Enjoy French Toast for Brunch at Our Rhode Island Breakfast Cafe

There are many different types of foods that are named after the place of their origin or culinary influences. However, one very common dish that many Americans enjoy on the regular is not what it may seem. French toast is not French – it was not invented in France, it is not the popular breakfast or brunch dish of the European country, and, in fact, many French chefs are not happy to be associated with this common, easy-to-make meal. The truth is that when you enjoy French toast for brunch at our Rhode Island café, you are not just enjoying a popular item on our delicious crave-able menu; you are having a taste of history!

The History of French Toast

The dish that we all know as French toast can be traced all the way back to recipes uncovered in the 5th century AD, during the reign of the Roman Empire. Known then as Pan Dulcis, the Roman cooks would soak the bread in an egg and milk mixture and then fry it in oil or butter, much as we do today. Some culinary historians believe that the origins of French toast truly began during the medieval period in Europe, when cooks found creative ways to use up every bit of food they had in their pantries to feed their families. Day old bread can be renewed for consumption when moisture is added – such as milk and egg – and then heated, as in fried in a pan or on a griddle.

However, the first time the phrase “French toast” appeared in print was back in 1871, in a book called the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink. Consumed in many countries under different names, people all over the world still enjoy French toast for brunch. In Rhode Island, it can be ordered with a variety of different toppings as part of the best breakfast in Wakefield at Rachel’s Café. Other names that are associated with this menu item include Spanish toast, German toast, eggy bread, French-fried bread, gypsy toast, nun’s toast, and pain perdu. However, according to legend, the dish is credited to a man named Joseph French, who claimed to have created the dish as we enjoy it today in 1724. He meant to name it “French’s Toast,” but left off the apostrophe and the letter “s,” leaving us with the simplified French toast.

Get the Best Breakfast in Wakefield

At Rachel’s Café in Rhode Island, we offer the beloved French toast in a variety of different ways. Our new Nutella French Toast, which features a Nutella cream cheese spread and optional banana topping is a real hit with our regular customers. People come in from all over to have French toast for brunch to enjoy our classic Texas Toast French Toast, which can be topped with seasonal fruit, as well as our regional Portuguese Sweet Bread French Toast. We also have a popular Maple Walnut French Toast, which features three Texas Toast pieces of French Toast covered in walnuts and maple syrup. We also have a French Toast Breakfast Sandwich, which can be customized to your taste.

If French Toast is not your thing, don’t worry – we have a lot of other options. Pancakes and waffles, breakfast tacos and scramblers, benedicts and bowls, plus a variety of fresh baked muffins, a wide range of toast choices, and cornbread. Try our breakfast burrito or the popular Maple Bacon Croissant! We are also very proud of our tasty omelets and our house-made corned beef hash bowls, which are served with two poached eggs and covered in Hollandaise sauce with your choice of toast. Combination plates with your choice of eggs, breakfast meats, and toast are also popular with our regulars, as well as visitors to the local Rhode Island area. Enjoy juice, smoothies, coffee, tea, milk, and more from our delicious crave-able menu for the best breakfast in Wakefield.

Visit Rachel’s Rhode Island Breakfast Café

Whether you are craving breakfast, brunch, or lunch, you can count on our creative culinary team at Rachel’s Café to always have delicious items to tempt your taste buds at our Rhode Island breakfast café. Stop by our location on South County Commons Way in Wakefield or give us a call at 401-783-7888 to place an order for pickup. We cannot wait to serve you French toast for brunch, as well as a full lineup of other crave-worthy items from our menu.