The Jeu de Paume Hotel celebrates Epiphany!

Christmas has just gone and everybody already think of the Galette des Rois*! Bad for our silhouette but so good for our morale! The Jeu de Paume team has a funny tradition: share a big galette from the Philippe Martin’s bakery. The one who find the lucky charm has to wear a crown all day long, in the hotel. So, don’t be surprise if you meet a King or a Queen in the hallways. But sit a minute and let us talk you about this French greedy tradition…

Galette and Epiphany origins
First, the Epiphany was a pagan feast, then it became Christian. Roman celebrated Saturnalia during 7 days. Everything was allowed. And soldiers drew lots for a condemned man who became the King for the celebrations time. He was killed at the end of the Saturnalia. Closer from us, in France during the Old Regime, we used to offer cake to our friends. It was named “Gateau des Rois” because the period was the same of feudal taxes. In 1801, the concordat proclaimed the Epiphany date on January 6th. Epiphany comes from Greek and means Apparition, in Christendom it corresponds to the introducing of Jesus child to Magi. In the 5th century, the Church gave a bigger importance to this feast. Today, we celebrate Epiphany for both its religious meaning and to enjoy it…

The Best Galette of the Ile Saint Louis
Since its opening, the Jeu de Paume hotel buys its Viennese pastries, baguettes, and galette des Rois at the Philippe Martin’s bakery. Baker from father to son, and present on the Ile Saint-Louis since 1968, he cooks a galette with almond cream. Definitely lighter and finer than frangipane. Francie, the Philippe Martin’s wife, recommends a cider dry or sweet, or a white wine round in mouth to accompany the galette. The decision is yours, it’s still a taste affair finally! For the record, the bakery is very famous on the island for their delicious pastries, light and crunchy Napoleon Pastry as for the traditional baguette and the leavened bread.

How to preserve your galette des Rois?
Focus on a tip, to preserve your galette if you has had eyes bigger than your stomach: Martin and his wife recommend you to protect your galette from air in its packaging provided by the bakery. Few minutes in oven are enough to your galette to be crusty again.

So, are you going to celebrates Epiphany?

*The Galette des Rois is a puff pastry, equivalent of our Twelfth Night Cake.

Prices:
For 4 persons: €16.
For 10 persons: €36.
Individual (no lucky charm): €3.30.

The Bakery is opened from Tuesday to Saturday from 7.30am to 2pm, and from 3.30pm to 8pm.
Closed on Sunday and Monday.
Last loaves at 7pm.
Each day of the week a special bread is suggested (organic wheat bread on Tuesday, rye bread from Corrèze on Friday etc.).