Feve

I haven't had a galette du roi this year. I don't have one every year, but I think about it. They're only available in January, to celebrate The Feast of the Kings. I was introduced to the cakes four or five years ago by Anaïs. French tradition dictates that whomever finds the prize baked inside is king or queen for the day. In the past the surprise was a fève—a large, flat bean. More recently it has been replaced with a porcelain figurine. I was never certain what rights and privledges being king entitles one, save wearing the paper crown that comes with the cake. In America, if you want to wear a paper crown, you can go to Burger King, year-round. The next year I bought a galette for myself, inviting people to take slices as they visited. I didn't find the fève in the large slice that I took. A friend only wanted a taste. The slice she cut was no wider than a pen. She took a bite, then another, then cried out. From her mouth she pulled a milk maiden.

Guillemette tells me she baked one a few weeks ago for a friend's party. When I told her I hadn't had a galette this year, she said that had she known she would have saved me a piece. It's ok. I'm only looking for the fève. Posted by eku at January 25, 2004 11:42 PM