A breadstick is a long, thin piece of baked bread, usually crispy on the outside and soft inside. Italian restaurants often bring a basket of warm breadsticks to your table before your meal arrives, sometimes brushed with butter and sprinkled with garlic salt or Parmesan cheese.

The Italian version, called grissini, originated in Turin, Italy, in the 1600s. Bakers discovered that rolling bread dough into thin sticks and baking them until crispy created a crunchy snack that stayed fresh for weeks, much longer than regular loaves. This made breadsticks popular with travelers and sailors who needed food that wouldn't spoil on long journeys.

Today you'll find breadsticks in two main styles: the crispy Italian grissini that snap when you bite them, and the softer American-style breadsticks served at restaurants. Some people dip them in marinara sauce or olive oil. They're simple to make at home, which is why breadsticks are a popular baking project, though achieving that perfect golden-brown crust takes practice.