It is the
perfect Memorial Day weekend in Tucson. The sun is shining, the sky is
excruciatingly blue, and it isn’t too hot. In fact, it’s downright pleasant and
much cooler than anyone dreams of for this holiday weekend in the desert.
For some
reason, I have been wanting to make a loaf of Pain de Mie again. There are so
many ways to use it – Toasted Bread Boxes, may be my favorite. But this weekend
I have been craving a Croque Monsieur, or perhaps a Croque Madame, since I have
wonderful fresh eggs from my friend, Nancy.
This is a
very classic French bistro dish, a recipe dating to the early years of the
twentieth century. Perhaps Proust had a Croque Monsieur before he nibbled that
now-legendary madeleine. I tend to order this flavorful sandwich whenever I
see it on a menu.
I had my
first when I was in high school, an enthusiastic member of my school’s French
Club. We gathered on occasion to make and share «un repas». Memorable recipes
made with the club included French onion soup, pâtè de campagne, and a
fantastic Croque Monsieur | Croque Madame. You know – typical teen after-school snacks.
Mark
remembers his first Croque Madame, as well, during his first visit to Paris. We
had spent the day exploring Montmartre and, afterwards – a bit peckish – sought
food. At the foot of the hill, not too far from Place Pigalle, we found a
typical bistro and ordered a Croque Madame for Mark and a Monsieur for me.
Sometimes,
when we are in the car, we reminisce about our most memorable meals together. Very
rarely will these memories take us to fancy Michelin-starred restaurants; more
often the memories take us to a place in a garden, a farm, a quiet little
restaurant, or unassuming bistro. This simple meal of comforting sandwiches was
definitely memorable for us both, nibbling our lunch in the shadows of the Moulin
Rouge.
The
ingredients are few for this dish – pain de mie (I really think the bread must be
pain de mie – and never sour dough; anyone in France want to weigh in?), ham,
cheese, béchamel sauce, and mustard. There are (if you look online) hundreds of
recipes, each with a slight variation: the cheese in the béchamel or the cheese
on top; mustard on both pieces of bread, or just one side; toast the bread,
grill the sandwich, bake it, broil it, or a hybrid. Basically, they all work!
The
difference between a Croque Monsieur and a Croque Madame is merely the addition
of a fried egg to the latter.
Here is my
recipe for a Croque Monsieur or Madame, enjoyed today with a 2015 Domaine Tour
Campanets rosé from Coteaux d’Aix en Provence. To learn more about the wine and
pairing it with food, visit the Provence WineZine. (Great news – the Provence WineZine has been nominated for several Wine Blog Awards – one of which is for best photography! Visit the Wine Blog Awards website and please vote for the Provence WineZine!)
Bon
Appétit!
Croque
Monsieur | Croque Madame
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Design by Themeshift.
Jill
June 4, 2016 at 3:50 pmBon appetit !!!!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 4, 2016 at 5:23 pmMerci! You and Dave should make these!
Jill
June 4, 2016 at 7:12 pmI'll put that on the list of teaching David to cook while I recover…I can get the right bread at La Baguette, correct??
Cocoa & Lavender
June 4, 2016 at 7:19 pmAlas, no – La Baguette refuses to make it! Café Français (Palomino Plaza) makes it! Or, he can use Trader Joe's Gourmet White – that works work pretty well.
Sippity Sup
June 4, 2016 at 6:14 pmI love both croques. There are, as you say, a million ways to perfect this perfect sandwich. My own personal secret is to mix the mustard into the béchemel. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
June 4, 2016 at 6:29 pmWonderful idea, Greg! I debated about adding a wee bit of cognac to the béchamel!
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
June 4, 2016 at 11:08 pmLooks and sounds quite divine, David. If I 'hide' the mustard, will P notice? 😉
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2016 at 11:56 pmPeter won't notice a thing! 🙂
Cheri Savory Spoon
June 5, 2016 at 12:19 amHi David, oh these sound heavenly, been working outside today and worked up quite the appetite. I love the addition of the egg, always makes everything taste even better.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2016 at 11:56 pmI agree, Cheri – I love egg on just about anything, especially pizza!
Christina | Christina's Cucina
June 5, 2016 at 6:12 amI was getting more and more hungry as I scrolled down your photos, David! It's 11pm and I could go for a Croque Monsieur right now.
My daughter ordered one in Paris not even two weeks ago, but I had to go for a warm goat cheese salad instead. So sad to see that the rain has continued until now (it was pouring when we were there!)
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2016 at 11:57 pmChristina – I cannot go to Paris without having one. And I know they can be made with regular sandwich bread, but (for me) it has to be pain de mie! I have heard that the French are even making them with sourdough now! Quel horreur!
Paola
June 5, 2016 at 7:51 amI have not had a Madame ot a Monsieur for ages and certainly never in France. What lovely Montmartre memories
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2016 at 11:58 pmWe have had such lovely times in Paris, Paola – I always look forward to each visit!
