Croque monsieur is perhaps just a ham and cheese toastie with a fancy name, but it’s still one of my favourite weekend brunch dishes, and also perfect for those lazy stay-at-home Sunday nights in front of the TV. Its origins are obscure, though some credit a brasserie on the Boulevard de Capucines in Paris. It appeared on French menus from around the early 1900s, the rather nonsensical name meaning ‘crunch-sir’. Croque Monsieur may have been named by the French, but for me it will always be associated with Harry’s Bar in Venice, which is why I like to serve it with a Bellini. See the video below for another French classic, turning a simple salad into a deliciously satisfying meal.
Serves 2
Like this recipe?
You’ll love A Month Of French Recipes+Videos Online Cooking Class!
Share page on:
The origin of croque monsieur is obscure, though some credit a brasserie on the Boulevard de Capucines in Paris.
The rather nonsensical name of this upmarket ham and cheese toastie means ‘crunch-sir’ in French.
Although this is a French sandwich, it is famously associated with the iconic Harry’s Bar in Venice, where it’s served wrapped in a white napkin as a bar snack. Perfect with their other famous menu item, a white peach Bellini.
