Oh to be in Paris, nibbling on France's favorite sandwich, the Croque Monsieur. But how did this delicious bite come to be so beloved? Today, let's take a P'Niche peek to learn more...
To start, how did our sammie du jour get it's cute moniker? Well, there are several charming stories that we can trace.
The first is what we call the "radiator story." Just like it sounds, in the early 20th century, a French worker left his daily lunch pail, likely made of heat conducing metal, and containing his jambon beurre sandwich, too close to a piping hot radiator, thus toasting the sandwich and melting the cheese - and le Croque Monsieur was born.
Or was it?
The second theory as to how the Croque Monsieur took it's name involved a chef, who having run out of baguettes (yikes!) was forced to use pain de mie - an American style white bread, to concoct the lite-bite, using whatever meat and cheese he left over on hand. When he met rave reviews, he noted that his ingredients were "la viande de monsieur" (It's that guy's meat") gesturing to a local butcher (who may or may not have indulged in cannibalism to get his meat.) We don't dare investigate further on that one - oof!
The last (and most likely) tale brings us to Le Bel Age Café in 1910 (oh, to be in Paris, then!) Bistro owner, Monsieur Michel Lunarca, told his patrons, who were raving about this creamy (béchamel) toastee, that his sandwiches featured "mister meat." Given their signature crunch, they took on the name "Croque Monsieur" (Mister Crunchy) and it has stuck ever since.
The sandwiches were so wildly popular, the recipe spread to eateries near and far, becoming the French staple we love today.
In time, the recipe of course, came to have some minor adaptations.
The most popular to date is the Croque Madame. Come on, P'Niche, how did this one get it's name, I hear you cry...
This is even more charming. This recipe adaptation involves adding a sunny side egg to the top of the sandwich. The yolk gives the sandwich even more creamy feel. The fun part is, when you add the egg to the top, it resembles the wide brim of the women's hats so popular in that time. Deliciously delightful!
I bet you are ready to get your crunch on, right? Welp, it's yum o'clock and here are some of P'Niche's favorite Croque Monsieur's in Paris...
Fric-Frac Canal Saint Martin
79, quai de Valmy, 75010
Métro: Jacques Bonsergent (Line 5)
Cocorico
5, rue de Bac, 75007
Métro: Rue du Bac (Line 12)
Le Royal Opéra
19, ave de l'Opéra, 75001
Métro: Pyramides (Lines 7, 14)
Side Note: my beloved niece Breton, (hi, Breton!) who has twice visited Paris with me, swears this café also has the best onion soup in town...
Café de la Paix
5, place de l'Opéra (75009)
Métro: Opéra (Lines 3, 7, 8)
Café Louis (Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
155, blvd Saint-Germain (75006)
Métro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Line 4)
Le Musset
169, rue Saint-Honoré (75001)
Métro:Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (line 1)
Not in Paris? No problem!
You can try this amazing Croque Monsieur recipe, crafted by the delightfully talented
Beeta has made Paris her home and shares the most wonderful Life of a Bon Vivant podcast, full of Parisian lifestyle tips and all sorts of goodness. P'Niche cannot recommend her enough!
So what do you say, P'Nicher, are you ready to enjoy a yummy Croque Monsieur, or do you have a favorite place to grab one to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below et à bientôt!
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