# "French breakfast radishes" -- do French people really eat them for breakfast? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 28, 2023, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302 "2023-04-28T04:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/21 "2023-04-28T16:59:11Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > We’ve been eating radishes lately. Are they in the zeitgeist now? _Trending!_ ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/22 "2023-04-28T20:18:41Z")
Jumping on to a tangential curiosity of mine: Anyone tried any rat tail radishes? Any good? > **[Rat-Tailed Radish](https://www.seedsavers.org/rat-tailed-radish)** > > Native to South Asia, the Rat-Tailed radish is grown for the crisp, pungent, edible seed pods and not for the roots. Pods should be gathered before fully mature and eaten raw, pickled, or chopped in salads. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/23 "2023-04-28T20:37:19Z")
They eat radishes as snacks in Germany too, often with beer, they go well with our dark bread and ham and sausages. They used to cut them in half and salt a bit to make them milder, as they used to be a somewhat sharp. But they seem to have bred the sharpness out of them, now they are rather bland (in my supermarkets, in Belgium too). So now I prefer to pickle them for a couple of hours in diluted vinegar and salt. That is OK. I remember them nicer in my childhood. In Spain they were mostly unknown in the 70s, now they have the bland variety too. I have never noticed them in France, I was not paying attention. Will be more careful next time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/24 "2023-04-28T20:39:55Z")
Wow… you have really gotten around… 🤩 I’m dazzled. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/25 "2023-04-28T20:42:44Z")
> [@FrenchDunadan](#): > > It’s an entrée generally. By that I assume you mean “appetizer” in US English, as an “entreé” here is the main dish? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/26 "2023-04-28T20:43:09Z")
Western Europe is rather small… I have lived here all my life. Spain, France, Belgium, Germany - you can go from one to the other, they are adjacent (only left out tiny Luxemburg and Andorra, which are easy to miss anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/27 "2023-04-28T21:05:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > as an “entreé” here is the main dish Weird, isn’t it? I mean, look what the word means: to enter. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/28 "2023-04-28T21:32:09Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > They eat radishes as snacks in Germany too, often with beer, they go well with our dark bread and ham and sausages. I’ve also sometimes see radishes in salads. I don’t care much for them, a radish sandwich is too bland for my tastes. Yeah, they have a little hot bite, but they are too watery. I might as well eat cucumber slices sprinkled with pepper. Although a good cucumber salad is a fine thing, but it must have cream, onions and garlic, so it’s a different beast. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/29 "2023-04-28T21:41:45Z")
I lived for a bit in Paris. Nobody I knew there ate radishes for breakfast. But maybe it’s a rural France thing… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/30 "2023-04-28T22:14:05Z")
The butter and salt shift the flavor. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/31 "2023-04-28T22:39:03Z")
I tried roasting radishes, and was disappointed. It’s probably more a “mixed root vegetables” thing. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/32 "2023-04-28T22:47:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Weird, isn’t it? I mean, look what the word means: to enter. Indeed. It confused me at first seeing “entreé” on European menus refer to the appetizer until I realized … wait … why _doesn’t_ it mean appetizer in American English? Anyway, radishes and salted butter are the bomb. I thought that was just the traditional way to eat radishes. Open-faced radish sandwiches are quite delicious as well, mentioned upthread. Get some good bread and good butter and you’re good to go. Delish. My mom used to do this with spring/green onions, as well. A slice of Polish rye, butter, chopped spring onions, and a little extra sprinkle of salt and I was in heaven as a kid. I had forgotten about that until this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/33 "2023-04-29T01:06:34Z")
Ah yes, the good old “Radi”. > **[Radi | Traditional Snack From Bavaria | TasteAtlas](https://www.tasteatlas.com/radi)** > > Radi is a traditional German snack originating from Bavaria. The snack is made by spiralizing a radish, then sprinkling it with salt, and sometimes ground pepper and chives I remember seeing a couple of city seals in munich with the giant white “Beer Radishes” embelishing. They are shaved thin, sprinkled with vinegar, salt and pepper and eaten with brezeln. Quite spicy and bold radishes of a large variety with spicy seed pods. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/34 "2023-04-29T01:41:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I can still remember a story we read in elementary school. Crap, I read it too! Now I need to find it again. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/35 "2023-04-29T01:54:12Z")
I think it is important to note the ontonogical and etymlogical meaning of “Breakfast” Food in All of Europe, which since medieval and longer times has meant bread, dairy, beer, and any incidental vegetables or fruit. Meat was a luxury. I think “French Breakfast” was maybe a baguette and butter and any embellishment. Kind of like, the “Ploughman’s Lunch”. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/36 "2023-04-29T02:26:36Z")
I mean, it isn’t natto. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/37 "2023-04-29T02:45:27Z")
Hell, even Jacques Pepin says that his last meal would be a warm out of the bakeries ovens at 5 am, crusty French Baguette with salted butter. “French Breakfast”. MIn3, German experience is similar, german breakfast, still warm at the bakery broetchchen, with melting salted butter and zuecker rueben sirup. Related to the radishes as a tuber. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/38 "2023-04-29T03:52:11Z")
But, the Giant Wlhite Radishes they eat in Germany, do seem to be related to Daikon? ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/39 "2023-04-29T04:12:38Z")
I braise radishes w/ garlic and butter…so yummy. I also use them in a winter root veggie braise. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302/40 "2023-04-29T07:24:15Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Radishes are probably the single easiest vegetable to grow. What about slugs? I’ll see if the store has seeds and put some with the peas in the planter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302.md?page=3)