipped in a Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream batter, topped with toasted pecans, pure maple syrup, fresh fruit garnish and powdered sugar. 9020 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-0233, willowwoodgraton.com
Estero Cafe
Sourdough French Toast ($17.50)
Thick-cut slices of sourdough soaked in rich custard and topped with whipped cream, seasonal fruit and housemade vanilla cider maple syrup. Similar menu item at sister restaurant Americana in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. 14450 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-3333, americanasonomacounty.com/estero-cafe
Marla Bakery
Challah French Toast ($20)
Housemade challah French toast served with strawberry gastrique and vanilla crème Chantilly. 208 Davis St., Santa Rosa, 707-852-4091, marlabakery.com
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar
GB Cinnamon Babka French Toast ($19)
Grossman’s decadent cinnamon babka served with two eggs, chicken apple sausage and orange ginger butter. 308 1/2 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com
J&M’s Midtown Cafe
Cinnamon Swirl French Toast ($18)
Two pieces of cinnamon-raisin French toast, served with two eggs and a choice of meat. Also: ciabatta French toast ($15). 1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Sonoma Eats
Tres Leches French Toast ($15)
Croissants dipped in a “tres leches mix,” griddled and topped with cream and strawberries. 18133 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-343-1141, sonoma-eats.com
Cafe Bellini
Crème Brûlée French Toast ($17)
Challah bread dipped in a crème brûlée batter with mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, fresh berries and maple syrup. 100 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-774-6160, thecafebellini.com
View this post on Instagram
Pub Republic
Maple Fried Chicken & French Toast ($18)
Egg-battered Texas toast, buttermilk-fried chicken breast, crispy bacon and maple syrup. Note that French toast is a weekend brunch dish served only on Saturdays and Sundays. 3120 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, 707-782-9090, pubrepublicusa.com
Sax’s Joint
TT’s Famous French Toast ($15)
Sourdough French bread grilled with cinnamon and sugar, then topped with marionberry cream cheese. Also great: French Toast ($15): Extra-thick slices of locally made cinnamon challah bread; and Little P (aka Patricia’s Favorite; $17): Sourdough French toast with two eggs and bacon or sausage. The portions are enormous, so bring an appetite. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Honorable mentions
Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe
French Toast Combo ($17.50)
Texas toast topped with powdered sugar and strawberries and served with two eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage or ham. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe
French Bread French Toast ($12.50)
Four slices of baguette dipped in an egg and cinnamon batter. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
Piner Cafe
French Toast Sandwich ($14.45)
Slices of French toast accompanied with an egg and two strips of bacon, four sausage links or half a slice of ham. Also great: Walnut Cinnamon French Toast and Raisin Bread French Toast ($14.95). 975 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-575-0165, pinercafe.com
Omelette Express
Sourdough French Toast ($13.50)
Griddled sourdough French toast topped with cinnamon and sugar. Add bacon and two eggs for $5.25. 112 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-1690, omeletteexpress.com
Crepevine
French Toast La Suisse ($13)
Housemade French white bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter with cinnamon and powdered sugar and served with 100% pure organic maple syrup. Also great: French Toast Parisienne ($13): Cinnamon raisin bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter and served with organic maple syrup. 740 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, 707-577-8822, crepevine.com
The Twins Restaurant
French Toast ($17)
Three pieces of French toast topped with brandy cream sauce, powdered sugar and fresh blueberries. 572 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-242-3075, thetwinsrestaurant.com
Verano Cafe
French Toast ($15)
Classic French toast topped with strawberry coulis and whipped cream and served with fresh fruit. 18976 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com
Basque Boulangerie Cafe
French Toast ($11.50)
French toast topped with strawberry compote, whipped cream and toasted almonds. 460 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-935-7687, basqueboulangerie.com
Creekside Cafe
Creekside’s Crispy Sourdough French Toast ($12.95)
Three pieces of crispy sourdough French toast coated in cornflakes. Add seasonal fruit and maple syrup. 239 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-996-8062
Sebastopol Sunshine Cafe
Texas Style French Toast ($12)
Three slices of thick-cut, Texas-style toast sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with syrup. Also great: Coconut French toast ($13.50): Texas French toast topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes. 124 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3935, sebastopolsunshinecafe.com
Howard Station Cafe
French Toast ($12)
Texas-style French toast in a special egg batter, with vanilla and a pinch of orange zest, grilled to a golden brown and topped with powdered sugar. 3611 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-2838, howardstationcafe.com
Cape Fear Cafe
Panhandle French Toast ($12.95)
Made with cinnamon and vanilla, served with hot syrup and housemade molasses butter. 25191 Main St., Duncans Mills, 707-865-9246, capefearcafe.net
Drakes Sonoma Coast
French Toast ($16)
Seasoned buttermilk-batter French toast with a crunchy cornflake crust, maple syrup and seasonal compote. 103 Coast Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-917-0567, drakesbodegabay.com
