Burgers!

                    Dish of the Day: Burger

Happy 4th of July everyday! Me being an American, this day means a lot for my nation and for me individually. This is the day the United States of America gained independence and started building this great nation. Every year I would remember the patriotism, the fireworks, and of course, the steaming hot barbeque! Welcome to Mei Wei Café's 4th of July special where we will be discussing a very important Dish of the Day that is relevant to this holiday and to America! This time we will be tasting, hamburgers!

The one food most people think of when they think about America! The succulent burger.

Taste and Ingredients:

Oh the juicy, greasy, meaty burger is more classic and delicious than it looks or sounds. Generally the makeup of a hamburger is a cooked ground beef patty/steak between two slices of toasted bread/buns. The meat can be grilled, fried, baked, flame broiled, smoked, anything that can heat and cooked the patty to a delicious succulent burger. The fun part is the toppings and things that can go inside the burger. Anything can create a burger and make it extra special. The usual and somewhat mandatory ingredients between the hamburger are lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mayonnaise, and a slice of cheese! (technically it will be become a cheeseburger) These toppings give the hot and heavy burger a nice crunch and new levels of flavors and a balance of nutrition. But really! Anything can become a topping! From a fried egg, avocado, bacon, mushrooms, pineapples, kimchi, and even gold, and a plethora of sauces, the beauty of the burger is how you build it to suit your taste and appetite! Traditionally the burger is served with bed of fresh French Fries (chips) and a cut of a pickle. And do not worry my vegan/vegetarian friends, nowadays there plenty of vegetarian options including meatless, lentil, black bean, tofu, and even potato patties.

A vegetarian option or a burger with a black bean burger instead of a meat patty with avocados and tomatoes.

Everything a burger should be with delicious toppings, fries, and pickles. Add a nice cold Cola and you are tasting America!

Origins and History:

The burger is bona fide delicious and full of mei wei but it is also shrouded in mystery. The controversial part of this food is its origin. Though the burger is the icon and image of American food, the burger is not necessarily as American as it seems! There is little recorded and written history on where the burger is from. The United States Library of Congress claims that it is invented by a Danish immigrant. But several other sources claim credit for creating the burger. There are several other sources that trace this back to Hamburg, Germany. Hamburger being named after Hamburg is a very likely origin. Being a port city, German sailors or northern European immigrants coming to America from Hamburg might have introduced and popularized this dish. Historically minced patties and bread has always been eaten separately especially in Europe. Most likely several people invented this dish as it seems rather simple and convenient to combine bread and patty. The burger is well associated with America and it well should be, as America is created upon immigrant influence and serves as a melting pot society. It was not until the 1950s when burgers got popular due to the spread of outdoor and indoor grilling, especially on 4th of July! A reason for this popularity is to show off the fortune and simple and happy lifestyle of the average American household during the Cold War. Regardless of its background and history, proper thanks should be given to various creators for crafting such an ingenious dish!

Usually the patties and bread are eaten separately.

Variations:

Ever since the burger blew up internationally it has spread to so many countries and the tables of everyone! Due to it being easy to make and uses relatively cheap beef to make, it is a popular way to enjoy a stereotypically American and filling meal. Burgers now have so many classes ranging from cheap fast food quality burgers to high end very fancy burgers.

The quality of burgers could range from this basic fast food burger,

To this sit down diner quality,

And this... very over the top burger made by the best chefs with truffles, gold, and who knows what with a whopping price tag.

Besides beef several other patties could be made into a burger including pork, chicken, seafood, and even popular American restaurants serve exotic burgers like bison and kangaroo. There are also so many different kinds of burgers like sliders (mini burgers), patty melts (burgers with slices of toast instead of buns), Salisbury/Hamburg Steak (a burger without buns and a layer of sauce is usually the only topping), steak tartar (Raw Hamburg Steaks seasoned), protein styled (burgers with lettuce as buns), and even Ramen Burgers! (Burgers with ramen buns). Being an international dish, there are also other countries with their own unique versions of burgers like the Turkish kofta, the Serbian pljeskavica, the Danish Bofsandwhich, and even the Vegetarian Indian Vada Pav made of potatoes.

