Yes, there are rules for eating croissants

Croissants, brioches, pain au chocolat, kipferl, cornetti: call them what you will, but they too have become a topic of conversation. Mystery surrounds their invention: it is said that they first appeared in 1770, on the occasion of the wedding at Versailles between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and were renamed croissants, a term derived from the word "crescent,” half-moon. Other sources attribute the invention to August Zang, an Austrian entrepreneur who opened a Viennese bakery in Paris in 1838: at the time, they were known as Zang’s, a name that has since been forgotten. But not the croissants: over the years, they have become an integral part of our culinary repertoire, with various iterations and not just as part of the viennoiserie tradition. Recently, the social media profiles of the renowned Cedric Grolet and Amaury Guichon have started showcasing gigantic works of art, while our very own Iginio Massari shares the perfect recipe for those who want to recreate them at home. Meanwhile, in Australia, the Instagram account lunecroissanterie boasts almost 350,000 followers, and the queue outside the bakery is no less impressive.

Despite the current trend that has elevated northern European bakeries with hybrid and avant-garde bakeries showcasing items like cinnamon rolls and hot cross buns, alongside Japanese variations such as shokupan, the classic croissant, beloved by generations worldwide, has never gone out of style. Now it has carved out a place of honor in TikTok’s viral content. The croissant, as elegant to pronounce as it is difficult to eat—especially the filled variety—has drawn the attention of etiquette expert, British of course, William Hanson. In a 20-second video, Hanson reveals with impeccable sarcasm and meticulousness the guidelines for eating a croissant in the most refined way possible. We didn’t know it, but we make many mistakes during lazy Sunday mornings, and the content creator doesn’t let anything slide, turning our comfort zone into a doctoral thesis.

Here’s the brief: first and foremost, never dip the pastry into coffee or cappuccino; it is imperative to eat it alongside coffee. In fact, in an interview with the Daily Mail, he firmly states: “As delicious as a coffee-soaked croissant might be to some, it’s a practice best reserved for when you’re at home, with the curtains drawn. Firmly.” The ban also extends to any ill-fated idea of additional toppings: no butter, as there is already enough, according to the etiquette expert. If you want to enhance your croissant, you can opt for jam, as per French tradition. Leave chocolate or Nutella for the kids. Do not cut it with a knife either; the operation is surgical: break it off, place it on the plate, and add the jam, taken from the bread plate with the appropriate knife. Lastly, but not less important, do not eat it in bites; again, breaking it off piece by piece is essential. And for the pain au chocolat? The same rule applies—do not commit the faux pas of eating the famous French pastry in bites. User comments on the content lean towards sarcasm: “So, no grape scissors for the pain au chocolat?” Hanson doesn’t stop there and extends his critical view to breakfast in general: “Cereals are a more modern breakfast food compared to others, and while they are not traditional, there is nothing wrong with choosing them for breakfast. However, to add a touch of refinement, never eat from a bowl, not even the so-called ‘cereal bowls’ marketed for this purpose. Instead, use a shallow plate with a rim. Much more chic.” He also comments on pancakes: they should be cut progressively, starting from the nearest edge, because, let’s remember, they are not pizza or cake.

From the United States, considerable criticism has emerged under Hanson’s video, with American etiquette expert Elaine Swann offering her more lenient opinion. While she generally agrees with the Briton’s directives, she closes the controversy more diplomatically: “Life is short! If you love butter and want to add more to a croissant, live your life,” she says. “This is a matter of taste, not etiquette.” Swann notes that in the U.S., a much wider range of acceptable toppings exists. Jam, honey, chocolate syrup, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and fruit sauces are all fine. “Honestly, eat whatever you want on it,” she says, “personally, I love a breakfast sandwich with a croissant and all the toppings.” Amen. Let’s hope Hanson is more lenient with panettone at Christmas. Touché.