He came first in the departmental competition for Best Tourteau des rois which took place on December 3 at the Maison de l'artisane des Pyrénées-Orientales. Tradition obliges, the wonder with candied fruits and its stylized tree of life bean which can be worn as a medallion is offered for sale from January 2, 2025.
Master baker, surrounded by a team of five people, he brings out real little marvels of sweet treats from his ovens. Roland Boucard, a tall 32-year-old with the build of a rugby player, has Catalan-Breton origins. The explosions of colors, textures and flavors that each of his creations reveal have largely built the reputation of La Crème de la crème of Castor et Pollux* directed by Jérôme Nabati. Note that the two thirty-somethings, who became friends, met in a restaurant in Los Angeles, California, and have since worked hand in hand in Perpignan.
A month of preparation for this winning cake where the orange, the fruit, dominates
Finally, nothing surprising given his career path – apprentice at 15, once his CAP in hand he trained in the profession with big names in baking in Paris, Normandy, Strasbourg, a year in Canada and in the United States therefore – that for his first participation in the departmental competition for Best Tourteau des rois, Roland won gold. “There were a good fifteen of us competing, and for my part a month of preparation was necessary. I can't tell you my little manufacturing secrets, but I wanted this cake, inspired by the one that my back once made -grandmother for New Year's Eve, be revisited to modern tastes. Just know that orange is very present in this cake, whether in the form of orange blossom, reduced zest, or fruit. candied. After cooking for 15 minutes at low temperature, I added other candied fruits to the top of the cake: pear, plum, cherry, pineapple, melon slices.
Nicolas Parent – Nicolas Parent
Finally, the bean is also an important criterion in awarding the final score, the “Swiss army knife” aspect of that of Roland and the boss, Jérôme, must have hit the mark with the jury. “We opted for a series of medallion-shaped beans with a chain, in silver, gold or copper metal representing the tree of life. And of course, a pretty princess crown accompanies everything,” detail the two accomplices.
Also read:
Philippe Lafont wins the competition for the best frangipane pancake in Perpignan
Attention gourmets, the 2025 gold cake from the Pyrénées-Orientales will be on sale from January 2, 2025, “a hundred per day and until January 31”, assures Jérôme Nabati.
