FACT OF THE DAY The kingdom and the pancake, always the kings of the holidays

The holidays continue… After Christmas and New Year's Eve, our taste buds get ready to taste the traditional galette des rois. “ For our profession, this month of January is extraordinary and even necessary. If there was no epiphany after the Christmas holidays, it would be problematic in terms of turnover », Explains Christophe Hardy, president of the departmental federation of bakers and pastry chefs of Gard. The reason? “ You have to sell a pancake better than a log. The margin is more profitable for a cake », continues the representative. If the kingdom is historically popular in the south, “ things are starting to change with many new residents above Lyon who have migrated to us ».

In Bellegarde

The crowns of kings (or kingdoms or cakes of kings) and the galettes have already found their place in the window of the Au Dessert du Roy pastry shop in Bellegarde. “Generally we start on December 30 or 31“, explains Sylvain Dinger, co-manager with his wife Nathalie. An assumed choice allowing their customers to satisfy their sweet tooth before the Epiphany feast celebrated this year on January 5. And how right they are! This Thursday, January 2 , between two exchanged wishes, some of these cakes with candied fruit or frangipane, traditional or decorated with chocolate chips, were sold.

And this year, the Dinger are offering a new creation: the frangipane pancake and red pralines. “Our customers appreciate being able to taste something other than traditional cakes, even if these are the ones that sell best“, indicates Nathalie Dinger. After Christmas, Epiphany and Easter are the most important holidays of the year for these traders. The prices of these cakes and pancakes, offered in 4, 6, 8 and 10 portions, vary from 14 to 30€, an increase of 0.50 cents compared to 2024 linked to the increase in the price of raw materials. As for the beans, this year, they are in the image of. Venice.”Each time, we choose our favorite beans. There are so many. But we pay particular attention to ensuring that they are different every year“, underlines Nathalie. The Dingers are already in their 30th year. And they will celebrate this with great fanfare, on May 15, 2025 in Bellegarde. Au dessert du Roy: 2 bis Rue Pasteur in Bellegarde. Tel: 04 66 01 11 42. 11 Quai du Général-De Gaulle in Beaucaire. Tel: 04 66 75 57 16.

In Nimes

Voted 3rd best galette des Rois 2024, the Le Pétrin Nîmois bakery wishes to continue its good momentum to continue to attract its many customers. This year, Pierre Roussel opted for a brand new recipe: chocolate frangipane covered with cookies. “We adapt to the trend. We have a team of young people who help us develop original recipes, drawing inspiration in particular from social networks. Besides, we have a croissant recipe with cookies that works very well, so we said to ourselves that making a cookie pancake might please us,” rejoices the bakery manager.

The frangipane with almond cream, pistachio and morello cherry and the traditional one are also to be tasted. Pierre Roussel and his team offer king cakes with candied fruit and chocolate chips with a brioche base. The share of frangipane or cakes is four euros. And for whole pastries, the average price is 20 euros. This year, Le Pétrin Nîmois opted for beans in the shape of a minimalist vase. “Every year we opt for new shapes. This time, our choice fell on these small, very refined objects. It’s in the spirit of the times,” supports the baker. Fond of competition, this 100% in-house Nîmes bakery wishes to continue to compete, and why by soon winning the title of best Gard pancake.

Le Pétrin Nîmes: 6 bis rue des Halles in Nîmes. Telephone number: 06.65.06.55.81.

In Saint-Chaptes

Continuing the original initiatives around the galette des rois, a bakery in Saint-Chaptes is offering, for the second year, a remarkable initiative. “Un éclair de Jenny” has teamed up with the Comptoir National de l’Or to organize a competition on the occasion of Epiphany. From January 1 to 31, customers who purchase a cake in this establishment have the opportunity to participate in a draw to try to win a 5 gram gold bar, with an estimated value of 445 euros.*. The operation is part of a national approach carried out by the Comptoir National de l'Or, with its network of more than 90 agencies across France. For this 2025 edition, 43 bakeries have been chosen to celebrate the alliance of tradition and precious metal, including two in Occitanie: Un éclair de Jenny in Saint-Chaptes and Saint-Aubin in Toulouse. By revisiting the customs of yesteryear, where the wealthiest families slipped gold and silver coins into their pancakes, this operation plays with the timeless symbol of celebration and transmission.

Participating is simple. A QR code affixed to the bags and flyers allows you to register online, or, for fans of more traditional procedures, a paper ballot can be submitted to a local agency of the Comptoir National de l'Or. This approach, explains the organizer, aims to “valorize the know-how of artisan bakers” while paying homage to a festive tradition that spans the ages. At the same time, Un éclair de Jenny continues to offer its traditional frangipane pancakes, as well as original creations which meet with great success every year.

*Value calculated based on gold prices as of December 31, 2024

A flash from Jenny: 17 avenue Raoul Vezol in Saint-Chaptes. Tel: 04 66 81 24 38

In Uzes

Beans, catch them all. The Provençal bakery in Uzès is full of imagination to encourage young and old to bite into a slice of galette des rois. Whether it's the traditional brioche or the frangipane, they are snatched up like hotcakes. Those with a sweet tooth will be served: the candied fruits are placed and mixed in the dough, with a zest of orange blossom. For those who have a weakness for frangipane, it is made from puff pastry, with bitter almond and almond cream.

Preparing a good galette des rois requires know-how and following several steps exactly: “The pancake rests overnight so that it swells. Once it is well shaped, we put it in the oven. Then we add a little syrup to prevent it from being too dry and to give it a shiny appearance. Finally, we decorate it with candied fruit, fresh fruit and sugar,” explains the baker who has been on the job for a year.

From December 26, she rolled up her sleeves with her boss, to prepare the brioche dough, before going on sale the next day, December 27. “Frangipane is more popular with children”, she adds. The youngest will be spoiled because in each of the king cakes, a bean has been hidden. The Pokémon theme was chosen this year. A raffle will be held after the sales to win collectible cards! Thursday January 2 at 5 p.m., there were only 6 buns left behind the window.

Different sizes of pancakes are available for sale: 4 parts, 6 parts and 8 parts. For a little hunger, individual pancakes are also prepared. Sunday January 5, Uzetians will be able to treat themselves and succumb to this royal delicacy!

Provençal Bakery. 6 rue de la Grande Bourgade, 30700 Uzès. Tel: 04 66 22 25 96.