Dominique Ansel’s invention of the Cronut — an inspired liaison between croissant and donut — was supposed to be a one-time indulgence for Mother’s Day. But once word spread about the perfect hybrid pastry, his Manhattan bakery was overwhelmed by endless lines and Cronut scalpers. Dominique eventually learned to manage the hype and grow his business while maintaining his craft. Named the World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2017, he has found an entrepreneurial sweet spot in three brick-and-mortar locations and a mail-order business, which will overnight a Cronut to your door, sans the line, and scalpers be damned.

This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Katherine Sypher. Our audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.

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The Cronut and Dominique Ansel Bakery: Dominique Ansel