Comments

1

Who doesn’t like toast?


I don't like toast. I don't hate it either; I just find it boring. Of all the possible breakfast carbs, toast ranks only slightly higher than cereal, which I actually do hate. If I go to a breakfast place that gives me an option of something other than toast, like a muffin, scone, or biscuit, I'll always choose the alternative.
2
The tomato jam at Toast Ballard is seriously amazing. The toast is just the vehicle.

Unless you desire to take on the whopping upcharge on all of the "fancy" burgers around town, or on any given can of PBR, complaining about this particular labor-and-topping upcharge is just arbitrary and stupid.
3
@1 - I'm usually like that, unless they have sourdough toast, which I guess most breakfast places do. Even then, it's mostly a butter delivery system. A friend of mine once tried to convince me to join him in owning and operating a fancy toast cart/stand/restaurant/whatever. I told him I'd only join if we also served shots of warm butter.
4
"As a completely incompetent cook who would never in a million years be able to whip up dinner for a professional food critic, Bethany might be talking about me there."

I didn't realize she was an incompetent cook!
5
Artisanal toast is a hipster phenomena that will soon fade after it's moment in the sun.
6
I have a small book of luncheonette recipes culled from the soda fountain heyday, and yes, there are toast recipes: Florida Toast (orange zest & orange juice, under the broiler for 1 minute); Baltimore Toast (hot milk, maple syrup). When I retrieve my Luncheonette book I'm going to recreate some of these delights. It's hard for me to disdain a soda fountain craft item of yesteryear, even if it is more savoury than sweet.
7
They should call Brian Brown at the National Organization for Marriage. He's an expert at being toast.
8
@7 - Also, it's important to give ALL sides of a story equal time. We've heard from the pro-toast and anti-toast sides of the toast story. Where's the religious, anti-gay perspective on artisinal toast?
9
Here's a good story behind the artisanal toast craze -- its origins are humbler than you might expect: http://bit.ly/1hjS84r. The article was also the basis for a radio story on This American Life: http://bit.ly/1prathP.

Here's the TL;DR: A psychologically troubled woman opened a San Francisco coffee shop to help keep her sane, and put "safe foods" like toast (and coconuts) on the menu. The toast thing apparently took off from there. Guess we're still waiting for haute coconut.
11
@1's got an interesting point. However, of all the breakfast carbs (not including cereal; only the "bread" ones), toast is the simplest to make at home.

English muffins are easy to make at home too--as long as you have some on hand. Most people have bread around for any number of reasons. I've never had a store bought bagel that tasted better than one from a bagel place. Muffins take too much time and ingredients to be considered simpler than toast. Scones are too foreign to many people (and also arguably more involved to make than toast).

That might be why people have a psychological affinity for toast above the others. Because their mothers made it for them when they were young and now they want that nostalgia.

Just a thought though.
12
The thing about "$4 toast" is that an incompetent cook probably couldn't make it (and/or it he accoutrements).
13
Bethany is a wonderful writer.
14
To save precious counter space I gave up my toaster and microwave. I can grill a bagel or use the oven.

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