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    Home » Budget Recipes

    French Food 101: Petit Dejeuner

    Published: Oct 13, 2009 · Modified: Jul 8, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    baguette for petit dejeuner

    My husband and I were in France together twice. Once when he came to visit me during my junior year abroad, and again for our honeymoon. As a French Lit. major and later a French teacher, I tried for years to teach him to speak the language. I was not successful. He had a really hard time saying un (one) or deux (two). He hated being in the position to have to answer with those, so he often would order three of something because trois came easily to his tongue.

    Jessica and Bryan at the riviera in 1993

    Among the many wonderful eating traditions in France is the beautiful simplicity of petit dejeuner. Literally, it means “little lunch.” But, at our house it represents some wonderful morning memories.

    We still laugh over one honeymoon morning when he went down to the bakery while I slept in. An hour or so later, as I came to the table and my cafe au lait and croissant, he remarked, “Gosh. They were really good. They were still warm when I bought them.”

    paris breakfast of baguettes, butter, and jam

    “And you didn’t wake me?”

    “Well, I figured you lived here for a year. I thought that was how they always were and that you ate them like this all the time.”

    Au contraire, mon ami. I was dumbfounded. Not only had he eaten a hot croissant without me – but he’d also eaten a second! After all, he had ordered three to start with!

    A typical French breakfast consists of a hot beverage, like cafe au lait, hot chocolate, or tea and bread. The true continental breakfast, if you will, the bread can be baguette, croissant, or brioche.

    collioure breakfast croissants

    I’ve never attempted homemade croissants, but I do bake up my own baguettes. And we love petit dejeuner with homemade baguettes. They’re not as good as the ones in France, but they’re a good cheap eat.

    Petit Dejeuner
    Simply, cut a 4-5 inch chunk off the baguette and then slice it lengthwise. Butter it generously and then slather with jam, preferably homemade. Serve with coffee and milk for dunking.

    tartine petit dej
    baguette, croissant, jam, and butter on red table top.
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    5 from 1 vote

    Petit Dejeuner, a French Breakfast

    French breakfast, or petit dejeuner, is a delightful way to start the day.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: French
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 727kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • cutting board
    • bread knife

    Ingredients

    • 1 French baguette
    • 4 croissants
    • ½ cup butter softened
    • assorted jams and honey
    • 8 cups hot coffee or hot cocoa

    Instructions

    • Cut the baguette into four sections, then split each one lengthwise.
    • Serve the baguette portions and croissants with butter and jam alongside large cups of hot coffee or hot cocoa.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and will vary based on specific spreads and drinks served.
    Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 727kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 875mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 1133IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
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    C’est bon!

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    Comments

    1. Rebekah @ Making Miracles

      January 20, 2013 at 6:20 pm

      That brings back GREAT memories for me! My husband and I met (and married) in Senegal, West Africa which is French colonized and baguettes were a HUGE part of our diet… thanks for sharing. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Penny

      February 13, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      I know this is really late, but your article brought on the loveliest memories of my two brief visits to Paris. Each morning my mother and I would skip the hotel’s Continental offering, and go straight to the Gare de L’est to get the most delicious ham on buttered baguettes. Even in the midst of a chaotic train station, it was so enjoyable! One of our best French memories is of petit dejeuner!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        February 13, 2012 at 12:29 pm

        Love those kind of memories.

        Reply

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