A sweet spot at the end, but also a full-fledged main course. Whether you opt for sweet crêpes or hearty galettes, you won't regret it. Get to know the iconic dish that dominated French cuisine hundreds of years ago and discover why French crêpes are considered the best pancakes.
Crêpes, traditional French pancakes reminiscent of our crepes, are considered one of the most typical French dishes and a popular delicacy all over the world. Their history began in Brittany in the north-west of France, but from there they quickly spread throughout the country.
Brittany was a poor region at the time and crêpes was a relatively cheap and simple dish for the locals. Crêpes were originally made with wheat flour, water and salt, but over time the recipe was improved by adding milk or eggs.
In France, you can find several types of crepes. The most famous are the caramel Crêpes Suzette, followed by a savoury version from the Brittany region called galette.
Savoury cake Galette
The first version of French crepes is a savoury Breton galette made with buckwheat flour, water and salt. The thin pancake with crispy edges is usually filled with ham, cheese and egg, but you can also find a mushroom and cheese filling. You can also have a galette with the traditional French Ratatouille.
The secret of the creation of Crêpes Suzette
The sweet crepes served with a caramel sauce of orange juice and zest flambéed in orange liqueur have been hugely popular for years, not only in upmarket restaurants but also on the streets of Paris.
There have been endless debates for centuries about how this famous dessert originated. The most famous is the story of the mischievous waiter and the beautiful Suzette. An inattentive waiter accidentally managed to spill orange liqueur on pancakes served to the future King Edward VII. The liqueur immediately burst into flames. However, the future king did not hesitate and tasted the unusual dessert.
Amazed by its great taste, he asked the waiter for the name. Stunned by the beauty of the girl sitting at the table, the waiter replied that the dessert was called Crêpes Princesse. The King immediately understood that this was a compliment to the young lady and suggested renaming the dessert Crêpes Suzette after her real name. The second version says that the dessert was named in honour of the French actress Suzanne Reichenberg.
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