If you’re traveling between France and Italy you may find your croissant tastes a bit better in France and your cappuccino superior in Rome. Yet I read an alternative reality to the birth of the croissant recently.
The exact origins of the croissant are somewhat disputed, but it’s widely believed that it was created in Vienna, Austria in the 17th century. The croissant is said to have been inspired by the crescent-shaped banners used by the Ottoman Empire during their siege of Vienna in 1683. According to the legend, the bakers in Vienna were working through the night to create a new pastry to commemorate the victory over the Ottomans. They came up with a crescent-shaped pastry that was light, flaky, and buttery – the croissant was born.
I quite like Vienna, I used to drive from Prague fairly often, if only to hear the Viennese whisper, “Klimt and Schiele” – with the same reverence they offer Mozart. And their pastry still reigns supreme with me…
