King Cake time

Food and Drink that we enjoy from all the places in the world where we pursue our milsurp collecting hobby. Share a favorite recipe that others may try. Tell us about your favorite wine, beer or other spirit. Cigars too.

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Niner
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King Cake time

Post by Niner » Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:47 pm

It's a Mardi Gras thing. Filled with your choice of filling and topped with Mardi Gras colors of Gold, Green and Purple. It's about two inches thick and tastes like a slice of coffee cake with filling. There used to be a baby doll baked in it. The person getting the baby would get good luck. Now the baby is in plain sight since in the cake could cause somebody to choke. Particularly if they are drunk on Mardi Gras day.
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DuncaninFrance
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Re: King Cake time

Post by DuncaninFrance » Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:15 pm

We have a similar thing here Robert.

It is known as a Gallette des Rois. We will be having some on Monday at the new Photo Club with champagne - alcohol free beer for me :( :( :(

The cake traditionally celebrating Epiphany in France and Quebec is sold in most bakeries during the month of January. Three versions exist: in northern France, Quebec, and Belgium the cake called galette des rois (which can be either circular or rectangular) consists of flaky puff pastry layers with a dense center of frangipane or apple. In the west of france a sablé galette is made, a form of sweetcrust pastry. In southern France - Occitania, Roussillon, Provence, Catalan where it´s called tortell - the cake called gâteau des rois or royaume, is a torus-shaped brioche with candied fruits and sugar, similar in its shape and colours to a crown. This later version is also common to Spain and very similar to New-Orleans king cake.
Tradition holds that the cake is “to draw the kings” to the Epiphany. A figurine, la fève, which can represent anything from a car to a cartoon character, is hidden in the cake and the person who finds the trinket in their slice becomes king for the day and will have to offer the next cake. Originally, la fève was literally a broad bean (fève), but it was replaced in 1870 by a variety of figurines out of porcelain or—more recently—plastic. These figurines have become popular collectibles and can often be bought separately. Individual bakeries may offer a specialized line of fèves depicting diverse themes from great works of art to classic movie stars and popular cartoon characters. The cakes are usually sold in special bags, some of which can be used to heat the cake in a microwave without ruining the crispness of the cake. A paper crown is included with the cake to crown the "king" who finds the fève in their piece of cake. To ensure a random distribution of the cake shares, it is traditional for the youngest person to place themselves under the table and name the recipient of the share which is indicated by the person in charge of the service.
Formerly, one divided the cake in as many shares as guests, plus one. The latter, called "the share of God," "share of the Virgin Mary," or "share of the poor" was intended for the first poor person to arrive at the home.
The French President is not allowed to “draw the kings” on Epiphany because of the etiquette rules. Therefore, a traditional galette without figurine or crown is served at Elysée Palace in January.
Duncan

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Re: King Cake time

Post by Niner » Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:58 pm

The Mardi Gras has French connections so the cake is an Americanized version of a French tradition. New Orleans and Mobile had been founded by the French at the start of the 18th Century.
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Re: King Cake time

Post by Niner Delta » Fri Jan 23, 2015 3:41 pm

We don't really have any traditions where I live in WA, there has only been white/non-native people here
for about 150 years. The closest we have to tradition is to steal land from the local Indians so later they can
build casinos to get their money back....... :cool:
:USA:

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