Burgunbee

Maxime Frédéric, François Perret, Pierre Hermé, Yazid Ichemrahen, Nina Métayer.

It’s the new year, the holidays are over, but it’s not time to feel down! Do you know what January means? It’s the time for the famous “Galette des Rois”*. Beautiful and still as delicious as ever (frangipane will keep its first place). Since 2022, the Galette des Rois has become very popular on social media. French pastry chefs have learned to make the most of this trend.

Do you remember the famous long galette des rois from the Ritz in 2022 or the elegant galette couture created by Christophe Michalak in 2024?

What do they have for us this year?

We start the Galette des Rois marathon with a bakery that has been charming us recently. Led by pastry chef Maxime Frédéric, the bakery PLEIN COEUR in the 17th arrondissement of Paris announced their two 2025 Galette des Rois on January 2. Available until January 31, they offer a hazelnut galette and a pear-chocolate galette, which will definitely delight your taste buds. The only downside: the classic (and delicious) frangipane isn’t available at Maxime Frédéric’s place. But this won’t be a problem thanks to the great quality of these two galettes!

The Galette des Rois is their specialty, and every year they aim to be the kings of this season. For their 2025 Galette des Rois the Ritz Paris and chef François Perret have created a frangipane-hazelnut galette with the structure of a vol-au-vent. This dish, known for its very flaky and airy dough, is usually filled with comforting mushroom cream. Imagine this same structure, but filled with intense frangipane and hazelnuts for your January treat. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? The Ritz knows exactly what its customers love, and we adore them for it.

What’s new at Pierre Hermé? Well, no macaron-shaped Galette des Rois this year. Instead, the famous pastry chef has created four different Galettes, each with unique designs and flavors. Here’s what’s on offer: the “infiniment amande” (infinitely almond), which tastes like a traditionalGalette des Rois; the “infiniment citron” (infinitely lemon), where lemon combines with almond cream; the hazelnut and Gianduja galette, a popular duo in recent years; and the “infiniment clémentine” (infinitely clementine), a flaky brioche filled with almond cream and the powerful flavor of clementines. Yes, you read that right! Pierre Hermé has updated the traditional Brioche des Rois with the delightful taste of clementine, a seasonal fruit with a strong aroma. Available until January 22, don’t wait too long to try it!

For our friends in French Brittany, hurry up! Chef Matthieu Carlin from the Hôtel de Crillon has added a delicious salted caramel vanilla-tonka bean filling to his frangipane. A Galette des Rois that combines tradition with modern flavors, following the culinary trends of 2024, with tonka bean. This small bean tastes like vanilla, caramel, and almond, with a slight touch of cocoa. Why hurry? Only 200 cakes are available, so go make your caramel dream come true.

At the Royal Monceau, a collaboration between their new chef Yazid Ichemrahen and chef Alexandre Favre has resulted in a traditional-looking frangipane galette, enhanced with large chocolate shavings and poached pears. This galette is different from the popular pear-chocolate galette, keeping the tradition while adding the juicy texture of poached pears. This is Yazid Ichemrahen’s first Galette des Rois at the Royal Monceau, and we’re already in love with his creations. We’re sure we’ll keep following him in the future!

To finish the journey, what better way than to try the galette from our twice World Champion, Nina Métayer? For the 2025 edition, Chef Métayer has chosen to honor French heritage and the recently reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral. Her galette pays tribute to the traditional frangipane, with a touch of cinnamon. These flavors combine autumn and winter, making it perfect for some comfort in your Galette des Rois. Available until January 30, 2025, Nina Métayer shows her determination to excel in all seasons, matching her World Champion titles in 2023 and 2024. We love you, Nina!

By Maëla.D, January 3, 2025.

*The “Galette des Rois” is a traditional French pastry typically eaten during the Epiphany celebration in January. It is a round or oval-shaped cake made of flaky puff pastry, usually filled with almond cream called frangipane. Inside the cake, a small figurine or “fève” is hidden, and the person who finds it is crowned king or queen for the day. The Galette des Rois is a festive treat enjoyed with family and friends. Originally a religious celebration to mark the arrival of the three wise men to see the baby Jesus, it is now celebrated by everyone, including non-believers.