We celebrate National Crepe Suzette Day each year on May 6. It’s a day to savor a delicious dish with an interesting story behind it. According to one version, it was a culinary treat accidentally created in 1895 by Henri Charpentier, then a 15-year-old assistant waiter working at Monte Carlo’s Cafe de Paris. Charpentier was cooking for Prince Edward of Wales and his distinguished guest — a French noble dame named Suzette. He inadvertently ruined a sauce for the crepes, but then realized he had made a tasty new dish. The prince decided to name it “Crepe Suzette.”
History of National Crepe Suzette Day
Who can say no to a tasty dish in front of us? Crepe Suzette is a dish often listed on the menus of fancy restaurants. Believe it or not, they can be made with little effort. All you need is a perfect blend of ingredients in precise synergy.
Crepe Suzette is a French delicacy that consists of a crisp, thinly rolled, or folded pancake and a sauce made from caramelized sugar and butter, orange juice, and French liqueurs like Grand Marnier, and other flavored liqueurs like triple sec. The dish was named after a beautiful French girl, Suzette (as the story appears in the autobiography of Charpentier). But different stories abound regarding its origin.
The “Larousse Gastronomique” (an encyclopedia that exhaustively tells about French cuisine, including recipes for French food and techniques of cooking), however, doubts the authenticity of the story. There are claims that the name of the dish was chosen to honor French actress Suzanne Reichenberg. She worked professionally under the name “Suzette.”
Although the origin of the dish is not certain, its delicious flavor can surely win the hearts of both food lovers and picky eaters. In his autobiography titled “Life à la Henri,” Charpentier mentions that the dish has a taste that “would reform a cannibal into a civilized gentleman.”
National Crepe Suzette Day timeline
A housewife in Brittany, France accidentally spills some porridge onto a flat cooking stone and discovers its delicious flavor.
The book “Le Menagier de Paris” contains the oldest recipe — that for French crepes.
White flour crepes become popular as white wheat flour becomes affordable.
Japanese pastry chef Emy Wada creates modern Mille crepe cakes and sells them at her pastry shop called Paper Moon Cake Boutique.
National Crepe Suzette Day FAQs
Where does the word ‘crepe’ come from?
It comes from the Latin word ‘crispus’ which means ‘curly’ or ‘undulated and crinkly,’ or from the Greek word ‘crispos’ which means ‘wrapped’ or ‘rolled up.’
Are crepes and pancakes the same?
No, crepes are much thinner and have slightly ruffled edges because no baking powder is used; this is why they are crispier and ideal for any filling or topping.
What do crepes symbolize?
It is believed that crepes symbolize prosperity; they’re associated with a French Catholic holiday called Candlemas.
National Crepe Suzette Day Activities
Learn to make crepes Suzette
The best way to spend the day is to cook crepes Suzette yourself. If you haven’t tried cooking crepes, you may enroll in a baking or cooking class.
Arrange a small party
Throw a small party and invite your family and close friends to sample the crepes Suzette you have cooked or ordered from a restaurant. Drinks don’t have to be expensive like white wine and other alcoholic beverages. You may simply serve hot coffee or chocolate, fresh juice, or soft drink.
Create a new dish
You may experiment with crepes Suzette and mix in different but appropriate ingredients to create a new dish. Who knows — you may invent an entirely new, sweet dessert!
5 Interesting Facts About Crepes
Crepes abound in France
Crepes are a portion of immensely popular street food in France.
There’s a special day to make crepes
In France, most people devote February 2 to making crepes; it’s called ‘le jour des crepes’ (which means ‘day of crepes’).
Crepes are of two kinds
Crepes, which are a blend of eggs, melted butter, milk, and wheat have two varieties: sweet crepes (made of white wheat flour in which a little sugar and flavor is added to the batter) and savory/salty galettes (made of dark buckwheat flour and garnished with say, ham, and cheese).
Crepes are versatile
Crepes can be stuffed with fresh berries, sliced fruit, jams, soft cheese, whipped cream, nuts, coconut, chocolate, fresh herbs, and even sauteed vegetables such as mushrooms, onions, and spinach.
They can be served hot or cold
Crepes with savory fillings are served hot, while sweet crepes (served for breakfast or as a dessert) can be served hot or cold.
Why We Love National Crepe Suzette Day
It’s a day to enjoy cooking
Those of us who love to cook and eat may find this holiday a reason for making crepes Suzette. There’s a chef in all of us — and following the recipe for this dish is worth the try.
Crepes are a delicious treat
We love delicious food. Making crepes Suzette is definitely a “good excuse” to satisfy our palate.
It’s a day to test new tastes
We love it when people cook something and discover entirely new dishes. This is a day for crepe making and someone somewhere may just make a new dish by mistake and we’re excited!
National Crepe Suzette Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | May 6 | Monday |
| 2025 | May 6 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | May 6 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | May 6 | Thursday |
| 2028 | May 6 | Saturday |
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