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 the Apicius as “aliter dulcia” (“another sweet dish”), involved breaking white bread into large pieces, soaking the bread 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” (several Nordic countries also call it “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 of them, a chef named Joseph French came up with his own version of the dish in Albany, NY, 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 or would like to to celebrate National French Toast Day (Nov. 28) in style, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite spots for digging into this dish.
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar, Santa Rosa, GB Cinnamon Babka French Toast ($18)
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
Crepevine, Santa Rosa, French Toast La Suisse ($13)
Housemade French white bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter and served with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Also great: French Toast Parisienne ($13): Cinnamon raisin bread dipped in a yogurt-vanilla egg batter served with cinnamon and powdered sugar. 740 Farmers Lane, Santa Rosa, crepevine.com
Dierk’s Parkside Cafe, Santa Rosa, 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
Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe, Santa Rosa, French Toast Combo ($16.50)
Texas toast topped with powdered sugar and strawberries and served with two eggs and choice of bacon, sausage or ham. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
J&M’s Midtown Café, Santa Rosa, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast ($18)
Two pieces of cinnamon raisin bread served with two eggs and a choice of meat. Also: ciabatta French toast ($14). 1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com
Piner Cafe, Santa Rosa, French Toast Sandwich ($14.45)
Slices of French toast accompanied with an egg and two strips of bacon, four sausage links or half 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, Santa Rosa and Windsor, French Toast ($13.25)
Griddled French toast topped with cinnamon. 112 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-525-1690; 150 Windsor River Road., Windsor 707-838-6920, omeletteexpress.com
The Twins Restaurant, Cotati, French Toast ($15)
Three pieces topped with brandy cream sauce, powdered sugar and fresh blueberries. 572 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-242-3075, thetwinsrestaurant.com
Cafe Bellini, Petaluma, Creme Brûlée French Toast ($16)
Thick-sliced French bread in a creme brûlée batter with mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, berries and maple syrup. 100 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-774-6160, thecafebellini.com
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Pub Republic, Petaluma, Maple Fried Chicken & French Toast ($18)
Egg-battered Texas toast, buttermilk-fried chicken breast, crispy bacon and maple syrup. Take note that the French toast is a weekend brunch treat served on Saturdays and Sundays only. 3120 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, 707-782-9090, pubrepublicusa.com
Sax’s Joint, Petaluma, TT’s Famous French Toast ($14)
Sourdough French bread dipped in egg batter and grilled in cinnamon and sugar, then topped with marionberry cream cheese. Also great: French Toast ($14): Extra thick slices of locally made cinnamon challah bread; and Little P (aka Patricia’s Favorite; $16): Battered sourdough bread with two eggs and bacon or sausage. The portions are huge, so bring an appetite. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Skillets Cafe, Windsor, French Toast ($12)
Thick slices topped with powdered sugar and served with melted butter and maple syrup. 8776 Lakewood Drive, Windsor, 707-657-7599, facebook.com/skilletscafewindsor
Costeaux French Bakery & Cafe, Healdsburg, Pain Perdu ($17)
Thick slices of housemade cinnamon walnut bread topped with seasonal fruit, whipped mascarpone and pure Vermont maple syrup. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Acorn Cafe, Healdsburg, Tiramisu French Toast ($16)
The new brunch favorite Acorn Cafe has a Goguette brioche topped with raspberries, cocoa nibs, dollops of whipped mascarpone and coffee ice cream. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, acornhealdsburg.com
The Parish Cafe, Healdsburg, Bananas Foster Pain Perdu ($16)
French-style pain perdu with caramelized bananas, topped with pecans and maple bourbon sauce. 60 Mill St., Healdsburg, 707-431-8474, theparishcafe.com
Basque Boulangerie Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($11.50)
Served with strawberry compote, whipped cream and toasted almonds. 460 First St. E., Sonoma, 707-935-7687, basqueboulangerie.com
Sonoma Eats, Sonoma, Tres Leches French Toast ($15)
According to our dining editor, the new breakfast menu at this favored Mexican restaurant is mouthwatering and has a “fantastic” Tres Leches French Toast. The breakfast item consists of croissants dipped in a tres leches mix, griddled and topped with cream and strawberries. 18133 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-343-1141, sonoma-eats.com
Verano Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($13)
Topped with strawberries and whipped cream and served with fresh fruit. 18976 Sonoma Hwy, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com
Creekside Cafe, Sonoma, French Toast ($12.95)
Three pieces of crispy sourdough coated in cornflakes. Add seasonal fruit and maple syrup. 239 Boyes Blvd., Sonoma, 707-996-8062
Willow Wood Market Cafe, Graton, Challah French Toast ($18.50)
Challah bread 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
The Wild Poppy Cafe, Sebastopol, 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
Sebastopol Sunshine Cafe, Sebastopol, Texas Style Thick-Cut French Toast ($10.99)
Topped with whipped cream and comes with choice of bananas, strawberries or blueberries. Also great: Coconut French toast ($9.49): Topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes. 124 S. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3935, sebastopolsunshinecafe.com
Howard Station Cafe, Occidental, French Toast ($12)
Texas 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, Duncans Mills, Panhandle French Toast ($12.95)
Topped with cinnamon, vanilla, hot syrup and housemade molasses butter. 25191 Main St., Duncans Mills, 707-865-9246, capefearcafe.net
Baked on the River, Guerneville, Baked and Toasted ($16)
House-baked French toast with berry coulis, vanilla cream, maple syrup and butter. 17071 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-865-6060, facebook.com/bakedontheriver
Estero Cafe, Valley Ford, Sourdough French Toast ($17)
Thick-cut slices of Red Bird Bakery 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. 14450 Highway 1, Valley Ford, 707-876-3333, esterocafe.com
Drakes Sonoma Coast, Bodega Bay, 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
