Americans Top the French Croque-Monsieur with an Even Cheesier Sandwich!

White ham, cheese, and béchamel nestled between two slices of sandwich bread: this winning combination has cemented the croque-monsieur as a staple in French culinary heritage, appearing on the menu of every brasserie in the capital. It’s typically served with fries and green salad, and sometimes topped with a fried egg—if so, it’s dubbed a madame.

This national favorite reportedly originated in the 1910s in the kitchens of “Le Bel Âge,” a Parisian bistro on Boulevard des Capucines, also known for its ham-cheese-butter sandwich. One day, running out of baguettes, owner Michel Lunarca opted for sandwich bread, which he toasted to bring back some crunchiness. The reason behind its peculiar name remains a mystery, though folklore suggests the quirky owner, capitalizing on his bizarre reputation as a cannibal, told a curious customer that he was about to eat “Mr. Meat”…

Meanwhile, American diners don’t envy our croque-monsieur one bit because they have their own signature hot sandwich—the tuna melt. This clever mix of tuna and melted cheese apparently came about by accident: legend has it that a South Carolina chef accidentally spilled his tuna salad on a grilled cheese sandwich…

Which is the best of the two? To decide, let’s try François-Régis Gaudry’s recipe. In a mixing bowl, blend 150g of well-drained natural tuna with 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Mix in 5 anchovy fillets and 1 tablespoon of finely chopped capers, half a bunch of tarragon, 2 green onions, and 1 small shallot all finely chopped, then add the zest and juice of half a lemon.

Next, grate 75g of cheddar cheese, then toast 4 slices of sandwich bread. Sprinkle some cheddar on two of the slices, evenly spread the tuna mixture, smooth it out with a spoon, add more cheddar, and top with the remaining bread slices, pressing down lightly.

Then, brown the sandwiches for 2 minutes on each side in a pan over medium-high heat with foaming butter, then let them rest covered on the turned-off stove for 2 minutes. Cut them diagonally, enjoy immediately to savor their melting heart… and try to leave your chauvinism at the door. Easier said than done!