hotsnack: galette des rois
Here at Snack we love all things Français - particularly buttery pastry with frangipane like la galette des rois - literally the cake of kings - but actually the twelfth night or Epiphany cake. The galettes are eaten on January 6th and tradition dictates that a 'lucky bean' is baked into the cake, which can be an actual bean or something fancy like a figurine or small porcelain plates made for this purpose. The person who finds the bean is the king or queen for the evening and has the pleasure of wearing the gold paper crown the pâtisserie provides along with the cake.
Downtown pâtisserie Ceci Cela (one of my personal favorites and perhaps the bestest and cheapest - $1.50 - cafe au lait in the city) has them for $29, as a special order a day in advance.
I am certain there are many other shops around Gotham baking the kings cake for Sunday night, so I invite you to add them to this post via comments. Helpful details are the name of the shop, phone number or website, price of the cake and if it requires an advanced order. One listing per comment s'il vous plaît.
MODERN MEXICAN 'S ROSCA DE REYES: The ‘King’ of Cakes
The feast of Epiphany, also called “The Manifestation of God” is celebrated on January 6th, and it is also known as the day of the Three Kings or Wise Men. According to legend, these kings saw a bright star on the night Christ was born. They followed it to Bethlehem and found the Christ child and presented him with gifts. On the Christian calendar, the twelfth day after Christmas is known as “Kings Day.”
Traditionally, people presented gifts to the “Baby Jesus” which mostly consisted of dried fruits, nuts, flour, honey and eggs. Later, to commemorate the Epiphany, they took some of those gifts and baked a sweet roll in the shape of a crown. Rosca de Reyes, or King's Cake, is symbolic of the Wise Kings who went to adore the Baby Jesus. The story portrays the Kings looking for the baby, which explains why a plastic baby doll is placed inside the Rosca de Reyes encouraging those enjoying it to look for it.
There are many traditions of the King Cake, however Mexican tradition dictates that he who finds the Baby has to throw a party on the 2nd of February (Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas Day), inviting all the guests that are present and offer them tamales and Mexican hot chocolate.
Modern Mexican Restaurants is giving this tradition a fun twist by offering King’s Cake and hot chocolate from January 4- 6 in the restaurant. The first person to find the baby in his or her slice will win a tamale-party, gratis, for six people.
WHAT: Modern Mexican’s Rosca de Reyes Traditional Celebration
WHEN: January 4-6, 2008
WHERE: Rosca de Reyes and Mexican hot chocolate will be available on the dessert menu for $8 at the following restaurants:
Maya, New York – 1191 First Avenue – 212.585.1818
Tamayo, Denver – 1400 Larimer Street – 720.946.1433
WWW.MODERNMEXICAN.COM
Posted by: gail schoenberg | January 04, 2008 at 12:54 PM