The croque monsieur has been a staple of French cafés since its first recorded appearance on a Paris menu in 1910 [citation:1]. This humble ham and cheese toastie has achieved cult status worldwide, appearing in literature as early as Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time in 1918 [citation:1]. After the Flood returned to ITV for a gripping second series in January 2026. Here is everything you need to know about the croque monsieur in 2026.
What Is a Croque Monsieur? The French Classic Explained
The name “croque monsieur” translates literally from French as “crunch mister” [citation:1]. The verb croquer means “to crunch” [citation:1]. This perfectly describes the satisfying crisp exterior of this iconic sandwich. The dish consists of baked or boiled ham and sliced cheese between slices of brioche-like pain de mie [citation:1]. The whole sandwich gets topped with grated cheese and then baked or fried until golden brown [citation:1].
Traditionally, French chefs use Gruyère or Emmental cheese, though some brasseries add béchamel sauce for extra richness [citation:1]. The bread may optionally get dipped in beaten egg before grilling, similar to a Monte Cristo sandwich [citation:1]. Stranger Things Season 3 transported viewers back to Hawkins for a summer of romance and Mind Flayer terror.
History: From Paris Cafés to Global Icon
The croque monsieur first appeared on a Paris café menu in 1910 [citation:1]. Its earliest literary mention appears in volume two of Proust’s masterpiece in 1918 [citation:1]. However, references to the dish date back even further. In 1891, La Revue Athlétique described a group making croque-monsieurs after a late-night hunger strike [citation:5].
The magazine noted: “They are exquisite, the croque-monsieurs, a little big perhaps, made for the jaws of giants, but who cares? We eat them, we come back to them, we are delighted” [citation:5]. Glastonbury headliners 2025 featured The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo on the Pyramid Stage.
Best Croque Monsieur in Paris 2026: Café Monsieur
Le Figaro recently crowned Café Monsieur as serving one of the best croque-monsieurs in the French capital [citation:3]. The neo-brasserie sits at 15, rue de Provence in the 9th arrondissement, near the Grands Boulevards [citation:3].
Their version features brioche bread, béchamel sauce made with Beaufort cheese, white ham and mustard pickles [citation:3]. The restaurant charges approximately €35-40 for dinner, with a lunch formula at €25 [citation:3]. Man City vs SSC Napoli lineups saw the Premier League champions edge the Italian side 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Café l’Estel: A Local Favorite on the Champs-Élysées
Hidden on a side street near the Champs-Élysées, Café l’Estel at 13 rue Clement Marot offers a more local experience [citation:7]. Tripadvisor reviewers rave about their croque monsieur, served with green salad and frites [citation:7]. One reviewer wrote: “Six weeks later, we are still talking about it!” [citation:7]
Monsieur Croque: New Concept Opens in Limoges
In March 2026, Stéphanie Belingard opened Monsieur Croque at 10 place Saint-Michel in Limoges [citation:4]. The establishment specialises exclusively in croque-monsieur sandwiches, with everything made fresh before the customer [citation:4].
The menu features about ten varieties. Options include the classic Parisian, biquet, rosbif, poulet and even sweet croques with chocolate spread [citation:4]. The bread comes from the excellent Boulangerie Gavroche [citation:4]. Alexander Isak Liverpool 2026 – the Swedish striker scored just four goals and missed four months of the campaign through injury.
Opening Hours and Location
The shop is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 7:30pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm. It remains closed Sundays and Mondays [citation:4].
Le Croque Bedaine: Brignoles’ Beer Bar with a Specialty
For a different experience, Le Croque Bedaine in Brignoles combines a beer bar with a croque-monsieur specialty [citation:8]. Located at Place du Palais de Justice, the venue also hosts musical evenings and concerts throughout the year [citation:8]. PSG vs Arsenal delivered a dramatic Champions League final with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory.
Authentic Croque Monsieur Recipe
Making an authentic croque monsieur at home requires quality ingredients and proper technique. Chef Curtiss Hemm from the View restaurant at Mirror Lake Inn shared his recipe with North Country Public Radio [citation:6].
