Sovereign Saturday

Today is officially the last day to claim your throne.

Le Pain Retrouvé

18 rue des Martyrs. 75009 

 

[Also at many other bakeries throughout the city]

Sweet Sunday

 

 

Another galette des rois holdout as January comes to a close.

 

Pâtisserie Gilles Marchal

9 rue Ravignan 75018

 

Window Wednesday

 

No one likes to see a good celebration come to an end, and all over France La Fête des Rois - The Feast of The Three Kings - continues until the last day of January, up until the very last galette.

 

Above: a window display of freshly baked galettes des rois in a local bakery

 

Below: don't forget the crown

 👑

 

Sweet Saturday

 Today is La Fête des Rois, Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings, and all over France pâtissiers and boulangers have been working the night shift. Although all "kings' cakes" are similar, every baker has his/her own version.

 Above: this year's homemade galette

 

Fève Friday

 

Would you like a crown with that?

 Above: just-made galettes des rois ready to take home for this evening's Fête des Rois

 

***

 

Reprint from "Feast of kings" 1/6/2019

 Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, and in France it is celebrated with a galette des rois. The tarte-like cakes begin to appear in pâtisserie and boulangerie windows in December and children adore this tradition where the youngest goes under the table and calls out each person's name to receive a slice. Whoever's parte contains the coveted fève - usually a small porcelain figurine of one of the gift-bearing Magi (although there are now many variations, including cartoon characters) - he/she/them will be crowned King or Queen and get to crown his/her/their King or Queen of choice, so every cake is (or should be) sold with two crowns.  

The galettes usually contain crème frangipane, an almond cream, but upscale bakers have been creating away with pistachio cream (my current favorite) and other fillings, trying not to stray too far from the original. I've made my own galettes in the past - it's not difficult - and like to serve the cake warm, heated for a short time in the oven, never micro-waved (quelle horreur!) so its crispness remains intact. And did I mention its classic accord is a cidre doux - or second choice, a bubbly crémant? - BPJ

 

 

Feast of Kings

 

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day.

 

*** 

 

In France, Epiphany is celebrated with a galette des rois. The tarte-like cakes begin to appear in pâtisserie and boulangerie windows in December and children adore this tradition where the youngest goes under the table and calls out each person's name to receive a slice. Whoever's parte contains the coveted fève - usually a small porcelain figurine of one of the gift-bearing Magi (although there are now many variations, including comic-book-like characters) - he/she will be crowned King or Queen and get to crown his/her King or Queen of choice, so every cake is (or should be) sold with two crowns. 

The galettes usually contain crème frangipane, an almond cream, but upscale bakers have been creating away with pistachio cream (my current favorite) and other fillings, trying not to stray too far from the original. I've made my own galettes in the past - it's not difficult - and like to serve the cake warm, heated for a short time in the oven, never micro-waved (quelle horreur!) so its crispness remains intact. And did I mention its classic accord is a cidre doux - or second choice, a bubbly crémant? - BPJ

 

Above: galettes galore at Pâtisserie Gérard Mulot - 76 rue de Seine 75006

***

In Spain, La Fiesta de Los Reyes Magos upstages Christmas and is the big day of gifts for children. When I lived in Cadaqués, a magical white fishing village mecca of artists and writers, from my balcony overlooking the bay we could watch as The Kings - Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar - arrived by boat bearing large bags filled with small gifts for the children who'd gather on the shore with lanterns. They’d then follow these Pied Piper "kings" to the main plaza to music, feasting and dancing. - BPJ

Below: bay of Cadaqués, evening; festival of Los Reyes

Galettes des rois

Today is The Feast of the Epiphany when galettes will be flying off pastry shop shelves.