When we were first creating the menu for Chez Suzette, I remember spending so much time thinking about what our signature dessert should be.I didn’t want it to be chosen simply because it was popular or because it looked beautiful on a plate. I wanted something that had meaning. Something French, of course, but also something with personality, history and a story people could remember.
We went through so many ideas.
And then came Crêpe Suzette.
Naturally, the name caught my attention straight away. My name is Suzette, after all. But what made it special to me was that it never felt like we were choosing it just because of the name. The more I learned about the story behind Crêpe Suzette, the more I felt that it somehow reflected the personality I wanted Chez Suzette to have, elegant but never stiff, warm, expressive, a little playful, a little dramatic and always memorable.
That little flame at the table says so much.
It turns a simple dessert into a moment.
And for me, that is what hospitality is all about.
The story behind Crêpe Suzette
Like many classic dishes, Crêpe Suzette comes with a bit of mystery. One of the most famous stories is linked to French chef Henri Charpentier, who said that when he was still a young assistant in Monte Carlo, he was preparing crêpes for the Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VII. During the preparation, the alcohol in the sauce caught fire.
Instead of ruining the dessert, that unexpected flame transformed it. The sauce became beautifully fragrant, rich and full of character. According to Charpentier’s story, the King enjoyed it so much that the dessert was named after a young charming woman at the table called Suzette. There are other versions too. Some say the dessert may have been named after French actress Suzanne “Suzette” Reichenberg.
No one can say with complete certainty which version is the true one. But maybe that is part of its charm.
Why it became ours
For me, the connection felt natural.
The name was one thing.
But it was really the spirit of the dessert that made me fall in love with it.
Crêpe Suzette is classic French, yet it has warmth and personality. It is elegant, but there is also movement, spontaneity and a little bit of theatre. For me, Crêpe Suzette is more than our signature dessert. It is a reflection of the spirit of Chez Suzette itself, classic, warm, full of character, and always meant to be shared. 🇫🇷✨
