The origin of traditional French Crepes

July 12, 2011

The Origin of Traditional French Crepes
Crepes originated as Galettes, which were used by the Bretons as a substitute for bread. A Galette did not resemble the image we have of Crepes today, as buckwheat, known as black wheat to the Bretons was used, and thus gave the Galette a grey, opposed to golden appearance.
Summer wheat would not grow on the cliffs of Brittany, but the black wheat flourished there, so the Bretons made use of it in the form of Galettes. These along with curdled milk and potatoes formed the staple diet of the Bretons, and when times were hard, there was absolutely nothing else to eat.
The grey flour taken from the black wheat was simply kneaded with water and salt to form dough, which was then baked on hot stones to make Galettes.
Galettes are still around today, but instead of as a bread substitute, the recipe has been refined to that resembling the modern crepe recipe. A Galette is now simply known as a Crepe with a savory filling.

Crepes Evolved
Crepes are made from a batter mixture consisting of white flour, eggs, butter and milk. Often a shot of beer or cider is added to make the dough lighter and looser. They are then traditionally fried in hot fat in iron frying pans which distribute the heat evenly.
It was only in the mid 1800’s that Crepes became popular. This was when haute cuisine was become ever more fashionable in France. Back then, Crepes were considered a desert, not as a fast food or snack as they are today in France.
Today in Creperies, you will see the crepes being cooked on non stick crepe griddles. It’s quite and art form watching these being prepared. See the video below for a professional demonstration.
The Professional Way To Cook A Crepe
The Versatility of Crepes
One of the best things about Crepes is that once they are made, you can fill them with virtually any ingredient. As they work so well with both sweet and savory fillings, the choices are endless. You can really let your imagination run wild when deciding what to have.
Basic Crepe Batter Recipe
Ingredients for a batch of around 30 Crepes (adjust quantity accordingly for a smaller batch):
500g Plain Flour
6 Eggs
Peel of 2 unwaxed Lemons
3 tbs Sugar
100g melted Butter
1 litre Milk
Knob of butter
Making The Crepe Batter
• Sieve the flour into a bowl and make a hollow in the center.
• Put the eggs, lemon peel, sugar and melted butter into the hollow.
• Gradually mix ingredients together to make a runny batter.
• Allow the batter to stand at room temperture for around 30 minutes.
Cooking The Crepes
• Heat a knob of butter in a frying pan.
• Place a ladle of batter mix into the frying pan and distribute mixture evenly around the pan by swirling it.
• Place a small knob of butter on top of the batter and allow it to melt.
• Fry the crepe until it is a golden yellow colour on the bottom, with a few darker patches.
• Turn the crepe over and fry the other side.
• Stack the cooked crepes on a preheated plate.
• Continue the process until all the batter mix is used.
• Fold into crescents or quarters to serve.
The Most Famous Of Crepes
Crepe Suzette is by far the most famous of crepes, though it’s orgin stems from a cooking mistake!
The late British King Edward VII was a great admirer of France and rated the French most highly. As was fasionable around the turn of the 19th century, he would spend winter on the Cote d’Azur. One day he invited Suzette, a French lady whom he was courting, for dinner. When the Crepes were being prepared for desert, the orange liqueur caught fire by mistake. This created the flambeed technique we now know of. The chef decided that he would serve his mishap to the Prince and his lady companion, and claim it as a new creation he had come up with. The then Prince of Wales loved this new creation and thus christened the mishap gone good ‘Crepe Suzette’ after his lady guest.
Crepe Suzette Recipe By Gordon Ramsay
Most Popular Crepes In France
Crepes Au Sucre
The classic amongst crepes; sprinkled only with sugar and a little lemon juice.
Crepes Aux Confitures
Spread with jam and rolled up.
Crepes Aux Marrons
Spread with sweet chestnut paste and rolled up.
Crepes Bretonnes
A plain crepe with the batter containing buckwheat flour and rum.
Crepes Fourrees
Filledwith custard and raisins, and dried fruit soaked in rum.
Crepes Georgette
A plain crepe folded around a slice of pineapple.
Crepes Soufflees
A small amount of souffle (preferably praline) is wrapped inside the crepe and then the crepe is placed into a low heated oven for around 15 minutes.
Crepes Suzette
The basic crepe batter is enhanced by adding mandarin juice and flambeed bitter orange liquer.

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/Traditional-French-Crepes

Recent opinion survey of frequent travelers heading north towards Subic and Clark Pampanga revealed that the number one most frequently visited wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center located in Clark Philippines. Reasons given include good selection of fine vintage as well as affordable wines for everyday drinking also. This wine shop also has a beautiful roof deck lawn which serves as a nice venue for outdoor alfresco dining, cocktail parties and small functions and events. There are five large wine cellars that contain some of the world’s finest wines and rare vintages as well as wines that are excellent value that every wine shoppers love to discover. This wine shop in Clark is frequently visited not only by local residents but also tourists arriving in the Philippines looking to pick up a few bottles of good wine that are not normally available in their home town.

Subic is well known for diving, the sea and water sports that come with the territory. However one thing that Subic is not famous for is dining options. For years, visitors to Subic have complained about the quality of the restaurants and dining establishments but it is only until recently that travelers to Subic discovered the best restaurant to wine and dine, even for visitors with families and children. Now most residents of Subic and also Tarlac and Baguio know of this wine shop in Clark as the best place to buy wines in the Philippines and certainly the best wine shop in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark Philippines.

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com