Houston bakeries offer ‘galette des rois,’ French king cake
Houstonians are well acquainted with king cake, the purple- green-and-yellow New Orleanian brioche devoured around Mardi Gras. The treat has a French cousin, of sorts: galette des rois, a frangipane-filled dessert made of flaky puff pastry.
Galette des rois is traditionally eaten on Epiphany, Jan. 6, to celebrate the day the three kings visited baby Jesus. In France, the almondy pastry graces the glass cases of every bakery for the entire month, and the French find many occasions throughout January to indulge in the galette.
Galette des rois follows a similar custom to the king cake. A “fève” is hidden inside the layers — this translates to “fava bean,” but nowadays French bakers place a small trinket, often a ceramic figurine. Whoever gets the slice with the fève is “king” for the day and receives a gold paper crown.
Galette des rois is not to be
confused with gâteau des rois, which is traditional in the south of France specifically. In most other parts of France, galette is the prominent dessert.
“Gâteau” translates directly to “cake” (“rois” is “kings”), whereas “galette” translates loosely to “tart” or “pancake” depending on the context. Gâteau des rois is ring shaped and brioche based, much more similar to New Orleans-style king cake and likely its precursor. It is also reminiscent of rosca de reyes, the version eaten in Spain and Mexico.
Here are eight bakeries in Houston selling galette des rois for the whole month.
Flo Paris Bakery: An individual galette is $7, a two-person galette is $15, and one that serves six to eight is $35. 5407 Morningside, 346-980-6800; floparisbakery.com
French Gourmet
Bakery: A 10-inch galette is $44.99. As well as the baby and crown, it comes with beads for some Mardi Gras flair. 2250 Westheimer, 713-524-3744; fgbakery.com
French Riviera Bakery: The Uptown shop is offering three galette des rois sizes. The 8-inch galette is $25, the 10-inch is $43, and an individualsized portion is $10. 3100 Chimney Rock, 713-7833264; french riviera bakerycafe.com
Julie’s French Pastries: Pastry chef Julie Clemenceau is making three flavors this year — traditional almond, al
mond-apple and almondpear. The individual galette is $6, one for six to eight people is $32, and 10 to 12 is $46. 14522 Memorial, 281-741-9161; facebook.com/juliesfrenchpastries
Mademoiselle Louise: A small galette (six servings) is $37, and a large (10 servings) is $59. It takes two business days to complete the galette des rois, so order ahead. 1725 Main, 346-9808763; mademoisellelouise.com
Magnol French Baking: A small galette is $28, and a regular one is $38; both must be ordered 24 hours in advance. 1500 N. Post Oak, 281- 846-6661; magnol frenchbaking.com
Paris Je T’aime: The west Houston patisserie is offering three sizes — for six people ($35), eight people ($45) and 10 people ($55). 11660 Westheimer, 281-531-1222; home.patisserie-paris-je -t-aime.com
Phoenicia Specialty Foods: Both locations are selling a 12-inch galette for $25. Calling to pre- order is encouraged. 12141Westheimer, 281-558- 8225; 1001 Austin (downtown), 832-3602222; phoeniciafoods.com