Salisbury/Hamburg Steak is just the burger and nothing else. Historically, this is how burgers were served.

Steak Tartar, a form of burger that is actually raw! This is actually very delicious and doesn't taste like anything it looks like!

Some genius created the Ramen burger molding ramen into buns.

Some variations of the burger can be very interesting as well, like the luther burger with frosted donuts as the bun... Yes nothing sounds more American than a greasy burger with fried bacon between two glazed donuts... Speaking of American, there exists a food challenge that is so American it can put any others to shame. Around America, massive burger challenges exist where huge burgers weighing as much as 5lbs (around 2.2 kg) and sometimes even more are give to individuals to devour within a certain timeframe! Wherever there is a burger culture, there will be variations to keep us refreshed and entertained.

Huge burger challenges like this exist all over the US! Inbox me for my personal story...

Luther burger, the dream of some and nightmare of many... well don't judge until you try!

Influence and Aftermath:

As stated earlier, burgers are an international phenomenon and is one of the most consumed foods in the world and one of the most influential ones as well. Not only has it influenced itself into the diet and local cuisines of everywhere around the world, several restaurants particularly fast food restaurants are influenced by burgers. Burgers are one of the most sold food items especially in America. This has lead to massive production of  burger patties which are usually frozen and easy to cook at home and at restaurants with a longer shelf life than usual. This is done to keep in demand with burgers in the US and around the world. Due to the popularity of burgers in America and it being America's culinary icon, the media loves to spread this image. Knowing how influential American media like Hollywood can be, burgers in the media has made its way around the world and everyone knows about it and a lot of people want to have some of. The desire comes from easy access and all the cool American actors chowing down on this delicious sandwich. Being so easy to get, cheap, tasty, and culturally acceptable, we can see why the burger can be so popular especially with the younger crowd. Of course we have to mention the controversy of the nutritional and health dangers that fast food lifestyles could bring as shown by several documentaries. It is true that eating a lot of fast food chains, burgers being one of the major fast food restaurants, will cause damage. However several other sources point out its all about control and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. So just pay attention to the quality and quantity of consumption like you do with all foods, then we will be safely able to enjoy burgers!



Fast food burgers like this from In N Out are mass produced and sold all over the world with the ever-growing demand.

Closing Thoughts:


We live in a globalized world where it is easy to communicate with one another and easy to share ideas. So nowadays almost everyone knows about burgers, making it a dish we can all somehow relate to. Each dish has a story to tell and a flavor to be explored, burgers prove to be very relevant to everyone so tell me about your favorite burger, toppings, and some variations in your hometown! Contact me for further questions, comment, things I failed to cover, and other suggestions for the next Dish of the Day! Its been real, see you guys next time at Mei Wei Café! Happy 4th of July and happy grilling up those burgers! Also, stay tuned as I will make a Top 10 list of burger chains and restaurants in the US and around the world to check out!


Contact me at:

Meiweicafe@gmail.com

Turkish Cuisine

On June 28th 2016, the nation of Turkey met a tragic moment in its history. Please keep the people of Istanbul in your thoughts. For the tragedy of the incident in Istanbul, I dedicate this post for Turkey and the Turkish people. Stay Strong! Guclu Kal!

Turkey is very interesting in its history and geography. Turkey has been part of many early empires of history including the Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. It is located in a place that serves to be the gateway to Asia and Europe. Turkey is literally the bridge of both worlds, the best of both worlds! The cuisine of Turkey thus has been immensely influenced throughout history and influenced others too. Turkey has so much delicious food that we might not know of like Kofta or foods we might know like Kebab. Whether we know it or not, Turkey has so much food for us to explore so without further adieu, Mei Wei Café brings you on another Rendezvous and this time we will discover:



                          Turkish Cuisine!