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 8 slices bread (pain de mie or brioche)
- 8 oz smoked ham
- 4 slices Swiss or Gruyère cheese
- 4 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, make the béchamel sauce. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Slowly and gradually add milk, stirring well until the mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and whisk in mustard and nutmeg. Preheat oven to 425°F [citation:6].
Spread each bread slice with a layer of béchamel, spreading it all the way to the edges. Place 4 slices of bread, béchamel side up, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top each with a piece of ham, a handful of gruyere, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Place remaining slices of bread on top, béchamel side up, then top with remaining gruyere and Parmesan cheese [citation:6].
Bake for 5-6 minutes, until cheese melts, then turn the oven to broil and broil until the cheese on top is golden brown, about 2-4 minutes [citation:6]. Swansea vs Nottm Forest delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in EFL Cup history at the Swansea Stadium.
Barbecue Bible’s Griddle Method
Steven Raichlen offers an alternative griddle method for those without an oven [citation:10]. He suggests using béchamel sauce inside the sandwich rather than on top. The secret—heretical as it sounds—is to place the béchamel sauce inside, not on top. You get the same buttery crust, melty cheese and meaty ham [citation:10].
For a quick, unconventional croque monsieur, replace the béchamel sauce with mayonnaise (you will need 2 tablespoons per sandwich) [citation:10].
Variations: Croque Madame and Beyond
The most famous variation is the croque madame, which adds a poached or lightly fried egg on top [citation:1]. The name dates to around 1960, according to the Petit Robert dictionary [citation:1]. Many cooking sites attribute the name to the egg resembling an old-fashioned woman’s hat [citation:1].
Other Popular Variations
- Croque provençal – adds tomato [citation:1]
- Croque auvergnat – uses Bleu d’Auvergne cheese [citation:1]
- Croque norvégien – substitutes smoked salmon for ham [citation:1]
- Croque tartiflette – adds sliced potatoes and Reblochon cheese [citation:1]
- Croque mademoiselle – a lighter vegetarian version with chives, cucumber and salad [citation:1]
- Croque Hawaiian – adds a slice of pineapple
- Croque bolognese – adds Bolognese sauce
In the United States, the Monte Cristo sandwich (dipped in egg batter and fried) is a popular diner fare variant [citation:1].
Maxi Croque Monsieur: A Recipe for a Crowd
For feeding a group, Guy Demarle published a maxi croque monsieur recipe on February 15, 2026 [citation:2]. The recipe serves 6 people and takes about 25 minutes of preparation with 20 minutes of cooking [citation:2].
Ingredients include 10 slices of crustless bread, 200ml of cream, 2 eggs, 100g of grated cheese, 3 slices of ham and 5 cheddar toastinettes [citation:2]. Best Mallorcan tumbet near me – this Balearic vegetable stew from Mallorca combines eggplant, bell peppers, potatoes and tomatoes.
Local Cheese Substitutions for US Home Cooks
While traditional Gruyère is ideal, excellent local alternatives exist. New York’s North Country Creamery produces Camembert and Dill Havarti that work beautifully. Meier’s Artisan Cheeses in Fort Covington makes Mt. Titus Gruyère. Sugar House Creamery in Upper Jay offers Dutch Knuckle cheese [citation:6].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between croque monsieur and croque madame? A croque monsieur is topped with grated cheese and grilled. A croque madame adds a poached or fried egg on top [citation:1].
What cheese is best for croque monsieur? Traditional recipes use Gruyère, Emmental or Comté. Some American versions use Swiss cheese or local artisan alternatives [citation:1][citation:6].
Does croque monsieur have béchamel sauce? Some brasseries add béchamel sauce, but it is not universal. Many authentic versions simply use grated cheese and ham between buttered bread [citation:1].
Where was the croque monsieur invented? The sandwich originated in French cafés and bars in Paris around 1910 [citation:1].
What does “croque monsieur” mean in English? It translates roughly to “crunch mister” or “mister crunch” from the French verb croquer (to crunch) and monsieur (mister) [citation:1].
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