One size fits all: The leaf-etched galette des rois from Petite Thuet features flaky puff pastry, almond cream, fève and a golden crown (Image: Renée Suen)
Today is Epiphany—the 12th and final day of Christmas—which celebrates the day when the biblical three kings arrived to honour baby Jesus with gifts. What better way to mark the occasion than with carefully crafted forms of butter, flour and sugar? The galette des rois (the kings’ cake) is a puff pastry cake that’s associated with the festival in France. Traditional versions are filled with frangipane, but variations exist; some may be familiar with its garish sugar-embellished brioche cousin served at Mardi Gras and Carnival. In either form, a fève (traditionally a bean, but most bakeries use a ceramic figurine) is hidden within the buttery cake. The person who finds the trinket becomes “king for the day,” receiving various privileges, obligations (such as buying the cake for the next celebration) and a paper crown.
Here, our list of local bakeries carrying the seasonal specialty.
• Jules Café Patisserie, 617 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-481-1666, julescafe.ca.
Traditional and chocolate (chocolate frangipane with pear). $19–$33, serves four to eight. Available during the month of January.
• Patisserie Sebastien, 3306 Yonge St., 416-544-0333. .
$20–$36, serves four to eight. Available until Jan. 9 or by special order.
• Patisserie La Cigogne, 1626 Bayview Ave., 416-487-1234, patisserielacigogne.com.
$23–$33, serves six to 12. Available during the month of January.
• Petite Thuet, various locations, including 244 King St. E., 416-519-4847, petitethuet.com.
$18, serves six. Available during the month of January.
• Rahier Patisserie, 1586 Bayview Ave., 416-482-0917, rahierpatisserie.com.
$17.30–$31.50, serves four to eight. Available during the month of January.
• Thobors Boulangerie Patisserie Café, 623 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-1733, thobors.ca.
Priced by weight, $3.50 per 100g, serves four to 10. Available until mid-January or by special order.
My birthday request: do something good for yourself today…like having one of these treats. Thanks. That is a Happy Birthday to me.
January 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm | by suknewas per usual , toronto life is way too uptown in their lazy-ass phone survey . blech . for those of us who know that toronto only really exists SOUTH of bloor , go to daniel et daniel for a galette des rois .
January 8, 2011 at 1:41 pm | by o hiBonjour Brioche used to do galette des rois as well. Anyone know if they still do? They use the traditional frangipane inside.
January 11, 2011 at 11:55 am | by Michele@o hi… you’re an idiot and you were obviously NOT born in this city. true downtown toronto goes north to st.clair, east to broadview, south to front & west to bathurst. anywhere beyond these points was/is the slums.
January 12, 2011 at 3:08 pm | by haha