The ancient and beautiful city of Istanbul

Meze, an appetizer serving before main meals. Yes these are all just appetizers... I'm moving to Turkey now

The bridge between Asia and Europe has shaped the cuisine in many ways

History and Geography:

The history of the Turkish cuisine is very significant as it carries on the tradition and cuisine of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was a very large and influential dynasty that ruled much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia for ages. For a long time, it was one of the richest nations in this world. This lavish nation bordered by many cultures of course experienced tremendous wealth in cuisine marking some of the most defined dishes like dolma, a grape leaf wrapped dish. Geographically speaking, Turkey's cuisine varies from region to region. For instance, West Turkey has more olive trees thus dishes use more olive oil. Geographically, Turkey is located in the best spot to have a very unique cuisine, borrowing cuisines from Europe and Asia. The Turkish cuisine is very similar and influences the cuisine of Greece, the Middle East, Central Asia, Jewish cuisine, the Balkans, and Europe. Wherever there are ethnic Turks, there will be a Turkish related cuisine. This includes Iran and even China! When it comes to food, Turkey is very open minded and uses many ideas and ingredients. The Silk Road reaching India and China also ran through Turkey thus the exchange of ideas and foods existed very early. So due to these factors, Turkey has some of the most appealing and unique cuisines.

Olives are an important essence of Mediterranean cuisine, including Turkey.

The Ottoman Empire had luxurious feasts and dishes. Luckily, a lot of this tradition served into Turkish cuisine.

 

 

Structure:

Breakfast:
The Turkish cuisine could be expressed just through breakfast. Breakfast is perhaps the most important meal in Turkey and it is done massively. Breakfast or "before coffee" is amazing in Turkey! It includes so many things like nuts, cheese, yogurt, soups, meats, bread, and so much more! It is not uncommon for breakfast to resemble a feast in Turkey! This is especially true if you are having menemen, a Turkish specialty that is a huge festive platter for breakfast. This meal commonly includes scrambled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, Beyaz Peynir (brined goat cheese), and many different breads like simit (Turkish bagel) and pogaca (Turkish focaccia). Another great pairing with Turkish breakfast is of course the famous Turkish tea and Turkish coffee, each usually brewed stronger than more western versions. The Turkish breakfast represents Turkish cuisine very well, beautiful, delicious, and extravagant.

Menemen, an extravagant breakfast that is fit for a Sultan!

Meze:
Speaking of extravagant, the Turkish lavishness does not stop at breakfast. Before the main dish of a meal, the Turkish commonly have meze an appetizer portion that is also very festive and superb. Meze could be anything, like regional specialties including cheese, olive, dolma (filling wrapped in grape leaves), hummus, salads, meats, seafood, and so much more! Just looking at this "appetizer" platter is enough to satisfy anyone.

Meze is a great way to open the meal and show off the regional specialties.

Ingredients:

As explained earlier, Turkey has a diverse pool of ingredients with ingredients tracing to China and the New World (the Americas). Turkey is very balanced when it comes to meats, vegetables, and fruits, as it is used in all dishes.

Meats and Seafood:
Meats and seafood are some of the most special part of Turkish cuisine, as everyone knows what a kebab or doner is. The main meat consumed in Turkey is lamb, and lamb from this region is REALLY good. Turkey also uses chicken, and beef. Turkey is a Muslim majority nation so pork is omitted. Being a nation with many contacts with the sea, Turkish cuisine also includes a lot of seafood, particularly sardines, anchovies, mussels, and squid (Kalamar). Did you know that tartar sauce for fried seafood is from Turkey? These meats of course are traditionally grilled like you see in doner vendors, but they can also be stewed, fried, and cooked in casseroles. To show how great the influence of Turkish meat is, kebab, lamb shanks, kofta (Turkish meatballs), and shish kebabs (skewered meats) are all Turkish dishes.

Turkish shish kebab

Shwarma, doner, gyro, kebab, whatever you want to call it, this form of Turkish/Mediterranean BBQ is famous all over the world. 

