Galette des Rois episodes, various
Speaking of France in January, Galette des Rois!
I can't imagine January without this traditional sweet.
In bakery windows, supermarkets,
Galette des Rois are lined up.
Puff pastry with plenty of butter,
Soft almond powder filling
(Although it is generally called almond cream,
The galette des rois sandwiched between the "bean paste" is perfect,
It seems that it is still rare in Japan,
It seems that popularity is increasing year by year.
I'm sure many of you have eaten it before,
Some of you may say, "I already ate 5 this year!"
Of course, it is very popular in France.
At home, you can eat it as a dessert after a meal,
You can eat it as a snack at 4 o'clock (in Japan it's 3 o'clock, but in France the snack time is quatre heure = 4 o'clock),
Share with colleagues at work.
They also appear in school lunches.
You will definitely eat it several times in January,
It can be said that it is a popular sweet.
Pie dough and almond powder filling,
This combination is somewhat oriental,
As expected, it is a sweet of Epiphany (Epiphany Festival),
I think every time I eat.
If you search for Epiphany,
Here, in a series of Christian celebrations starting with Christmas,
The Magi from the East rushed to celebrate the birth of Jesus,
I only note that it celebrates the 6th of January when I arrived.
The Three Magi of the East...
Oriental, Arabic sweets, almonds,
As I savored the galette des rois, various images swirled around in my head.
by the way,
Do you know the proper (?) way to eat Galette des Rois?
① Among the members surrounding the table, the youngest person hides under the table.
② The person who cuts the galette des rois distributes them to everyone while asking the person under the table, "Who is this for?"
(The person under the table indicates "who's who")
③ Eat together.
④ If there is a fève (small ceramic object) in your cut, you are the king (or queen) of the day!
Put the crown on your head.
I'm sure you all know the story.
There are even feve collectors in Japan.
But there are still many unknown episodes, so
I would like to write about them this time.
First of all, about the bag of Galette des Rois.
When you buy Galette des Rois in France,
It will be delivered in a special paper bag.
In Japan, I think they put it in a cake box,
In France, apart from pastry shops that make fancy galettes des rois, it's usually a paper bag like this.
In the first place, it's a casual snack that you buy at a bakery, so a paper bag is just right (the packaging fee is a waste!),
Actually, this paper bag has a proper use.
before going home to eat
Warm up the galette in the oven. I need it at that time!
Below, the wife of the bakery told me,
How to heat the Galette des Rois:
① Heat the oven to the maximum temperature.
② Switch off the oven,
Put the galette des rois in the bag and put the lid on.
③ Wait for 5 minutes and it will be ready. It's about time to eat.
"This way, the pie crust will not dry out and will be delicious."
It was the story of the baker's wife.
Since then, I've been eating it warmed up this way!
In Japan, it would be nice to use baking paper.
Next, about the galette des rois served at the Elysée Palace.
At the Elysée Palace, the official residence of the French president,
It seems that Galette des Rois is served every year,
that of the Elysee Palace,
It is said that there is one thing that is different from the others.
What do you think is the difference?
Oh my God, there is no fève in it!
"Because there is no king in the republic,"
When I heard this story on the radio,
The French really
I found it interesting that they were intelligent and playful people.
That was a short story.
Below are some of the galettes des rois I ate this year.
First of all, the galette des rois that I ate with my daughter for the first time this year.
I bought it at the bakery across the street from my house.
This is excellent!
Nothing special,
Galette des Rois is very ordinary,
It is said that the more you chew, the more delicious the pie crust will be.
It is said that the bean paste is rich in nut flavor,
In addition, it is said that the balance of both overlaps is strange,
Both my daughter and I were thrilled!
Probably because the craftsman changed at the end of the year,
It was different from last year.
Fève is frézier (strawberry shortcake).
I gave
The second is Galette des Rois from Maison Cafe.
France's best craftsman (MOF) patissier,
I bought it at the Paris 13th arrondissement store of Pascal Cafe, the dessert world champion.
The head office is located in Troyes, Champagne.
Maison Caffet
93 Rue de la Glacière
75013 Paris
As expected of the MOF patissier Galette des Rois, it was a traditional recipe with no quirks, and it was very delicious.
When it comes to famous stores,
There are many places that put out elaborate original arrangements,
I like the basic galette des rois best.
Pascal Cafe,
You know how the fans feel!
Fave was a Smurf. I won this too!
The third is the 2017 Paris Baguette Competition winner,
Get it at Blanc Boulanger.
Surprisingly, the viennoiserie (sweet bread) of this shop is
I use Echire butter!
Butter is the life of Galette des Rois. If you use the highest quality butter, it will be absolutely delicious!
While buying Galette des Rois,
I bought the Baguette Tradition, which won Paris No. 1, and...
I hit the fève again. Professor Snape.
This year, Blanc Boulanger
He chose the character Fave from Harry Potter.
Blanc Boulanger's galette des rois is also a traditional recipe, and I was very satisfied!
In addition to the three galettes des rois above,
I ate two more.
I still want to eat some more.
I really love this seasonal treat!
Come to think of it, for us Parisians today,
Almost the only freedom is gourmandise, the joy of eating.
It's like nothing is too much,
While paying attention to "moderately"
I would like to satisfy the joy of eating at home!
Again, health first!
Abianto!
Keiko SUMINO-LEBLANC
Paris-based writer/coordinator Japanese-French translator
Moved to Paris in 1997.
After getting married and raising children in Paris, she is active as a freelance writer and coordinator. As a journalist specializing in food and lifestyle,
Contributed to numerous magazines and media in France and Japan. He also co-authored a book as a translator.