Dummies’ guide to Galette des Rois
Another occasion to succumb to more calories
My wife was announcing to me last night that I have gained weight during the past 2 weeks. Yes, I might have. I might have over-consumed during Christmas and New Year. But hey, who can blame me? This year we have gone all the way and put the best food we can afford on the table — a consoling feast for selves after months of pandemic. Anyway, I will lose the extra pounds in no time in January.
No, no, no. Naive! In France, January is the month people achieve the most — in terms of fat. It is the month of Galette de Rois.
Throughout the month, French people would invite one another for Galette party, or simply bringing the party to the office, enjoying the festive specialty with Champagne or Cidre. Of course, though, this is sadly not happening this year.
The best Galette des Rois is those sold in Boulangerie (Bakery shop) but regardless of where they are sold, each Galette always comes with a paper crown. What is that for? I am about to tell you.
Depending on the part of France you are in, you will find different types of Galette. In the west, there is Sablé Galette, which is a sweet crust pasty; in the south, there is this torus-shaped brioche covered in candied fruit; in the north, there is the Galette with pâté feuilleté (puffy pastry layers like that of croissant) filled with frangipane within. In Paris, they usually make Galette des Rois as the last type, and this is what I always get.
This pastry is to be served with particular maneuver. First, the youngest one in the group needs to go hide under the table. As another person cut and serve each portion, the hidden one should name and appoint that portion to a guest until everyone has a share.
For each Galette des Rois made, there is a bean (la fève) hidden in it. The lucky dégustateur who retrieves the bean in his/her portion becomes the king of the night and gets crowned. With greater power comes greater responsibility- the king must bring a galette in the next party. In the case of a child, the child takes the glory and leave the parents to the labor.
Whenever there is a child, people would often try to give the kid the portion with la fève when he/she is still under the table- sometimes it is noticeable just after cutting. Meaning parents usually pay for quite a few galettes every year.
In modern days, people have ceased to put bean in Galette and have instead replaced it with porcelain or plastic (mostly plastic) made trinket that comes in different shapes. The story I heard was that there were cases in which the people who received the bean and swallowed it discreetly, avoiding to pay for the next round. Therefore, they started using instead artificial figurine, making it difficult to hide. Let me know if you have heard of any other versions.
Traditionally, this is a pastry served on the twelve night of Christmas, commemorating the Epiphany, when the kings (Biblical Magi) visited Jesus after his birth and offering three gifts.
However, in reality most French people just see it as a new year delicacy and an excuse to gather and have fun. The supermarket, Boulangerie and Patisserie sell it from mid-December and through January. Don’t miss out Galette des Rois when you will get the chance to visit France during this time of the year.