Doner is a dish that is very common in Turkey and now at every street vendor in the world!

 

 

Starches and Carbs:
Turkey has its fair share of grains and rice. With influence from Asia, Turkey enjoys rice dishes like pilaf as seen in many Middle Eastern cuisines, and many breads like in Europe. These breads and pastries come in many forms from bagels to flatbreads. The meat of Turkish food is often very heavy and the sauce is very creamy, thus the rice and bread is a great way to balance out the flavor.

Middle Eastern pilaf  is very common throughout Turkey.

Fruits and Vegetables:
Fruits and vegetables are another very important part of Turkish cuisine as it usually accompanies a lot of Turkish dishes. Yes, fruits are commonly served alongside meats. Some very essential vegetables in Turkey are green peppers, onions, garlic, lentils, tomatoes, and olives. A lot of essential fruits are dates, pomegranate, figs, apples, plums, grapes, pears, and apricots. It is not uncommon to see both fruits and vegetables served alongside dishes and meats or cooked into these dishes.

Dairy Products:
A lot of the dressing and sauces used in Turkish and other Mediterranean dishes are very creamy with a huge dairy presence. Yogurt is good here as it is said to have originated around this region. It is more lean and have a low fat content. Dairy is a huge part of the local diet and yogurt and other dairy products vary across different regions of Turkey. Cheese is usually goat and sheep cheese as sheep and goats are abundant and the preferred livestock. There are too many special cheeses to name but one of the most famous is Beyaz Peynir which is brined sheep cheese that is like feta cheese.

The famous Turkish Beyaz Peynir

Yogurts and yogurt based sauces are very commonly used by locals in Turkey.

Specialties:

There are a lot of special factors that define the Turkish cuisine that cannot be entirely named in this post, but here are some things that set it apart from similar and neighboring cuisines. As compared to Greeks (which Turkish cuisine is often compared to), Turkish cuisine uses more nuts like peanuts and pistachios. It also uses a lot of spices and seasonings when compared to similar cuisines. Olive oil, cumin, allspice, parsley, thyme, black pepper, and paprika are very common in many dishes. One very special dish from Turkey and the surrounding area are dolmas, a dish with filling that could be cooked vegetables or ground meat and other spices wrapped in grape leaves then cooked again. It is a very unique and iconic dish in Turkey. Another great part of the Turkish cuisine is how Westernized fast food is not as widespread in Turkey as is elsewhere. The Turkish people overall prefer home cooked meals than fast food. This is very important as the Ottoman and Turkish tradition can be preserved through the homemade cooking you would often encounter in Turkey.

Spices like these are very common in cities like Istanbul and makes the Turkish cuisine pack a powerful punch.

Dolmas are grape wrapped treats unique to this region.

Desserts:

Ok, so we discussed how important and extravagant breakfast and appetizer is to the Turkish cuisine, the final crucial part of this cuisine is the beautiful, fancy, and historical DESSERT! Turkish desserts is unlike any you will ever have, placing its roots as one of Europe's best and earliest producers of sweets. This again has to do with the geography and history of the Ottoman Empire with easy access to sugar and fruits. Also the Ottomans were unbelievably wealthy, and the Sultans loved to have huge feasts and desserts. Some very important desserts are lokums, better known as Turkish delights which has chopped dates, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, and sugar all mixed in syrup or honey. This is a very tasty candy and one of the earliest and ongoing sweets from Europe. Baklava is a dessert made of layers of filo (thin pastries), nuts, and honey. This is one of my favorite Eastern European desserts as it is so sweet and chewy with bits of honey and nuts in every delightful bite. The list of Turkish desserts goes onwards, including Lokma (Fried dough covered in honey), Sutlac (Rice pudding with cinnamon), and Tavukgogsu (White chicken and milk pudding. I know sounds weird but its just like rice pudding). Desserts in Turkey could also be very famous with tourists, like Pondurma which is an ice cream cone sold in most large cities in Turkey. In Istanbul, it is common to see street vendors sell this ice cream while performing comedy and amusing antics to the buyer. Besides the fun, the ice cream is also unique in taste as it is stretchy and thicker than other ice creams. In conclusion Turkey has a deep history and tradition of sweets, pastries, and desserts with a lot of influence in Europe and the world. These desserts are traditionally lavish and to this day it is still very important to culture and extravagant in appearance. Even marzipan is said to be from Turkey!

