Galette des rois - Kings Cake

Phil and I were invited for aperos (aperitifs, usually with a few nibbles) in early January. This was at a French lady's house but she invited five English. Part of the apero offering was a Galette des rois. Something I had never heard of. It is sometimes called Epiphany Cake. The season for this traditional cake starts on 12th night (the end of Christmas on 5th January( and extends until Mardi Gras - or as the British say Shrove Tuesday and commemorates the arrival of the Three Kings in Bethlehem.

Each person has a piece of this cake which is like a round sweet bread like brioche and frangipane, with sugar on top (I have since seen them with icing on top). The cake is generally crown shaped. Inside is a hidden baby or fève. A little like the silver coin inside a Christmas pudding.

In the past, the pastry would be cut into as many portions as there were guests, plus one. The last one, called the “part du pauvre” or poor man’s share, was for the first poor person who stopped by the house.

He or she who finds the 'baby' in their slice is designated King or Queen for the evening - and also must buy the cake the following year. (I suspect many a visit to the dentist is required afterwards as well.
So guess who bit into a 'baby'. Yep, you've got it. So I had to wear a golden cardboard crown for the rest of the evening.

A week or so later Phil and I were invited to the Mairie as we are new residents of Villefagnan and a galette des rois was served there along with some very nice sparkling Vouvray. As it was only Phil and I and another lady who has moved into the village in the last year they combined this welcome with a thank you to the staff of the commune. Very nice to be invited and interesting to see lots of familiar faces. Anyway - guess what! Yes you're right I bit down on to the 'baby' and was duly crowned!

No photos to show (shame, I hear you cry) but imagine being the only one wearing a Christmas crown out of a cracker on Christmas Day......