Mille-feuille

Mille-feuille (pronounced meel-foy), also known as Napoleon, is a traditional French pastry of unknown origin. Its name translates to "thousand leaves", referring to its many layers of puff pastry.

History

The exact origin of the mille-feuille is unknown. It has been a staple of French cuisine since the 17th century, and is mentioned in a cookbook by François Massialot, a French chef who served various French monarchs. However, some food historians believe that it may have been inspired by earlier Middle Eastern pastries.

Preparation

The mille-feuille is made of three layers of puff pastry (pâte feuilletée), alternating with two layers of pastry cream (crème pâtissière), but sometimes whipped cream or jam are substituted. The top layer is usually coated with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. In some variations, the top is glazed with icing or fondant in alternating white (icing) and brown (chocolate) stripes, and combed.

Variations

There are several variations of the mille-feuille. In Italy, it is called mille foglie and contains similar ingredients. In the United Kingdom, the pastry is often called a vanilla slice, cream slice, or custard slice, and is topped with icing rather than powdered sugar. In Canada, a variation with maple syrup, known as the Napoleon slice, is popular.

In popular culture

The mille-feuille has been referenced in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. It is often used as a symbol of French cuisine and culture.

See also

• List of French desserts
• Puff pastry
• François Massialot