Croissants and French pastry chefs have been sweeping the networks for a long time. Cedric Grolet (@cedricgrolet) was one of the first to rise to fame with his creations and his videos on TikTok and Instagram, where he already has 5.3 and 7.9 million followers, respectively. The phenomenon is such that, in the premises that he holds on Avenue de l'Opéra in Paris, queues of up to two and three hours are formed to try one of those crunchy, voluminous and shiny croissants that he prepares.
Philippe Conticini (@philippe_conticini) and his gigantic croissants arrived in this world of fanaticism less time ago, albeit at lightning speed. With between thirty and forty centimeters in length, approximately, it is almost impossible for a single person to eat the entire pasta.
The XXL croissant first became famous on TikTok. In that space, the videos showing its size, its golden color, the crunchy outer layer and even those in which someone tries to dip that gigantic bun into the cup of coffee (which seems tiny next to it), were adding views until they became a viral phenomenon. It even has a hashtag.
The fanaticism went from the networks to the streets in Paris, first (where Conticini has his main pastry shop), London (he also has an establishment there) and the rest of the world, where some pastry shops have imitated this creation that so much attracts the attention of consumers.
Barcelona also has its own version of the giant croissant, from the Hofmann pastry shop. His croissants are already famous, drawing locals and tourists alike to his pastry shop in El Born and, now, to his new shop next to Turó Park. But, when they launched their XXL version, those with a sweet tooth could not resist and the networks were filled with photos and videos about it. At Hofmann, this bun can be enjoyed in the classic version, but there are also others filled with mascarpone, raspberry, mango or chocolate.
Each piece must be previously ordered, both in foreign pastry shops and in Barcelona, as they are not normally for sale. Prices range from 20 euros —€25 in the case of Hofmann— for the classic version, and 30 if you prefer filling. It is a perfect preparation to share, as the size is ideal for four or six people.
The surprising thing about these croissants, beyond their gigantic size, is how perfectly cooked they are on the inside, without being too toasted on the outside, which reveals the talent of the pastry chef who makes them.
Despite the fact that they are the new jewel in the crown in the mentioned places, other of their elaborations also make them worthy of their reputation. Among them, other pastas stand out, also in a giant version, such as the Napolitanas with cream or chocolate. Although his cakes with hyper-realistic shapes (such as Hofmann's pistachio or Cedric Grolet's mango) and other original and tasty creations also triumph.
