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Crepes in Paris

Crepes are easy to find at Parisian street vendor stands, although the quality varies from fast food-like to a culinary treat. This versatile item can act as your meal or dessert, depending on the filling. Look for crepes in sit-down restaurants, too, and try offerings with unusual fillings.

History

Crepes originated in northwest France, in the region of Brittany, but this taste treat quickly spread in popularity throughout the country. They're considered a national dish of France, so crepes in Paris are very common since they're such an integral part of French cuisine. Cider is a traditional beverage to drink with crepes in Brittany, and some people carry on this tradition in Paris, although coffee and tea are also popular accompaniments.

These flat, thin, pancake-like food items are normally made from wheat flour. Their name comes from the Latin word “crispa,” which means curled, since they are typically wrapped around a variety of fillings. They are cooked by coating a hot pan with a bit of butter, then pouring in a thin layer of batter that is spread evenly on the cooking surface. The finished product turns out very much like an extremely thin pancake.

Although crepes are most commonly associated with France, many other countries have their own version. For example, blintzes in Eastern Europe and crepsellas in Italy are all very similar to crepes in Paris.

Fillings

Crepes in Paris can be filled with sweets like fruit and whipped cream or with food items like cheese, ham, spinach, eggs, mushrooms, and even ratatouille. The sweet versions may contain anything from sliced bananas, strawberries and other fruits to jam, poppy seeds, syrup, or nuts. Chocolate is very popular in Paris, so a chocolate and hazelnut paste called Nutella is also a popular filling. The other variety, called a savory crepe, is generally made with buckwheat flour.

Crepes Suzette is a special dessert dish. These crepes are served with a liquer like Grand Marnier and a garnish of grated orange peel. This dessert is typically flambeed right at your tableside.

Crepes also come in some unusual varieties. For example, bodybuilers eat a version that is made with egg whites and whey protein powder. This type is typically stuffed with ingredients like oats, peanut butter and cottage cheese. Immigrants who come to France from other countries often open shops and serve their own twist on crepes. For example, Middle Eastern vendors sell them stuffed with sausage, spinach, olives, and feta cheese.

Buying Crepes in Paris

Crepes in Paris can be either a main course or a dessert item, depending on the type and filling. Savory crepes are typically main dishes, while the sweet type can act as dessert after a meal in a full-service restaurant. This is where you would typically find a specialty dish like Crepes Suzette.

However, crepes are most commonly purchased at a crêperie on the street, which is the equivalent of buying fast food, for a quick meal or snack. Some of the crepe vendors produce a product that is the equivalent of an American chain hamburger shop, while others make create high-quality culinary delights. The best place to buy crepes on the street is near the gare Montparnasse, since the station has trains going to and from Brittany, the birthplace of the crepe. Natives of that region set up shop in the area and serve authentic treats. You can also buy them freshly made at outdoor markets while shopping for fruits and vegetables.

Superstition

Crepes are part of a Paris custom centered around the holiday Candlemas, which occurs on February 2 and celebrates baby Jesus being presented by Joseph and Mary at the temple in Jerusalem. Crepes are traditionally eaten on this day after 8 p.m. in France. If the cook is able to flip one of the crepes with one hand while grasping a coin in the other, superstition says that the family will have good fortune for the rest of the year. It is sometimes known as “Crepe Day” in honor of this tradition.

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Crepes in Paris