It means you have permission to be a glutton with a French accent. It means you can eat a dish that looks fancy but is really just potatoes swimming in dairy while wearing a crunchy hat.
Next time someone asks, “What does gratin mean?” just smile, point at your plate, and say, “It means I’m the one who gets the crispy bits.” Then eat it while it’s hot, because once it cools, the magic fades. And that’s a tragedy worthy of a French poem.
Now go forth, scrape that pan, and never apologize for loving a crust.
