1. The Story of the Croissant: A Viennese Surprise

Let’s start with the croissant, that famous symbol of French culture. What could be more French, you might say, than a crispy croissant for breakfast, paired with a coffee? And yet... the croissant doesn’t originate from France. In fact, it has much more surprising roots: it comes from Vienna, Austria.

So how did this happen? The story goes that the croissant was born in 1683, during the siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans tried to invade the city but were repelled, and to celebrate this victory, a Viennese baker supposedly created a pastry in the shape of a crescent moon, a symbol present on the Ottoman flag. It was a way to symbolically “devour” the enemy. Hence the unique shape of this pastry.

It wasn’t until much later that the croissant crossed borders and arrived in France. It seems that Marie-Antoinette, herself originally from Austria, introduced the pastry to the French court. Over time, French bakers made the recipe their own, adding their unique touch, like the generous use of butter, which gives it that flaky and crispy texture we know today.

What’s fascinating is that even though the croissant originated in Vienna, it became fully integrated into French culture. Today, if you ask someone to name a French specialty, the croissant will likely be one of the first answers, alongside the baguette.

 

2. French Fries: A Debate Between Belgium and France

Now let’s move on to French fries. Ah, fries… the essential side dish for steaks, mussels, or even just with ketchup or mayonnaise. In France, we love fries, but once again… they aren’t truly French. In fact, there’s a big debate between France and Belgium over who invented the fry.

The Belgians, of course, firmly claim that fries are a Belgian invention. According to legend, they were created in the 17th century in the Namur region of Belgium. The people of this region were accustomed to frying small fish they caught. But during particularly cold winters, when the rivers were frozen, they supposedly replaced the fish with sticks of potatoes fried in the same way. And so, the fry was born.

In France, some say that fries were popularized during the French Revolution, particularly in Paris, where they were sold by street vendors along the Seine. That’s actually where the name “pommes frites” or simply “frites” comes from.

So who’s right? It’s hard to say. What’s certain is that fries have found their place on both sides of the border and have become an indispensable accompaniment in both France and Belgium.

Personally, I think this debate is rather amusing because, in the end, no matter where fries come from, what matters is how delicious they are. Whether you’re on the Belgian or French side, a good plate of crispy fries is always a delight, right?

 

3. Why Do These Myths Persist?

So why do we continue to think that the croissant and fries are French when their history tells a different story? It’s probably because of how France managed to adopt these two foods and make them symbols of its culinary heritage.

Take the croissant, for example. Even though it’s Austrian in origin, it was adapted, modified, and transformed by French bakers to the point that it became a true emblem of France. The croissant is ubiquitous in French bakeries and is part of the French breakfast culture. It’s not just a pastry—it’s a moment of conviviality, often shared with a coffee at a Parisian café counter.

For fries, it’s a similar story. Although their origins are contested, France has significantly contributed to popularizing fries worldwide, especially through dishes like steak-frites or moules-frites. These dishes are now inseparable from French culinary culture, even if Belgians continue to proudly claim that they are the true inventors of fries.

This phenomenon of culinary cultural appropriation isn’t unique to France. Many dishes have crossed borders, evolved over time, and become national symbols in countries other than their place of origin. Ultimately, this is what makes global gastronomy so rich and exciting.

 

4. Other Examples of “Adopted” Foods

The croissant and fries aren’t the only foods with such fascinating histories. Take pain au chocolat, for example, another classic of French bakeries. What many people don’t know is that this pastry has English origins. Originally, the English had a specialty called “chocolate roll,” which was later adapted in France to become the famous pain au chocolat.

Or consider pasta. We obviously associate it with Italy, but did you know that pasta actually comes from China? It was reportedly brought to Europe by Marco Polo in the 13th century, and from there, Italians developed their own pasta culture.

All this shows how much cuisine is a true mix of cultures, influences, and exchanges. And that’s why it’s important not to stop at clichés but to delve into the history behind each dish, each food item.

 

5. Why This Revelation Doesn’t Change Anything

So, does knowing that the croissant isn’t French or that fries might come from Belgium change anything in our daily lives? Not really, and that’s what’s interesting. These foods are so much a part of French culture today that their origin doesn’t matter much.

What matters is what they represent to us. The croissant remains the symbol of the French breakfast, and fries are still the favorite side dish for many French meals. No matter where these foods originally came from, they are now deeply rooted in our culinary heritage.

It’s a bit like a beautiful cultural adoption. These dishes were adopted by France, and they are now inseparable from our gastronomy. And in the end, that’s all that matters!

So, that was a little dive into the history of the croissant and fries, two emblems of French cuisine that, in the end, aren’t really French. But does that change anything about our enjoyment of them? I don’t think so! We’ll always savor a good croissant for breakfast or crispy fries with a steak, no matter their origin.