The American Breakfast Coffee Cake, New England Breakfast, and the Influence of Southern Italy

American breakfast looks different depending on where you are. Every meal connects to a place and a moment. My Italian grandparents came from Rome, Naples, and Sicily and settled in Upstate New York. In Italy, breakfast was just coffee and a pastry. After moving to America at age seven, their mornings included strong coffee, toast, and something sweet. On weekends, they added eggs, bread, jams, cheese, meats, fruit, and something homemade. Their breakfast became a mix of Italian traditions and American ways. As a child, I loved waking up to the smell of coffee, eggs, fresh bread, and my grandmother’s baked treats…

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