In the name of research, Cenk Sönmezsoy has eaten his weight—and then some—in croissants from all over the world. Here are the three that won his heart.
- Tartine Bakery | San Francisco, California
Cenk’s Pick: Croissant—the classic is flaky, crisp, buttery, and rich, with well-defined layers and a deeply colored crust.
2. Pierre Hermé | Paris, France
Cenk’s Pick: Croissant Ispahan, a decadent Pierre Hermé classic, filled with rose-scented almond paste and raspberry and lychee compote, glazed, and sprinkled with candied rose petals.
3. Mr. Holmes Bakehouse | Los Angeles, California
Cenk’s Pick: Churro Croissant, perfectly tender, filled with a delicate dulce de leche cream and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
I discovered croissants at Hoffman’s in the El Born neighborhood in Barcelona. I would argue that they rival the best!