Brief history of croquette

Croquette is a word of French origin. It is derived from the word croquer, or what would be crunching, an aspect that is perhaps one of the main attributes of this dish.

The first croquettes were made in France. Its filling fromBechamel sauce we owe it to François Pierre de la Varenne (1615-1678), founder of classical French cuisine. However, more than a century had to pass before the first croquette appeared, at the hands of chef Antonin Carême.

The Chef of Kings and King of Chefs

Marie Antoine Carême (1784 - 1833) He was a prominent French chef and architect, author of the bookThe art of French cuisine. He is one of the most influential chefs in the history of world gastronomy. He worked for the Prince Regent of Great Britain, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, the court of Vienna, and Baron de Rothschild.

In 1817 he had the mission of captivating the palates of the Prince Regent of England and the Archduke of Russia. Carême being a deep student of tradition and French recipes, he devised a bechamel dish covered by a thick and crunchy layer. I call itRoyal croquettes. The croquettes captivated those present and spread throughout the world, immortalizing their creator.

However, Antonin's contributions to international cuisine are much more transcendental, to the point where he is considered "the Chef of kings and King of chefs." It is said that this man was the precursor of the transition between private cuisine of the powerful of his time and public catering. He introduced scientific methods in the training and learning of his chefs and proposed standards in the kitchen that systematized traditional practices. These elements 70 years later, also French chef Auguste Escoffier (1862). -1935) took them to the highest level of professionalism in the gastronomic field.

Croquettes are an international dish

Croquettes are currently a widely consumed dish in different parts of the world. Many readers will be surprised to learn that it is not of Spanish origin. Although it was through Spanish emigration that this dish was introduced into Cuban gastronomy.

We Cubans have adapted this recipe to our local flavors and products. Croquettes are an evocation of childhood moments and also, let's be honest, a dish that more than once saved us and saves our meals on the Island.