PrintSugar Rush: Galette des Rois (Kings' Cake) from Ceci-Cela Patisserie
Today is January 6, the Christian feast day of the Epiphany, which happens to be a special day for competitive dessert eaters. Not only are you encouraged to eat the traditional Kings' Cake, but hope for the lottery slice with the plastic baby Jesus—or, depending on tradition, another trinket-mabob—lodged inside.
Patissier Laurent Dupal of Ceci-Cela bakery in SoHo is taking special galette orders (not gallete, as on sign above; the French bakery butchered their French!) through the end of January, and probably through February. Buttery and flaky, the puffed pastry is filled with the creamy almond frangipane, a traditional French approach. In Mexico, "la Rosca de Reyes" is more fruitcake-like with candied figs, quinces, and cherries.
Whoever finds the figurine, or bean in Mexican tradition, is crowned king or queen for the day, and supposed to buy next year's cake.
I guess the 2010 cake is on me, since I almost choked on the hidden goodie! In lieu of plastic toy Jesuses, Dupal opts for "Santons de Provance," or clay figurines depicting people in colorful Provencal costumes. Mine resembles a hunched-over hag-like woman, who surely is really nice and not actually a hag.
The $29 cakes serve eight. Order from Ceci-Cela by phone or in person at least a day in advance.
Ceci-Cela
55 Spring Street, New York NY 10012 (map)
212-274-9179
ceci-celapatisserie.com
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6 Comments:
When you bite into a King's Cake and crunch down on the Baby Jesus you have to get a Crown!!!!
Sorry.
chascates at 6:13PM on 01/06/09
hunched over? looks more like sitting in a chair. you can see the chair painted on the side.
so, did you bite it?
feeedme at 8:15AM on 01/07/09
It's a bean in the French tradition, too! Or at least it's called a bean: la fève, or fava.
I luuuurve me some frangipane.
Michele Humes at 9:35AM on 01/07/09
That's great and all, but the consistent and grating obnoxious-ness of the staff at this place makes buying anything there strictly prohibitive. This used to be my go-to morning coffee stop, but I finally had enough. And Balthazar Bakery is a block away.
Why some twentysomething clown who makes coffee all day thinks they are entitled to any kind of attitude is beyond me.
SmokedMeat at 11:41AM on 01/07/09
I love Ceci Cela, and have never experience bad service (at least not in recent memory). The staff is always friendly and helpful. The back room does get crowded (because it is so yummy) and mornings and lunches are busy. This is my favorite place to bring visiting friends, especially the ones from France who complain there's not a decent croissant in nyc.
I didn't get the gallette this year, but I had it last year and the year before. AMAZING!!!!
greatfoodnyc at 9:02AM on 01/09/09
Ceci-cela is the best bakery in New York City. I've been going there since they opened in the early 1990's. The pastries are delicious no matter which you pick, whether it is a croissant, a black forest cake, pear tart, or the Galette des Rois, which I order every year. I've lived in France, have traveled back to France, and I can honestly say that Ceci-Cela's pastries are as good if not better than many I've tried in Paris. The secret is that theirs are made with 100 percent pure butter. Nothing in NY comes close to Ceci-cela in terms of quality, definitely not Balthazar (their breads are good, but their pastries are nothing to write home about).
Fredie at 11:10AM on 01/09/09