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Suh-weet!
Kohei Sasada
3/2003
 Crepes look like a taco, taste like a pancake, and are
one of France's most famous desserts. Although crepes have a
long history tracing back to mid-16th century France, they have
become one of the most popular snacks half way around the
world...in Japan. So whether you are walking along the Champs-Elysees
in Paris or Omotesandou in Harajuku, you can find many people
walking and talking with a crepe in hand. Crepes may have
started as just a fad in Japan, but it has become one of the most
popular desserts there because of the many flavors they come in.
In the mid-1500's, most people in France depended on
French bread (of course!), which is made from wheat flour, as
their staple food. People living in the Brittany area of
northern France, however, could not grow flour due to weather
and land conditions, so they used buckwheat to make crepes as
their main source of food.
At this point, crepes were not eaten as dessert. It was
something that people ate to survive everyday. It wasn't until
the beginning of the 19th century that the crepe was served as
dessert in the royal courts of Paris. The king of those days
praised. “Crepes are the 9th art which was made in France.”
After that, the crepe as a dessert became more and more popular,
and people have enjoyed this 9th art ever since.
 France celebrates eating crepes on February 2, a holiday
commonly known as the Day of Crepes, but originally a Catholic observance
known as Chandeleur or Candlemas, the day that Jesus
was presented to the temple. In those days, people celebrated
the day by bringing lit, blessed candles from church to their
homes, but now they simply eat crepes and drink cider to promote
wealth and prosperity for the upcoming year.
As mentioned before, crepes have two ways to be enjoyed,
as a dessert or as a main dish. Traditionally, for dessert, the
crepe is made of flour, and for main dishes, it is made of
buckwheat, in which case it is called a “galette.” But
nowadays, it is more common for flour crepes to be served as
both.
In the 1970's, crepes became more popular and more
convenient to eat because they were sold in many kinds of
places, such as in street booths, restaurants, and, of course,
in crepe shops. Also, they became more colorful with the
addition of putting jam, cream and chocolate on the warm and
delicious crepes.
 About 10 years later, crepes came to Japan. At first,
crepes in Japan were not very popular even though people knew
about them. However, a crepe shop was opened in Harajuku, an
area which is very famous, popular, and crowded with young
people-it is like the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It
became a big success. Harajuku-style crepes are a little
different from the originals. They put different things on top
of them, such as cream, ice cream, fruit and salad.
Now crepes in Japan are so popular, I think everybody has
tried one. There are so many different flavors. The good news is
that you don't have to go all the way to Japan to try
Japanese-style crepes. A few shops have opened here in the Los
Angeles area. Why don't you try one?
Crepe Crepe
- Puente Hills
Mall
1600 Azusa
Ave., #160
City of
Industry, CA 91748
626-581-4845
www.crepecrepe.com
Crepe Vine
- Marukai Food
Court
2975 Harbor Blvd.
Costa Mesa
92626
714-546-6989
Crepe to Go!
- 2117 Sawtelle
Blvd
West Los
Angeles 90025
310-477-8385
- 7 E Valley
Blvd.,
Alhambra, CA
91776
626-282-5265
www.crepeinthegrip.net
La Creperie Cafe
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