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7 Comments:
whats a king cake?
ceforrester at 3:01PM on 02/01/08
I know that Pain Quotidien, which has locations around NYC, carried gateau des rois around the time of epiphany in early January. Although I'm assuming you're referring to the New Orleans version. Is it different than the French?
KitchenKore at 3:16PM on 02/01/08
The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th century. These early Europeans celebrated the coming of the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas calling it the Feast of the epiphany, Twelfth Night, or King's Day.
The main part of the celebration was the baking of a King’s Cake to honor the three Kings. The cakes were made circular to portray the circular route used by the kings to get to the Christ Child, which was taken to confuse King Herod who was trying to follow the wise men so he could kill the Christ Child. In these early King Cakes a bean, pea, or coin was hidden inside the cake. The person who got the hidden piece was declared King for the day or was said to have good luck in the coming year.
In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the beginning of the carnival season which ends with Mardi Gras Day. The bean, pea and the coin have been replaced by a small plastic baby to symbolize the Christ Child.
The person who gets the baby is expected to carry on the carnival festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.
King Cakes are baked and filled with real fruit filling, fresh cream filling, or a combination of both. King Cakes are decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors; gold (for power), green (for faith) and purple (for justice).
Hunnyoil at 3:26PM on 02/01/08
About 5 years ago I ordered a King Cake for my office from KingCake.com in Metairie, LA and was disappointed when we didn't find a "baby" anywhere in the cake.
I called the company and told them about it and they shipped out another cake that was STUFFED with babies!
It's a really fun way to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Hunnyoil at 3:28PM on 02/01/08
If you can't find one in a store, you can always make your own. Here's a recipe that was posted a while back right here on Serious Eats:
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/01/baking-with-dorie-galette-des-rois-recipe.html
seyo at 3:54PM on 02/01/08
If you can't find a recipe or a cake in NYC, I would suggest ordering one from a bakery in New Orleans. My coworkers and friends here love Haydel's and Randazzo's, though I prefer Gambino's (which makes a cake with more cinnamon, and the glaze is creamy and slightly lemony). You will have to select overnight shipping, if available, to get a cake before Tuesday, but I won't hold it against you if you eat a king cake after Mardi Gras. ;)
kmnola at 12:43PM on 02/02/08
Our New Orleans office has been sending us king cakes lately, two in the last two weeks. I tried some, and it's disgusting. Cake with about an inch of pure, crunchy, brightly colored sugar on top.
phattymatt at 5:07PM on 02/05/08