One of the first major events at the start of the year consists of gathering around a table to enjoy a galette des rois. As Epiphany begins this Monday, January 6, bakeries in Carcassonne have been on alert for a long time now.
Every year, French pastry lovers look forward to this period. After the hearty meals of the end-of-year celebrations, 2025 continues the festivities on Epiphany, this Monday, January 6. At the forefront of this event, apart from consumers, we obviously find the bakers who are working to ensure a consistent supply in view of demand. In Carcassonne, the preparation of the pancakes was carried out well in advance of the key date. An offer which must extend beyond this at the start of the month.
When entering the Arpin briocherie, Place Carnot, it’s impossible to miss them. Whether it's frangipanes or crowns, customers can't help but fall for them. “We launched into production when it came out on New Year’s Day”underlines Jean-Luc Arpin, manager of the eponymous company. All of his products are homemade, he explains. Thus, we can find, for the crowns, a composition based on orange blossom or even rum. For the frangipanes, the latter “are made using 100% pure butter puff pastry”the pleasures can vary depending on everyone's tastes (chocolate pear or raspberry).
When there's no more, there's no more
On site, the teams do not work to order. “When there is no more, there is no more”insists Jean-Luc Arpin. Production is therefore done gradually. Frangipanes have a particularity, however: some customers like them hotter. To do this, “They contact us by phone at 12 p.m. for example, to come and collect their due at 3 p.m.”gives the manager as an example.
In previous years, the Arpin brioche factory made 120 crowns. Today, only 30 are made. “The big difference is in the number of days worked. For example, this Sunday, January 5, the doors of the store are closed”informs Jean-Luc Arpin.
On the Verdun street side, the queue extends to the outside of the Papineau bakery. While some customers come to buy their daily baguette, others turn to the pancakes displayed in the window. For a week already, they have been installed alongside pastries, although their production increased after January 1, like Arpin brioche. However, it should continue until the 20th of the same month in response to demand.
