I searched and searched for a croissant in the United States that was as flaky as the ones I tasted in Paris, but I had no such luck until last semester in Boston. I stumbled across Tatte and ordered their croissant sandwich.

“This meal is life-changing.” We’ve all said something like this before. Ours is a vernacular of hyperbole, and anything remotely above average skyrockets to a transcendent experience. I know I’m...