I ate a croissant every day for two weeks while visiting Europe last summer, and I relished every moment of it. I’ve always liked croissants, but in my mid-twenties, I grew to really adore them. And on a filming trip to Paris in 2019, I decided that they might be one of my favorite ways to start the day. There’s something so indulgent about a croissant, first thing in the morning, or with an afternoon coffee, delicately ripping them apart with my fingers, attempting to preserve as much of that flaky, buttery crust and doughy insides as possible. I very much like adding a croissant to my coffee order. It feels sophisticated and elevated, and frankly, just makes everything better. There was this one croissant I had in Amsterdam before our day-long bike ride down the shores of the Amstel River that was made with local, grainy, flour. It was delightful, nutty, and complex. And another, with a breakfast spread complete with Belgian cheeses and butters and jams, and special dry-aged ham. Each bite gave way to delightful flavor combinations.
When I was younger and more impressionable, I allowed myself to be convinced by society that I didn’t deserve pastries or sweets or things that seemed indulgent. I stopped baking cookies. The recipe that I’d perfected when I was 15 years old dropped to the wayside and the oats went stale. I avoided sugar and carbs, and at one point, even coffee. The vilifying of certain ingredients infiltrated my core. And only when I moved to Israel and then to Spain, did I realize that a coffee with some sesame dusted cookies is a completely okay way to start the day. And that life is about celebrating with cake and not depriving yourself of a slice.
I’ve been noticing a trend toward intuitive eating and individualized nutrition. The realization is setting in [finally, I hope] that we are all complex, unique, human bodies with complex, unique needs. The more I eat with acknowledgement for what I really want, and enjoy my meals with joy, the better off I am. Always. Enjoying croissants from different bakeries across Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium brought my inner child so much joy at the base of my gut. The girl with the golden, frizzy halo of hair who has love affairs with good, crusty breads and thick layers of salami, and black and white cookies the size of her hands. The girl who has said, since she was young, that she will open a bakery by the sea one day, because pastries are what brings her so much pleasure.
So, my note to myself, and to you, is to have that gooey chocolate chip cookie if the thought of it on your tastebuds delights you. Enjoy a foamy, whole milk cappuccino. Eat a mango with your bare hands. Life is about this sensuality. It’s about seeking out and engaging with joy. It’s about texture and flavors, and thanking the earth for what it produces for us—including the butter and wheat that make up deliciously wonderful croissants.
Life is about listening to the desires of this little human that lives inside of each of us. When we really hear her deepest callings, our bodies respond. Because that inner child knows, and she is filled solely with love.
Some of my favorite places to get good croissants [and pastries!] in DC:
YELLOW Cafe for their Za’atar labne croissant. [The orange blossom variety is also a fave that reminds me of home]
The Kougin Aman from Soleluna, and a dark roast cappuccino. The coffee beans are sweetly grown and harvested by the owner’s father in Ecuador.
Seylou croissants will always be a favorite.
Tatte for croissants and of course, bourekas.
"life is about celebrating with cake" oh yes !! you've hit the nail on the head ! and what better way to celebrate than with croissants, I second that motion :))) Thank you for writing this.
Hi Maya.
You should try the croissants at Nino's bakery. My favorite is the passion fruit one but a classic croissant always makes my day.