Using thick, stale bread is best for French toast. Fresh bread doesn't soak up the delicious, rich custard as well as bread that is older and dried out. In French the term u003cemu003epain perduu003c/emu003e actually means u0022lostu0022 or u0022wastedu0022 bread and French toast is a way of using up that bread that is no longer fresh rather than just letting it go to waste. We like challah or Texas toast best for French toast sticks.