[Selection Galettes des rois 2017 / 2017年國王派精選](中文請按「繼續閱讀」)
After les büches, here come les galettes. The galette des rois (liternally kings’ cake) is a festive dessert shared on the Epiphany, the 6th of January in France. Traditionally, a galette is composed by the puff pastry (feuilletage) and the French frangipane (a pastry cream and the almond cream mix). Patterns like the spokes of a wheel, leaves, or crosshatches are drawn by a knife on the surface of the pastry. A “fève”, a lucky charm which was originally a bean that turned into a porcelain trinket today is placed in the cake. The one who got the fève would be crowned as king of the day and be lucky the whole year.
When drawing near the end of the year, every pastry shop in France would launch their own galette(s) and of course, it’s time for the pastry chefs to show their creativity and skills. Galettes are more difficult than the büches in terms of making variations and own creations as it is simpler when it comes to composition and respecting the traditional codes. However, French pastry chefs never let you down. Shall we have a look on those beautiful galettes this year together before hurrying yourself for a slice?
法國甜點店的戰場在聖誕節蛋糕(bûche de noël)之後,緊接著就是國王派(galette des rois),這是法國人在每年一月六日主顯節(l’Épiphanie)(註)享用的節慶甜點,傳統是以千層派皮(feuilletage / puff pastry)包裹著卡士達杏仁奶油餡(frangipane)做成圓餅,上面再畫上花紋,最常見的是放射狀的螺旋花紋、也有菱形格紋、葉片等。雖然受限於外型與相對簡單的組成,國王派能做的變化較少,但每一年各家甜點店、飯店等也都會絞盡腦汁在口味與造型上發揮創意,推出自己的商品。
對消費者來說,除了酥鬆香甜的口味外,吃國王派還有一個樂趣是欣賞及蒐集藏在派內的小瓷偶(fève)。每一家甜點店每一年的瓷偶都不一樣,在大家分享國王派時,拿到小瓷偶的人就是今年的國王、會擁有一整年的好運。我在今年年初連續拿到兩個瓷偶,連在Du Pain et des Idées排隊等著買麵包時試吃竟然也拿到。今年認識了很多貴人、也在年終時順利出了書,不曉得是不是它們帶來的好運呢?以下帶大家來看看2017年馬上就要上市(或早已悄悄開賣)的國王派吧!
記得點照片看每一個國王派的詳細介紹喔!
註:主顯節(l’Épiphanie)是基督教的一個重要節日,是為了紀念及慶祝耶穌降生為人後,首次顯露給外邦人、即東方三賢士的節日。