Meet Chef Cyrille Soenen's New CroNaps!

The classic Kouign Amann takes on a new and flavorful new twist, with a touch of local inspiration, for a whole new flavor experience. 

Chef Cyrille Soenen of Brasserie Cicou reinvents the classic buttery and delicately layered Breton dessert with his inventive and playfully indulgent CroNaps, combining everything we love with the French croissant with Bacolod's iconic Napoleones.

And just like Chef Cyrille Soenen's signature Kouign Amann, each CroNap, is prepared in the same delicate manner, baked fresh daily. The comforting and fragrant aroma of fresh flour and butter signals the start of a fresh new batch... 

With a box of freshly baked CroNaps, I hurried home and turned on the coffeemaker. Slowly, I opened the box releasing the familiar buttery aroma, sending your senses into overdrive. Patience becomes a challenge, as you resist the urge to dive right in and wait for your cup of coffee.    

The new CroNap is Chef Cyrille Soenen's latest creation, transforming the caramelized laminated sweet and buttery dough into yet another elegant dessert (for more on Chef Cyrille Soenen's signature Kouign Amann, see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/11/brasserie-cicou-opens-ka-by-cicou-at-sm.html and his other sweet and savory innovations with the classic Kouign Amann here at  http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/12/taking-brasserie-cicous-classic-kouign.html). The creative fusion of French and Filipino flavors are perfectly recreated with the new line of CroNaps, a masterful combination that works. One bite of the delicate dessert starts with a distinct crackle with its light and crisp layers of dough, followed by sweet and creamy notes and you've just discovered what makes the new CroNap so refreshingly different yet comfortingly familiar in just one bite.

It's one bite that leads to another. And another. Available in five indulgent flavors, take your pick from Kouign Amann by Brassserie Cicou's CroNaps in Chocolate (P 45), Caramel (P 45), Coffee (P 45), Lemon (P 45), and Ensaymada (P 50) variants. The thin and flaky layers of caramelized dough is filled with a sweet and creamy custard filling, adding to the richness of the CroNaps complemented by the different flavor toppings. The deep, rounded notes of the Chocolate CroNap plays well with the buttery dough and custard filling, and the Caramel and Coffee variants add their own distinct notes to the blend of flavors. The mild sharpness of the Lemon Cronap, and the distinct and bold notes of the cheese in the Ensaymada CroNap add contrasting layers of flavors in every bite, yet all the variants present perfectly balanced flavors.

The combination of the flaky and buttery croissant and the sweet Napoleones is just pure genius. After a second cup of coffee, I give in and go for another CroNap. And it just can't get any better than that...

The new CroNaps are now available at "KA" by Cicou at SM Megamall's Mega Fashion Hall and at Brasserie Cicou in Greenhills.

Kouign Amann "KA" by Cicou is located at the Second Floor of the new Mega Fashion Hal at SM Megamall, EDSA, Mandaluyong City. 

Brasserie Cicou is located 57 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan or call 661-9200 or 0917-885-8841 for inquiries and reservations.

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