Baklava is a dessert from the Mediterranean area with each nation having its own specialty. It is common to see pistachio used in Turkish baklava.

Lokum or Turkish delights are definitely a must try for sweet lovers! It is very sweet and chewy full of flavor and fruits!

Closing Thoughts:


Wow what a journey! Turkey is a historically and culturally rich nation that has influenced the world. One of the greatest things by the Turkish people is the wonderful cuisine. If you guys have not yet been familiar with Turkish food, I hope this teaches you something and inspires you to try some local Turkish food! From the flavorfully spiced meat to the beautifully and luxurious breakfast and desserts, Turkish cuisine is something we should all be familiar with. Lets all support Istanbul and Turkey by learning about the country, culture, and cuisine, and of course eating some of their amazing food! There are of course more to cover about Turkish food as I am sure to not have completely covered all there is to know about Turkish cuisine so contact me for questions, concerns, and suggestions on the next Rendezvous. Thanks for dining in Mei Wei Café and I will see you guys next time!

Güçlü Kal Turkey!

Contact me at
Meiweicafe@gmail.com

10 foods from Europe you must try!

So as you guys know, I love soccer/football! And at this date the UEFA Euro 2016 Cup has reached the quarter finals with the top 8 teams advancing to face each other in hopes of winning the trophy and bringing glory to their nation. To honor the hard work and fight these countries have shown us, I will show support by giving a delicious dish you must try from different countries in the UEFA 2016 top 8 and some honorable mentions. Welcome to Mei Wei Café and this is top 10 dishes you must try in Europe!

10. England: English Breakfast

The first honorable mention goes to England. Gotta include England for the  respect of the nation and the team. Lately England has been in the spotlight of world news with #brexit leaving Europe and the English national team also leaving the Euro. Well it could have been worse. England is... notorious for its cuisine, but one kind of food and meal you cannot miss out on is English Breakfast. Being popularized in the Victorian era, English Breakfast has been popular throughout the United Kingdom and is now one of the most famous breakfast foods in Europe. This meal consists of meat (bacon, sausage), beans, tomatoes, eggs, fried bread or toast, and sometimes even potatoes, English pudding, and kidneys. With so much variety you will always have a full stomach and full satisfaction.

9. Spain: Paella

Ah Spain... An honor to include this honorable mention. After being upsetted by Italy, at least Spain still has some of the most amazing foods. The Spanish cuisine is massive, and definedby  several influences throughout history. One of the most amazing dishes is the national dish of the city of Valencia, paella. Paella means pan and it is exactly what it stands for, a gourmet pan of Spanish rice seasoned and influenced by the Middle East and the Mediterranean topped and infused with so many ingredients. Some popular ingredients could be rabbit and seafood! Including shrimp, squid, and lobster! A bite of paella is like a fusion of Mediterranean and exotic deliciousness with a kick of paprika and saffron. Delicioso!


8. Poland: Pierogi

Alright! Now on to the nations that made it to the top 8 of the Euro! Poland is the first team to qualify and they fought powerfully, if they fought as powerful as the yummy pierogi, then Poland would win the Euro! Yes pierogi is a specialty from East Europe with each country having their own variations. The pierogi we as Americans think of are usually Polish. In Poland, pierogis are initially a peasant food due to how cheap it is to buy and make the dish, but eventually the popularity reached the tables of the nobility and soon became a stable of Polish cuisine making the national dish of Poland. Many fillings could be inside these dumplings, including meat, potatoes, cheese, mushroom, sauerkraut, and even fruits and jam for dessert! Pierogis are awesome and a must try, they are like the European version of Chinese dumplings.



