Toast

This past week I was involved, although admittedly tangentially, in a conversation that pitted the beloved toaster against its upstart and multi-tasking competitor --- the toaster oven. 

My favored appliance, the pop-up toaster, was first patented in 1920 after its inventor, Charles Strite, grew frustrated with his cafeteria's penchant for burning the bread. His toast's now perfectly warmed and dually-crisped surface would provide the ideal tableaux for countless smears to follow, including jam, marmite, honey, avocado, lox, Nutella, cream cheese, olive oil, peanut butter, you name it. 

But no matter how you slice it, every toaster and toaster oven owes its fame to the real hero of breakfast menus everywhere.

The bread.

"A slice of hot, buttered toast is the perfect meal. It's not too much and not too little, and it gives you just the right buzz." - Naveen Andrews