PARIS—Trips to the neighborhood boulangerie are a must for any Parisian visitor. While the city houses more than two million residents, its boulangeries bake a local feel into storefronts with inviting breads, pastries and cakes.
Regarded as a reinterpretation of Austria’s kipferl, today the croissant is long synonymous with French culture. A laminated dough packed with butter yields layers of flakiness when biting into the golden crescent-shaped creation, one that is universally unmatched away from its motherland.
While WTA and ATP tennis players are notoriously conscious of their nutrition, especially when on the road, the croissant is a common cheat card in Paris. It’s become routine for Coco Gauff, who has made her way to a major singles semifinal for the first time.
“I love croissants, so much. I think I’ve had them every day since I’ve been in France,” the 18-year-old told Baseline. “It’s probably not a good thing, but I don’t really care. Croissants and honey is the best combination.”
Jannik Sinner likes to pair his with jam, while also enjoying original iteration along with chocolate.
“I just love them,” he says. “[Which] is unfortunate because I try to stay very healthy.”
Classic chocolate croissants or “Pain au chocolat” are more rectangular in shape. The sweet treat is a go-to for Simona Halep and Maria Sakkari when in town.
“Every day when I’m in Paris, I eat a croissant,” said Halep, who shared she “killed two at breakfast” when we spoke ahead of the event. “The most enjoyable moment is to have a cappuccino and pain au chocolat.”