![Why Is It Called ‘French Toast’ if It’s Not French? [ID0703]](https://www.ffood.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774656845_maxresdefault.jpg "Why Is It Called ‘French Toast’ if It’s Not French? [ID0703]")
It sounds like it belongs in a Parisian café… but is French toast actually French?
In today’s episode, we trace the surprising history of this breakfast classic — from ancient Roman kitchens to medieval Europe, all the way to early American cookbooks. The dish may be simple, but its story stretches across centuries of cultural exchange, language shifts, and culinary evolution.
Timestamps:
0:03 – Intro
1:04 – A Recipe from Ancient Rome
2:05 – Medieval Europe and “Poor Knights”
3:05 – When “French Toast” Appeared in English
4:03 – The Albany Naming Myth
4:58 – What France Actually Calls It
5:50 – Why the Name Stayed
6:50 – Conclusion
#historyofsimplethings #frenchtoast #foodhistory #painperdu #ancientrome #medievalhistory #foodorigins #everydayhistory
36 Comments
How about pancakes
My Hispanic Grandfather used to make Torrejas wich appeared to be made with the addition of white wine.
You are making me hungry and I just ate. I add vanilla and cinnamon to the batter, YUM.
"French Toast" (at least in my extended family) has always been just bread plain toasted on only one side. I had no idea it was a different thing to other people!😮 and I do mean just toasted under the grill You get a crisp side and a soft side and its delicious with butter -Its not a dessert you just have whatever you like on toast on it. This fried bread dessert thing is news to me
Well I grew up eating it because we liked it and we didn’t use stale bread either.
The dish is called “Armer Ritter” in German which is singular. “Arme Ritter” is plural. You don’t call it French toasts (plural) in English either unless you specifically want to mention that one has prepared several toasts. The dish is referred to in singular terms.
It isn't complete without a toad in a hole. Not in my world.
This makes me think of what in America is called French fries i.e deep fried potato chips. In GB they are called chips (potato chips are called crisps in GB). It would be ridiculous to speak of French fries and cod instead of fish & chips wouldn’t it? In France and Sweden they are called pommes frites, deep fried poratoes. In Finland they are called ranskalaiset perunat, French potatoes. The funny part is that they do not come from France but from Belgium like Hercule Poirot who often is mistaken for French.
Frenching is a cooking style, not location. Same with French Fries.
Frenching is a cooking style, not location. Same with French Fries.
AD no such thing as a common era, just a fabrication of an influencer passing themselves off as professors
In the East of England we always called it "EGGY BREAD" and we would eat it with beans as breakfast.
why some alcohol classified as VSOP?
Bon Appetit !!
We enjoyed French toast at Breakfast treat at dining hall at Weston College in Mooi River, now I learn it was stale bread 50 yrs later. 😅
Why get stuck on the name? Tell us once then move on. It's universally loved. I don't think the French would be upset, either way. I prefer it savory. At least, most of the time.
NEVER EATEN " FRENCH FRIES or FRENCH TOAST" but I have eaten a lot of "ARROGANT UNGRATEFUL POTATOS and UNGRATEFUL America hater fried egg coated bread.
French toast, with bacon, my favorite breakfast dish
I've never been fond of Texas toast when ordering it out but I started using Brioche which was wonderful but this past winter I was in a Kroger where I found Croissant Bread! It sounded great so I took some home and believe me when I say if you are looking to take your French Toast up a notch, this is the deal. However, Aldi has the loaf $2 cheaper. Also, over the holidays I found drinking custard (similar to Eggnog) and WOW! It was amazing when I grilled it using nutmeg rather than cinnamon. I actually tried both and it was ok but I prefer just nutmeg. I switched because I got "cinnamon fatigue." Everywhere you turned cinnamon was being sprinkled on hot coffee drinks, french toast, it was suggested as an alternative to pound heavy sugar in yogurt/granola breakfast cups along with morning oatmeal.
The unfortunate part of drinking custard was that you could only get it during the holidays and it was expensive. So as another trial I used my Creme brûlée coffee creamer. That also was a great idea. So, I still have some croissant bread left and may use commercial egg nog to dip my bread into. Also, if you happen to decide on making your toast this way, try leaving the bread in to soak for a bit instead of going from the bowl right to the skillet. French Toast is not supposed to have a dry center. It actually should be "custardy" center itself. The reason it isn't like that in a restaurant is because breakfast cooks are trying to get all the food out at the same time and in order to do that the bread is quickly dipped and then thrown on the grill. Not a good idea. Let the bread soak but be careful lifting it from the bowl or whatever you are soaking it in. If you have a spatula with a wide blade (the part you slip under your product to lift with) that should help in the transfer. And then set it down in a butter heated pan, patiently letting it become golden brown on each side!
Like French fries and French kissing have nothing to do with France.
My wife makes it with wheat bread. She premixes cinnamon and sugar, then dips the bread in beaten egg and sprinkles the premixed sugar cinammon and fry’s it in butter. Yum
Makes me wonder about French fries and that other yummy dish, French Kissing.
I grew up on FRENCH TOAST as a kid growing up in the 1960's . I will sometimes fry my FRENCH TOAST but I have a newer method . After soaking the bread slice in the egg and milk mixture , I put it in the microwave oven for about thirty seconds per slice . This keeps the egg mixture firmly in the bread . I then put it in a toaster for about three minutes and it's done ! I then add syrup , honey , or powdered sugar and then YUM !!!
oui monsieur bonjour coquette,
uh huh croissante vous a ver,
maurice chevalier effeil tower,
oh oui maria bagette bon soir,
FRENCH TOAST
FRENCH TOAST
Toast by Heywood Banks
I add a lil bit of pure vanilla in milk/egg wash, then add cinnamon/sugar while whisking 👍🏻😋
😊,…holy?… croissant,…batman!😊.
My husband would chop up the bread, mix up the ingredients, and pour into a waffle iron.
I'm sorry I love your stuff You have great videos they're always very informative and I always learn something but I'm giving you a thumbs because you BCE and CE instead of AD, I don't care about relig beliefs All I care about is history and it was the Roman Catholic Church that came up with the calendars that we use today unless you want to change those calendars got to use what they came up with. Legitimate historians still use AD and BC but you'll not get a thumbs up for me as long as you keep doing this
You make it up
Very interesting video thanks ❤❤❤❤❤
I also noticed a lot of French recipes made out of eggs, French toast would sound understandable if it involves being dipped in egg?
香港人叫佢做「西多士」 又或者就咁叫佢做「西多」 （尖多，油多同奶醬多個friend ）
其實，佢個全名就係叫做法蘭西多士，亦即係French Toast.😅
In Sweden, we call them "Fattiga Riddare" which is a direct translation from the German's name for French Toast, meaning Poor Knights.
👍🏽💥 🥪😋
And why are they called "dollar" stores when you can NOT buy dollars in them?
I bake pain perdu / French toasts every Sundays with vanilla sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon. I use Gâche (brioche) simply exquisite.