Chef Mimi
June 5, 2016 at 11:50 amYour pain is beautiful, as are the croques. I' with you – we've had some very special meals at upscale or Michelin starred restaurants, some run by famous chefs, etc. But our favorites have been picnics, bistros and pubs, but especially dining outside, even in crazy little alleys!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 5, 2016 at 11:59 pmMimi – I think I am one of very few foodies who doesn't research restaurants before I go. Instead, I check out the markets, what the local cheese are, and (of course) what wines are best!
Frank
June 6, 2016 at 12:07 pmAh, you're taking me back to my Paris days with this post. Sitting on a bistro terrace and watching the world go by…
Cocoa & Lavender
June 6, 2016 at 2:42 pmAhhh,,, Frank – we should all be in Paris now watching the word go by (And the Seine diminishing!)…
he needs food
June 7, 2016 at 8:08 amDivine. This has to be one of my favourite things. The madame or monsieur – I'm not fussy. Most of the ones I've tried have been in Sydney, but that one I ate in Paris many years ago at some beaten up cafe in an arrondissement I can't remember, stands out the most. It was as stodgy as hell – but I loved it.
I've never made one at home, but now that I have your recipe, that could well change.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 7, 2016 at 1:54 pmJohn – stodgy can be the perfect description for a Croque! I judge mine on the lightness, for sure. (If, indeed, a Croque can ever be "light!")
Jill @ Teatime in Paris
June 8, 2016 at 4:34 pmDavid, you have this spot on. When I worked for 10 years next to a street full of bistros, cafés and brasseries, my colleagues would laugh, since I'd order a croque monsieur and a pot of tea. Yes, your rosé would have been better but I had to work in the afternoon too, I suppose! The pain de mie bread is definitely the ONLY to use. You know, I was planning on a completely different dinner but after reading your post and seeing the tempting photos, you've turned me over to Croque Madame mode. As it's the evening I'll quite gladly give in to that rosé – merci beaucoup. Oh, and the only difference is that here it always comes with a side of dressed green salad (lettuce) but your asparagus takes it to another level. Very classy as ever!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 8, 2016 at 5:49 pmNow you are making me want another one fro dinner tonight, too, Jill! Sadly, I only have one slice of pain de mie left… and not enough time to bake more for dinner. Tant pis. I hope you enjoy yours – and the rosé!
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness
June 8, 2016 at 8:34 pmDear David, nice treat the Mr as well as the Mrs – actually I should be making some for the kids and us soon. Maybe for a light lunch al fresco with a little summer garden salad on the side – if it ever stops raining around these parts!
Liebe Grüße an Mark und dich!
Andrea & Co.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 8, 2016 at 9:46 pmOh, Andrea, we would love to trade you some of our sunshine for some of your rain! 🙂 I hope you get some nice weather soon for an outdoor lunch!
Unknown
June 8, 2016 at 8:40 pmI used to make these all the time when we had the restaurant! I never tried one though, even though we made some with turkey instead of ham.
Your fried egg is perfect! We have quite a few bistros here in Boulder, if you ever visit, we'll go. Trace and I really enjoy our lunches/dinners there. And I think one of them has the Croque Monsieur.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 8, 2016 at 9:47 pmWow, Nazneen – I don't think I knew that you had a restaurant! How cool – and I like the Croques with turkey as much as with ham, too. What isn't better with an egg on top?
Cocoa & Lavender
June 8, 2016 at 9:47 pmPS – we will get there soon, I promise!
Gerlinde de Broekert
June 9, 2016 at 4:41 amYou made my evening David, what great memories of Paris. I always go for the onion soup when I first arrive.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 9, 2016 at 1:10 pmDo you know, Gerlinde, I have never had onion soup in France! I think I need to correct this glaring culinary error.
Marcelle
June 9, 2016 at 1:51 pmDavid, I've been to Paris 4 times, but only brief stops to catch connecting flights to other places. I've never been out in the city! Still on the "to-do" list. :0) The Croque Madame looks absolutely luscious served with that egg on top. Looks amazing and your bread is beautiful too.
Cocoa & Lavender
June 9, 2016 at 2:01 pmOh, Marcelle – you really have to get to Paris soon! Such an incredibly beautiful city. Thanks fro the nice comments on the sandwiches and bread. I love pain de mie – makes the best toast and grilled sandwiches ever.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
June 9, 2016 at 9:30 pmDavid, beautiful sandwich! I love to make my sourdough bread in a pain de mie tin minus the lid for sandwiches, and I think it would be wonderful in this. I don't know whether or not it would be "authentic," but it would be delicious! Of course, the bread you used is as well, so … Ooh, I'm hungry now!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 13, 2016 at 1:09 pmDelicious is the most important things, Jean! Although the texture of the bread, for me, is why I think I love them so much!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
June 12, 2016 at 11:37 pmMmmmmm! My first Croque Madame was a bit of a surprise. I ordered it on a high school trip to France without knowing what it was, but of all the food I ate, it really stuck with me over the years! Lovely photos! And yes, I think you've made everyone hungry!
Cocoa & Lavender
June 13, 2016 at 1:10 pmThat is funny, Inger – I once ordered a sandwich in Germany the same way and it ended up being a type of liver loaf with an egg on top. I loved it, but I am not sure many 14-year-old American boys would have!