Our Story

It started with three friends and their passion for crepes and traditional pastries. During a Crepes party they decided to share their love for this French dessert with New Yorkers. By nature, Crepes are best when made and consumed within the same day. Trois Crepes is planning to open a Manhattan based Patisserie in 2006. Meanwhile, our fresh Crepes are available through our catering services, or if you prefer to prepare them at home, you may order our crepes mix. It is our pleasure to serve you Crepes in the pure French tradition.

A bientôt,
Frederique Henriot Azcona
Co-Founder of Trois Crepes Patisserie

Brief History of Crepes

In 1895, a fourteen year-old assistant waiter, Henri Charpentier, was working as the Maitre at Monte Carlo's Café de Paris. It was here he created a famous dish from a mistake while preparing dessert for the Prince of Wales, the future King of England, Edward VII (1841-1910). The addition of an orange liqueur caused the dish to burst into flames, making the dessert instantly famous. Impressed by the new dish, the Prince of Wales named it after one of the ladies in his party.

In his own words, Henri Charpentier describes the event -- "It was quite by accident as I worked in front of a chafing dish that the cordials caught fire. I thought I was ruined. The Prince and his friends were waiting. How could I begin all over? I tasted it. It was, I thought, the most delicious melody of sweet flavors I had every tasted. I still think so. That accident of the flame was precisely what was needed to bring all those various instruments into one harmony of taste. He ate the pancakes with a fork; but he used a spoon to capture the remaining syrup. He asked me the name of that which he had eaten with so much relish. I told him it was to be called Crepes Princesse. He recognized that the pancake controlled the gender and that this was a compliment designed for him; but he protested with mock ferocity that there was a lady present. She was alert and rose to her feet and holding her little skirt wide with her hands she made him a curtsey. "Will you," said His Majesty, "change Crepes Princesse to Crepes Suzette?" Thus was born and baptized this confection, one taste of which, I really believe, would reform a cannibal into a civilized gentleman."

Taken from, "Life A La Henri -- Being The Memories of Henri Charpentier".

In France it is a custom to prepare "Crêpes" for "La chandeleur" (Candlemas), which symbolizes, wealth, good crops, and health for the year to come.