7. Wales: Welsh Rarebit

Gareth Bale! Goal!!! Ok back to the topic. Wales is a nation that is rich in culture and tradition but not much people know about this small country. Being so secretive, the world is missing out on some unique and great dishes, including the famous Welsh Rarebit. This dish literally means Welsh rabbit but its weird since there is no rabbit in this dish... It is like gourmet grilled cheese, fondue on bread. Its cheap to make and very appetizing, what's not to like? The cheese is sharp cheddar spiced with mustard and beer topped on some English bread. Perfect to fill you up and it doesn't even have meat!



6. Portugal: Francesinha

Francesinha, a dish as majestic and beautiful like the Lisbon beaches and Cristiano Ronaldo. Francesinha is considered to be the croque monsieur of Portugal. It is made of ham, sausage, cheese, on delicious Portuguese bread. The crucial factor of this dish is the cheese. It is very important and melted with beer, tomato sauce giving it the color and rich and delicious taste. A tip of eating this dish? Eat this with fries!



5. France: Galettes.

Shout out to the host nation and a personal favorite country of mine, France! As I always stress, French cuisine is so immersive and massive its impossible to express the flavor and influence of French cuisine. Of the selection of French dishes, one that shouts "mei wei" is the oh so delicious, galette. This dish is AMAZING. It is the savory version of the crepe from the Brittany region of France where sometimes it is eaten more than bread! Galettes are a thin pancake made from buckwheat (a local specialty) topped with fillings such as emmental cheese, ham, and eggs. But really, the possibility of toppings could be anything! It is so crispy.. and warm with heavenly taste of the cheese, the yolk of the egg, and the meat. The only thing that could make this better is a pairing with some Breton cider! Now you are dining like a Brittany local! I may be bias, but galettes are some of the most diverse and delicious foods out there and it is waiting to be eaten by you! Bon Apetit!



4. Germany: Spaetzle

Was konnen Sie empfeheln? Spaetzle! This delicate pasta made from egg noodles derived from south Germany literally means "little sparrows". The specialty of this dish is how the chewy egg noodle soaks up all the flavors of other ingredients so this dish could come in so many delicious and diverse forms! Popular ingredients and seasonings to cook with spaetzle are curry, different meats, cheese, and herbs. The mixing of these ingredients and the pasta creates a savory chewy bite of a delicious dish representative of the German cuisine!



3. Belgium: Moule Frites

French fries are not American nor are they French, they are Belgian. Also Belgium consumes 30 tons of mussels every year! What better idea than to mix the popular frites (fries) and moules (mussels) into the national dish? Moule Frites are super popular in Belgium and France and a personal favorite meal of mine. This specialty is easy to make due to easy availability of mussels and cheap potatoes. The potatoes are fried crispy golden and usually thicker than American fries and is dipped in ketchup, mustard, and even mayonnaise. The fresh mussels are good eaten plain and steamed but is popularly cooked with white wine, butter, lemon-mustard, beer, garlic, and cream. Eat the mussels and fries together and my God you will dance to the delicious melody of flavor like you would dance to Belgian superstar Stromae's hit song, Moule Frites.




2. Italy: Pasta Col Pesto

Italia, another cuisine giant with an enormous amount of food culture. I assure you choosing one dish was not an easy task. Pasta Col Pesto is a dish with a lot of history yet not known outside of Italy, so this is a pasta you might not know but is a must try! This dish from Genoa Italy has history reaching back to the Roman times. Pesto means "crush" and it is a sauce used by crushing literally everything! Now pesto is popularly crushed with basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, and parsley. This creates a green tint that serves as a coat for the pasta packed with strong flavor. This is an unique dish, but it is a must try to get into real authentic Italian cuisine.




