TikTok Is Extremely Jealous Of After-School Snack Baguettes In France
After a long grueling day, raiding the cabinets for a snack is the quintessential relief for many kids (and adults!). While selections of popular chips and candies await some, others enjoy American snack classics like rice krispie treats, ants on a log or homemade popsicles. After-school snacking is a coveted practice across the globe, people cherish the snacks that offer the right balance of flavor, convenience, and accessibility.
While America revels in its range of classic snacks, the rest of the world is taking after-school snacks to a whole new level, especially France. With French cooking considered one of the most prestigious and respected in the world, it's not surprising that the culinary mecca mastered the art of snacking. What can we expect from a country of historic culinary excellence? When TikTok got wind of one of France's most popular after-school snacks, the envy couldn't have been louder.
TikTok reacts to France's after-school snack
When TikTok user @isabellebertolami shared a video showing one of the after-school snacks she prepares for her kid, she disrupted people's idea of the afternoon nosh and had many reflecting on their own traditional favorites. A self-described American mom in Paris, Isabelle Bertolami often shares what life is like raising her child in France, including the way she prepares food that aligns with the region's cultural norms and how that deviates from American culture.
With over 700,000 likes and 8.7 million views, it's clear this snack struck a nerve with many, causing a fit of jealousy with comments like, "I want to be reincarnated as a French kid." The source of this uproar is rightfully placed. As Isabelle walks viewers through the creation of this traditional dish, it's clear that the standard for French snack time has been elevated. That's because this bite classically leans on three lush ingredients that most anyone would love.
What to know if you try to make France's popular after-school snack
The (literal) bread and butter of French kids' after-school routine is goûter, which translates to an afternoon snack. The tradition of goûter takes place after 4 p.m., before 6 p.m., and is practiced by Parisians young and old. Serving as a transition between lunch and dinner, children and adults seek out a sweet snack, like the one featured in the TikTok video. Other popular choices of goûter include chocolate-filled croissants, brioche with almond cream, or meringue, according to Dorie Greenspan, writing for The New York Times.
Traditionally, goûter includes bread in some way. The classic goûter that went viral on TikTok, known as baguette et carré de chocolate, is simple to make, requiring only bread, a chocolate bar, and butter. Reminiscent of pain au chocolate, the slabs of chocolate and butter sandwiched between a fresh baguette create a decadent treat that is easy to make at home and the perfect treat any day.