Pardon My French Toast...

Did you know that french toast in French is "pain perdu," which literally translates to "lost bread?" I'm assuming this is because french toast tastes best stale, so all is not lost! It may not be Paris, but the french toast in Philadelphia is tres magnifique. Bon appetit!

1. Sabrina's Cafe - stuffed challah bread french toast

Challah bread is objectively the best bread to use for french toast; it's thick, sweet and ultra absorbent, which you're going to need when you're sucking up a pool of maple syrup and heaps of cinnamon and powdered sugar. Sabrina's objectively has the best french toast in Philadelphia; each massive "slice" of challah is double the width of an average slice, and on top of that they're topped with banana and stuffed with sweet cream cheese. I waited two hours for this french toast, but I also got two meals out of it!

2. James - cheesecake stuffed french toast

Featured in the first picture is my boyfriend, James, who I finally brought to the restaurant named after him (or maybe vice versa). James is not as big of a brunch fan as I am, nor does he usually go for sweet breakfasts, but we both couldn't resist ordering the cheesecake stuffed french toast off the menu. If there are three things I love, it's strawberries, cheesecake and french toast, so I licked my plate clean, while he said uncle about 75% of the way in and was in a sugary comatose state the rest of the day. Christina 1; James 1,000. Is stuffed french toast considered a sandwich, since it's between two slices of bread? If it is, then this should have been at the number one spot of my favorite sandwich list.

3. Moshulu - chocolate babka bread french toast

Babka, which means "grandmother" in Polish, is a sweet braided bread, typically filled with chocolate or other spreads. I'm Slovak, so I call my grandmother Baba, and my Baba is one of the few people/things that I love more than this french toast. In addition to each chocolaty layer, this dish is topped with warm peanut butter sauce (warm peanut butter is better than sex), candied pecans, butter, maple syrup and bananas. I first had a piece of this from my boyfriend's leftovers when he went with his parents. I usually hate leftovers, but this was one of the only things I have ever reheated in a microwave that still tasted like it was fresh from the restaurant. My boyfriend was determined for me to try it there and have a plate to myself, however, so we went for Valentine's Day brunch. Once again, against all odds, I was able to finish a whole plate of french toast, whereas he could not.

4. Plenty Cafe - ricotta stuffed french toast

Notice a trend here? I tend to only order stuffed variations of french toast, but here's a little change. This one is filled with ricotta! Ricotta is one of my favorite cheeses; it's superb on a savory white pizza, and it's just as good in a sweet french toast. Plenty's french toast looks like a Pac Man trying to eat the berries. I'm not sure if this was intentional, as the Pac Men eat fruit in the game, or if it was just a coincidence, but either way it's so cute! It also comes with home-made whipped cream and a photogenic drizzle of maple syrup on the outside. This dainty french toast may not be gargantuan like the last three, but it was fancy and filling!

5. Silk City Diner - creme brulee french toast

This french toast isn't stuffed, but that doesn't make it any less of a dessert for breakfast. The caramelized sugar crust gives it that crispy exterior and a soft interior- like a creme brulee! Topped with whipped ricotta and cinnamon apples, this reminds me of apple pie, and what's more American than french toast...oops. Silk City doesn't just serve lunch and dinner; their weekend brunch menu has lots of sweet and savory cheat meals. My friend could only finish 1 out of 2 thick slices, but I was 4/4 and came out on top. Can't break my undefeated record!

6. Cafe Ole - croissant french toast

Lastly, here is a french toast like no other on this list. Step aside, challah bread and babka. Cafe Ole in Old City uses the most quintessential French pastry- a croissant- batters it, cooks it, and tops it with powdered sugar. Not today, cream cheese, cheesecake or ricotta. This croissant french toast is filled with banana. By the looks and sound of it, you're probably thinking either this breakfast isn't going to be decadent enough or it's going to taste weird (or both!) Rest assured, I was hesitant too, but now I am eating my humble pie (or in this case, croissant). The bruleed (like Silk City) yet buttery croissant has several layers (like Moshulu), and the banana filling is way more filling and sweet than you'd expect! I was stuffed (no pun intended) after this meal, and for all of you lactose intolerant people out there who have to pop a pill before indulging in stuffed french toast, this is for you.