1. Iceland: Pylsur

Two things: Iceland has been a beast, tanking top tier teams in Europe upsetting many and becoming an underdog rising to stardom. Jolly well done! And... Icelandic food is infamous in ways that I will explain in a future post. But that is not to say you should not try Icelandic food! It is a beautiful culture with a deep history and of course with so much food to explore. One of the most popular foods with the locals and more "Western friendly" are pylsurs or Icelandic hot dogs. This isn't your typical ballpark wiener, this hot dog really packs a punch and will surprise you like the Icelandic national team. The major difference is that these hot dogs are made of lamb, and not just lamb, but Icelandic lamb that is organic and grass fed. The lamb and other meats creates a very powerful flavor that really brings out all the flavor of the hot dog. There are also various condiments that give these hot dogs a snap including ketchup, pylsusinnep (brown mustard), and remoulade (mayonnaise and caper mustard). These local cheap eats have been so popular that they have attracted Metallica and even Bill Clinton! So my tip, be brave and try new things!



So that is 10 foods you must try from Europe based off of the top teams in the Euro 2016 tournament. Each country has so many foods that are mouthwatering delicious yet not known to the vast public. Here are some recommendations for you all as I hoped to have taught you guys something or at least inspired you guys to go out and try new dishes. This is Mei Wei Café, thanks for joining me for a Top 10 and I will see all of you guys next time for another Top 10. Eat on and enjoy the rest of the Euro!

Croissant

                Dish of the Day: Croissant

Salut! As of now the UEFA European Cup is ongoing in France! Soccer (football) is a huge cultural phenomenon and a joy to have when a major tournament comes around. Being a soccer fan and a supporter of Les Bleus, (The French National Team) I will dedicate a post in respect of the beautiful game and out of love for the beautiful nation of France. Speaking of beautiful, today we will talk about a dish as classic and beautiful as French food gets. A food that is crafted so perfectly that it has been praised and sought out for generations. Today on Dish of the Day we will be talking about the perfection known as the French croissant.

The treasure of France, it is almost a mystery why a croissant in France is better than anywhere else in the world!

Breakfast? Eat it. Lunchtime? Eat it. Dinner? Eat it. Snack? Eat it. Partied so hard its 3:30 am and you're hungover? Eat at least two.

Croissant:

Here's a fact, 32 million croissants are consumed in France everyday. That is 736,000,000,000 calories. Yes that is true because this flaky pastry is made of dough and butter. So you may wonder, why are French people so fit? That is actually a question no one can answer called the French Paradox. Regardless of the bread, butter, cheese, and wine consumed by the French, they will somehow always remain fit. I wish I was French. Croissants are European pastries in the category called Viennoiserie which is known for flaky and rolled pastries. These pastries are sweetened and often known as the bridge between bread and pastries. Croissants are a masterpiece that cannot be explained entirely without tasting an authentic French croissants. Yes a real croissant is NOTHING like the ones from grocery stores. It is a perfect way to start your day, and even ending your day.

History:

The origin of the croissant is shrouded in mystery with so many tales linking to this pastry. It can be understood why so many places want to claim this pastry, but it can be concluded that croissants trace their origins to Paris, Austria, or Budapest. One story was Marie Antoinette popularizing this pastry. Since marrying into royalty Antoinette was forced to leave everything she loved back in Austria. She had a hard time in Versailles, and did not partake in many events often thinking of home. One thing she does is have a crescent shaped pastry every morning. This was the only thing that felt like home for her. Through this, she popularized this pastry and was known as croissant. Another popular theory is that August Zang, an Austrian, opened up an Austrian bakery in Paris which specialized in a crescent shaped pastry called kipfel. It was so popular that the locals adapted it into their staple foods and named it after the crescent shape, croissant. Before it was popularized and called a croissant, it was called a kipfel from Austria/Hungary. It is said that kipfels are made during the 17th Century when the Ottoman were trying to invaded Europe. A local baker discovered the secret passage and foiled the plot. To celebrate, the baker made pastries shaped liked the crescents of the Ottoman flag. And then the rest is history!

Kipfels are more crescent shaped and are the first croissant. 

