Like all the best traditions that live on in seeming perpetuity, the French tradition of eating a Galette des Rois for Epiphany is a blend of ancient pagan customs and more modern Christian lore all mixed in with a healthy dose of just enjoying the chance to share a little cake and fun with friends and family. Come to Khéma between now and the end of January to enjoy yours, and find out whether you’ll be crowned King or Queen for the day.
The roots of the Galette des Rois can actually be traced all the way back to Roman times and the festival of Saturnalia when, for a single day of the year, slaves became masters and masters slaves – a temporary inversion of the social order that no doubt helped to stave off a more permanent version. In the Roman tradition, a King or Queen for the day was chosen by hiding a bean inside a cake.
Taking place 40 days after Christmas, Epiphany is a Christian tradition celebrating the day that the Three Wise Men, or Magi (from old Greek and French words for ‘magician’), came to bring gifts for the new King of the Jews whose arrival threatened to upend the established order and hegemony of the Roman puppet-king, Herod of Judea.
The Magi had already revealed to Herod the circumstances of Jesus’ birth, which they had divined through the appearance of a Messianic star — the Star of Bethlehem — in the East. A somewhat surprised and unhappy Herod surgested the Wise Men might let him know where he could find this young prince, so that he could present his own gifts (sort of).
But, on visiting Jesus and presenting him with their gifts, the Magi were warned in a dream not to betray this new young King, so they took another route home. Naturally, Herod did not take his own betrayal lightly and responded savagely, as unloved kings do, by ordering the murder of every boy under two years of age in Bethlehem and around. To no avail. Jesus’ father, Joseph, had also been warned in a dream and fled to Egypt in the dead of night to save his young family. All of which tells us we should spend more time dreaming.
Made with puff pastry filled with frangipani cream, a Galette des Rois also has a little surprise ingredient: a small token, or fève. Once the cake is sliced and divided out among friends and family (under the direction of the youngest member of the group who should be sitting under the table according to custom), whoever receives the fève is King for the Day, and everyone else has to do everything they say. Choose your friends wisely, or this could be dangerous!
See how it is made in our beautiful video here.
At Khéma, our bakers prepare our Galettes des Rois with another magical ingredient, mixing in a little rum to give our delicious cakes a rich flavour boost. Don’t forget to come for yours at Khéma from now until the end of January.
Khéma’s Galette des Rois are on sale now, at $15 net (serves 4 to 6). You can dine in or order them in advance through Khéma Pasteur, by phone: (015) 823 888, or email: pasteur@khema-restaurant.com.
