I don’t know how the French do it. They can eat…boy can they eat…and they stay so slim. (Well, I do know how they do it, it’s all about not snacking and eating fresh foods, but that’s another post).
Anyway, after all the fabulous chocolates, foie gras, oysters and “buches de noel” of December comes the Day of the 3 Kings: January 6. On this day, the French partake in another wonderful custom devoted to food. The “Galette des Rois”, or King’s Cake, is a cake made of puff pastry and filled with a wonderful almond cream. Inside the cake hides a “feve” or a bean or porcelaine figure. Whoever finds the feve becomes “king” and gets to wear the cute paper crown that comes with the cake.
Boulangerie windows are full of these cakes right now. But if you are in Paris and shopping for your own Galette, how do you know a good one when you see one? According to “Le Figaro”, here’s what you should look for in choosing your galette:

1. A rounded and golden crust, like a suntan. If it’s too pale, it usually means it is not cooked enough inside and might be heavy.

2. Fine edges, no built up dough around the edge.

3. Only two fillings are possible: almond cream or frangipane.

You should enjoy your galette warm, not room temperature or cold.

And if you’d rather just go get one piece of galette, you are in luck. Today only, some Parisian bakers are participating in a Galette sale on the Place Saint-Germain-Des-Pres, with proceeds going to the Federation of Sick Orphans. Included in this event are fabulous bakers such as Pierre Hermé, William Ledeuil, Guy Martin, Potel et Chabot and Jean-Luc Poujauran, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.