The history of National Melba Toast Day, celebrated on March 23, is as slender and crisp as its namesake. Do you know that it all began with a chef infatuated with an Australian opera singer? Whether you consume it straight from the box or with salad and soup, none of us can deny our love for the bland, delightfully crunchy snack. And knowing it was prepared with affection enhances its flavor!
The background of Melba Toast Day
Melba Toast Day serves as a powerful reminder that the greatest things come in small packages — in this case, an act of love cooked and baked into a thin, crunchy toast.
In 1897, a French chef at the Savoy Hotel, George Auguste Escoffier, who was smitten with an Australian opera singer named Nellie Melba, baked a dry toast for her because she relished having grilled slices of bread. (and wanted to lose weight).
Before being called Melba toast, it was known as “Toast Marie.” When Dame Nellie Melba became ill and needed to restrict her carbohydrate intake, she converted to the crunchy snack. Consequently, the toast was named after her, along with numerous other dishes that the same individual prepared to honor his favored singer.
Melba Toast tastes divine with ‘Melba peaches,’ also known as raspberry sauce, peaches, and vanilla ice cream. In addition, the legendary chef devised “Melba sauce” made of raspberry puree and red currant, as well as “Melba garniture,” a delectable dish composed of chicken, truffles, and mushrooms. Melba toast, however, remains unrivaled and is a fixture in our homes’ snack supplies. Dame Nellie Melba passed away at the age of 69 in 1931, but her legacy lives on in the form of a robust slice of crispy toast. This day is celebrated to honor this thin, baked bread and the culinary token of affection created by Escoffier.
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5 Nellie Melba facts that will blow your mind
Helen Porter Michelle, an Australian opera soprano, adopted the stage name Nellie Melba in honor of her birthplace, Melbourne, Australia.
About five biographies, two films, and a mini-television series have been written about her extraordinary existence under her name.
She is one of the two individuals whose images appear on the $100 Australian banknote.
Coombe Yarra Valley, once the home of Dame Nellie Melba, has been converted into a gourmet and cultural destination in Coldstream, Australia.
Alanis Morissette, a Canadian-American singer, subsisted for six months on Melba toast, vegetables, and black coffee.
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MELBA TOAST DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 23 | Thursday |
| 2024 | March 23 | Saturday |
| 2025 | March 23 | Sunday |
| 2026 | March 23 | Monday |
| 2027 | March 23 | Tuesday |
