National French Toast Day
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Overview
National French Toast Day, observed annually on November 28th, celebrates the beloved breakfast and brunch staple. This day encourages people to enjoy French toast in all its delicious forms, whether made from scratch with a variety of breads and toppings, or savored at a favorite local eatery. It's a perfect occasion to appreciate the simple yet comforting combination of egg-soaked bread, often sweetened and fried to golden perfection, bringing warmth and flavor to the autumn morning.
Origin and story
The earliest known recipe for a dish similar to French toast dates back to the 4th-century Roman cookbook 'Apicius', where it was called 'aliter dulcia' (another sweet dish).
In France, the dish is traditionally known as 'pain perdu,' meaning 'lost bread,' reflecting its original purpose of using stale bread to prevent waste by soaking it in milk and eggs.
Quick facts
- DateNovember 28
- TypeFood / Dessert
- Great forFoodies, Chocolate lovers, Home bakers
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Despite the name, French toast wasn't invented in France — the earliest known recipe comes from ancient Rome, centuries before France existed as a country.
Trace it to a 4th-century Roman cookbook
The recipe collection "Apicius" describes a dish called "aliter dulcia" ("another sweet dish"): crustless white bread soaked in milk, fried in oil, and drizzled with honey — the direct ancestor of the dish served today.
Follow it into medieval France
Centuries later, French royal cook Taillevent included a similar "golden bread" recipe in his cookbook "Le Viandier," part of the dish's slow spread across medieval Europe as cooks looked for ways to use up stale bread.
Read the fuller history
Helpful resources:
Did you know?
Historians still debate whether the original Roman recipe even called for eggs — the surviving Latin text describes only milk-soaked bread, with egg appearing in some translations as a later editorial addition.
Fun facts
- The earliest known recipe for a dish similar to French toast dates back to the 4th-century Roman cookbook 'Apicius', where it was called 'aliter dulcia' (another sweet dish).
- In France, the dish is traditionally known as 'pain perdu,' meaning 'lost bread,' reflecting its original purpose of using stale bread to prevent waste by soaking it in milk and eggs.
- Despite its name, the term 'French Toast' has been used in English since at least the 17th century, predating the widely circulated, but likely apocryphal, story of American innkeeper Joseph French.
Sources and attribution
The Unexpectedly Ancient Origins Of French Toast (Food Republic)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National French Toast Day?
- It is observed on November 28 each year.
- What is National French Toast Day?
- National French Toast Day, observed annually on November 28th, celebrates the beloved breakfast and brunch staple. This day encourages people to enjoy French toast in all its delicious forms, whether made from scratch with a variety of breads and toppings, or savored at a favorite local eatery. It's a perfect occasion to appreciate the simple yet comforting combination of egg-soaked bread, often sweetened and fried to golden perfection, bringing warmth and flavor to the autumn morning.
- How do people celebrate National French Toast Day?
- Make a batch of French toast and consider its Roman roots — a 4th-century cookbook called 'Apicius' describes an ancestor dish, 'aliter dulcia,' made of milk-soaked bread fried and drizzled with honey.
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