Last month, Twitter user popular loner tweeted, “If I’m being honest, the croissants in Paris look just like the ones they sell at Costco.” Sure enough, responses came pouring in, with several expressing how upset they were by the initial claim. “You’ve been away for too long” and “How dare you” were among some of the replies. Yet, a few others came to the defense of the original poster with one claiming that they’ve “been to paris several time & tbh the costco ones are better quality and tastier.” Even though the responses were divided, many users seemed bothered by the tweet. Some argued it came from an American perspective that couldn’t appreciate French croissants.
French croissants are deeply rooted in history. According to Michel Lyczak, winner of the 2014 “best butter croissant” award by the Professional Chamber of Boulangers-Patissiers in France, a great croissant comes down to high-quality ingredients such as high-protein flour, specialty butter, and strong attention to detail when handcrafting each delicacy (per Smithsonian Magazine).
While comparing the wholesaler’s croissants to those in France may seem like a stretch to some, an Instagram user made a similar comparison in the past with regard to the chain’s almond croissants. Considering the various Costco food items people might feel they need to try, the croissants not only make the list but according to some social media users, are comparable to the European version of this classic French pastry.