Ramblings of a retiree in France
For once I felt I couldn’t let this day go unremarked. Think France, think croissants. The two are inextricably entwined, aren’t they? The flaky, buttery delicious crescent-shaped pastry called a croissant is a French icon and yet……. it isn’t truly French.
History has it that croissants originated in Austria. There are several stories, none of which can be fully substantiated. Allegedly, while Austria was at war with Turkey in the late 1600s, a baker working late at night heard the Turkish soldiers tunnelling under the walls of the city of Vienna and alerted the Austrian guard. They collapsed the tunnel which saved the city and the baker in a moment of genius created a pastry from bread dough in the shape of a crescent moon, the emblem of the Turkish empire. It is said that he intended that when his customers bit into the pastry, they would be symbolically devouring their enemies. He called his creation a kipfel, the German word for croissant. However, historians say that there is written evidence that the kipfel was being made as far back as 13th century……..
A later story is that Marie-Antoinette bought the kipfel to France from her Austrian homeland. Feeling homesick, she commanded the royal bakers to make the pastry for her. Unlike the bread dough that the Austrian version was made by layering the dough with butter, then rolled and folded several times in succession, before being rolled into a thin sheet. A technique called laminating. The process results in a layered, flaky texture, similar to a puff pastry. An unlikely story but, a legend was born…………
Yet another tale, and far more likely, claims that an Austrian artillery officer named August Zang founded the “Boulangerie Viennoise” at 92, rue de Richelieu in Paris in the 1830s. He brought the recipe for kipfels with him and it became popular with his customers. By 1872 Charles Dickens, who had travelled across France, mentioned the croissant as a French breakfast staple. Paris.
In the early twentieth century, French bakers improved on the recipe by making it from even more layers of deliciously buttered puff pastry. The croissant we all know and love was born. When you’re in France, look for the fait maison sign which indicates breads and pastries are handmade on site. There are even annual contests to find the regional baker making the best croissants.
These are my favourites from one of our many local bakeries.
Wherever you are, just ask the locals for their tips on where to buy your croissant – they’ll always have an opinion!
A pastry for all times and for every moment of the day. 🙂
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Indeed
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Yay!
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😎
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This does make me nostalgic – as when in French films someone gets out of bed and goes out for these to bring home.
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We’re only a short walk from our nearest croissant
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As I was in Sigoules
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So important
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♡ Beautifully Done Control Freak; at The Very Least YOU!!! should be a Magistrate or preferably a JUDGE!!!
…♡♡♡…
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Wonderful things, croissants!
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Pastry of the gods
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I would say so…
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I love them when they are a bit crispy outside and fluffy inside.
I found out from a French colleague that in Denmark some bakeries make them with lard, blasphemy!
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Sadly, not just in Denmark!
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Really? I am shocked!
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‘fraid so!
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A few years ago we had a little holiday in France staying in two places. The first was a lovely b&b with a view of Mont-Saint-Michel and beautifully laid out breakfast buffet with a different selection each morning for the several groups of guests. The second place was a farmhouse with us the only guests staying in a barn conversion – each morning we crossed the yard to sit in their kitchen for bowls of coffee and croissants. At neither place did they speak English so we had a genuine experience! Petit dejeuner to remember.
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Sounds delightful
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Interesting history! In Italy we have the cornetto, which is basically a less buttery croissant often filled with jam, cream or chocolate. I prefer the plain ones, but it doesn’t compare to French croissants.
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True! I like the ones filled with patisserie cream.
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So interesting!
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Thanks Luisa
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🙏🌹🙏🌹🙏
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I prefer the one done in Bretagne with almond filled and sometimes chocolates just got me one lol!
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😎
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Ooooo I love these! I never knew the history behind these wonderful pastries! xo
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Well, now you know
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😉
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Hurrah. By coincidence, my daughter and I had ham and cheese croissants for lunch today.
Where we stayed in Avignon, the owner gave us croissants for breakfast. They were the biggest I have ever seen and were just soooo lovely 🙂
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Coincidence indeed
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Whatever it’s origin, I could go for a croissant right now. When made correctly, they are hard to beat.
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So true
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If I was compiling a list of French Top 10 I would include the croissant. I get mine from Lidl.
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Probably as good as any of the supermarket ones
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They also do a very good Portuguese custard tart!
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Really?
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With Lidl close by who needs to travel!
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Sadly our local Lidl is rather small but the one just over the border into Italy is ace. It has a brilliant and extensive organic section, including a fabulous organic Prosecco. I’ve also bought frozen lobster from Lidl which I initially thought was just an urban myth, but no and it’s perfect for those lobster rolls.
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The frozen lobster is alright. I use the meat for risotto and the leftovers to make a bisque.
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Nice one!
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I like these food celebration days. The USA has 175 each year. Staggering don’t you think. I can’t think of anything from the USA that I like to eat.
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That’s amazing and now that you’ve posed the question I’m thinking lobster roll, fried clam strips, Grade A Maple syrup……
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My birthday is 15th June which is Lobster Day, How posh is that? In UK it is National Beer Day. I like that.
Which food is celebrated on your birthday?
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Hot pastrami sandwich! I’d much rather have Lobster Day.
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Very interesting tale. And now I’m hungry!
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Sorry Rosemarie
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I think I could eat anything on a croissant!
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Couldn’t we all!
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Or better yet, just the plain croissant!
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😎
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All I know is grocery store croissants. I am so sure I would be shocked at the taste of the real thing.
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You would Lois
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I need to either quit buying those or think French thought!
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😎
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Mmmmm, most delicious invention ever! One of my favorite things about France.
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😎
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I love croissants 🥐
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Who doesn’t?
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National Croissant Day
On Saturday, January 30, 2021, View from the Back wrote:
> Sheree posted: “For once I felt I couldn’t let this day go unremarked. > Think France, think croissants. The two are inextricably entwined, aren’t > they? The flaky, buttery delicious crescent-shaped pastry called a > croissant is a French icon and yet……. it isn’t truly Fren” >
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I’m sure what we normally get around here are far from the real deal, but I do enjoy them. I think they are one of the best pastries on the planet.
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We have one bakery where they’re super duper
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It’s hard to get great croissants here, but I keep trying. 😉 Is sacrilegious to say I like mine with either almond paste or chocolate filling?
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No, not at all
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My daughter has one of those calendars that tells you what each day is dedicated to, so I knew about croissant day. Yes, we did get some, but they were store bought and I’m sure nowehere near as tasty as the one pictured here.
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Never mind, some are better than none.
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FINALLY! A holiday truly worth celebrating. LOL
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😃
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interesting history! croissant has always been France to me. now i know better. thank you 🙂 🙂
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Pleasure
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Love croissants 🥐
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Who doesn’t?
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Pingback: La Chandeleur – crêpes all round! – View from the Back
croissants are my fav!!!
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Thanks Esmeralda
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