National Monte Cristo Day Date in the current year: September 17, 2024

A croque monsieur is a hot ham and cheese sandwich that originated in French cuisine. It was invented sometime in the late 19th century and was popularized by the Parisian bistro owner Michel Lunarca in the 1910s.

A classic croque monsieur is made with ham and cheese placed between two slices of bread. The sandwich is then topped with grated cheese, slightly salted and peppered, and pan-fried or baked in an oven so that the cheese on top melts, forming a crust. The sandwich is usually made with boiled ham and Gruyère, but baked ham and other cheeses, such as Comté or Emmental cheese, are sometimes used as well.

A variation of the croque monsieur is made with bread dipped in beaten egg and then grilled. It is believed that this variation of the dish evolved into the Monte Cristo sandwich in the United States. A Monte Cristo is a ham and cheese sandwich that is dipped in beaten egg or batter and then pan- or deep-fried.

Recipes for the sandwich began to appear in American cookbooks in the 1930s. It was originally referred to as toasted ham sandwich, French sandwich, or French toasted cheese sandwich. The name “Monte Cristo” was supposedly popularized by the Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It probably pays tribute to Alexander Dumas’s famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo.

A classic Monte Cristo sandwich is egg-dipped and pan-fried, but there are regional variations that diverge from the traditional recipe. In some parts of the United States, the sandwich may be grilled, or batter-dipped and deep-fried. In some places, the Monte Cristo is an open sandwich: only the bread is dipped in beaten egg and the assembled sandwich is heated slightly under a broiler or grill.

Some regional variations include sliced turkey in addition to ham and cheese. Although the Monte Cristo is a savory sandwich, it may be covered in powdered sugar and served with preserves or maple syrup – some people do like the combination of sweet and savory.

The best thing about the Monte Cristo sandwich is that it is delicious and easy to make. To make sure your sandwich doesn’t get soggy, you should pick a sturdy bread that will be able to withstand dipping in beaten egg/batter and frying without falling apart. It should be neither too thick nor too thin. The recipe typically calls for Swiss cheese, but you can replace it with Gruyère, mozzarella, or even American cheese.

National Monte Cristo Day was founded in 2015 by Bennigan’s, an Irish pub-themed American casual dining restaurant chain known for its World Famous Monte Cristo. You can celebrate this amazing holiday by going out to your favorite place that serves Monte Cristo sandwiches or making a classic Monte Cristo at home. Don’t forget to take a picture of your sandwich before taking a bite and share it on social media with the hashtags #NationalMonteCristoDay and #MonteCristoDay to spread the word.