Taste:

Imagine, you are in Paris sitting in a little cafe right by the busy Champs D'Lysee. In front of you is the monumental Arc De Triomphe and in hindsight is the breathtaking Eiffel Tower. The waitress came by with a cup of Cafe Creme and a croissant. "Bon Appetit!" With the croissant in your hand, you take a bite. Light flaky crisp with a soft pillow of buttery dough inside. Your first impression is to take another bite. You take a dip of the crescent pastry into the coffee and Mon Dieu! The taste of a croissant is sweet and even somewhat savory. The best croissant has the perfect ratio of crisp and softness. This pastry melts in your mouth and melts your heart into heaven. This is something I would cross the ocean over and over again to taste. Its so light and fluffy, I can eat a dozen! Enjoy this with a cup of coffee and have yourself a nice Parisian breakfast. When in France, do as the locals do, live life and eat croissants.

Coffee and Croissants, classic, simple, and must have!

Walk into a boulangerie and astound yourself with some of the best sights and smells!

To eat a croissant, many options are possible. Most people like it plain, others like it with coffee, and some like it with condiments. Butter, jam, and nutella are all very good with croissants. There are now savory options of croissants like Croissant Jambon Fromage. Croissant with ham and cheese have been a popular savory variation of croissant.

Croissants are good with anything! Especially butter and jam.

Croissant Jambon Fromage, croissant with ham and cheese.

Influence and Variations:

We all know that croissants are very popular and influential as we associate it immediately with French food, but it really does have a great impact on pastries around the world. There are many nations adopting the croissant and having their own unique variations of it. Since its popularity, croissants do not only take shape as a crescent. There are now so many shapes! Including those that look like horns or ones that are more straight. There are also many variations topped with sugar or stuffed with filling like jam and custard. France itself has a lot of variations of the croissant, like Pain aux Raisins and of course the Pain au Chocolat. Yes, the pain au chocolat is the most popular variation of croissant that is shorter and filled with chocolat! My first meal in France was a pain au chocolat and immediately I fell in love with the country. Imagine the goodness of the croissant with dripping chocolate inside, what's not to like?!

Pain aux Raisins, croissant with raisins.

The best variation, pain au chocolat!

Look at that chocolate in that center... Mon Dieu! Please take me back to France.

Other European nations also have their own twists on the classic croissant. Besides Austria and Hungary, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland and Italy also have interesting variations. Germans like it glazed or with marzipan, the Swiss likes them a little lighter, Italians have brioche, which is softer and sometimes with fillings, Polish has variations with nuts and almonds, and the Portuguese like it with filling, sugar, and their croissants look quite different. Outside of Europe, the croissant has made itself into the cuisines of other nations like the United States, Argentina, and Japan. Americans love to make the croissant into a sandwich adding cheese, ham, egg, and you name it! The famous Dominique Anseld in New York City has also created a cronut, a fusion of the croissant and the doughnut. Argentinians have it very regularly with breakfast and coffee, and the Japanese have developed their own version of pain au chocolat making it into a horn shaped pastry called a Cornett. So overall, croissants are the pride of France but it has made its way into the kitchen and mouths all around the world.

American sandwich with croissant, bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

Some variations are filled with jam and topped with sugar.

Japan has their own version of the pain au chocolat, the Chocolate Cornett!

Portuguese croissants that look much different than its French counterpart

The Cronut! Innovative and delicious.

Closing thoughts:

I love soccer, I love France, I love croissants. Hoping that the power of the croissants can bring the French team to glory! Croissants are a delicious part of the French cuisine and a perfect way to start your morning. If you have only been accustomed to grocery store mass produced croissants, then you are missing out on something so beautiful it will completely reinvent your mind about French bakery. As always, feel free to contact me with questions, comments, and ideas on the next Dish of the Day! Hopefully you guys learned something today or at least drooled a bit. I'm now gonna take a hike from America to France to taste one of the best pastries in the world. See you guys next time. Au Revoir, Allez Les Bleus!

Contact me at:

Meiweicafe@gmail.com