What makes hotel breakfast a "continental" breakfast?

Continental breakfast usually consists of cake, fruit and coffee, and is usually promoted by hotels as a free benefit to guests. But why is it called the mainland? Why don't customers bring some eggs and bacon?

The word can be traced back to19th century England, where residents called the European continent "the mainland". Breakfast in this area is usually light, while breakfast in Britain or America includes meat, beans and other "rich" menu options.

American hotels that want to attract European tourists began to use "continental breakfast" as a flashing neon advertisement to show that guests will not be limited to American breakfast that they think is unattractive. This strategy is very suitable for hotels, because it saves money by providing some muffins, fruits and coffee, and then ends the day's work.

Affordability and convenience-cakes and fruits are storable and do not need to be heated or refrigerated to keep food safe-are important reasons for the persistence of continental breakfast. This is also a legacy of the mixed hotel pricing model, in which American hotels usually combine meals into one bill, while European hotels charge separately. By providing continental breakfast, guests can have the best of both worlds. Although Americans were initially shocked by the lack of sausages and pancakes, they have begun to accept the attraction of muffins and orange juice and start their trip.