French celebrate with king's cake

Select members of the French community in Dubai got the taste of the traditional French event Gallete Des Rois (The King's Cake) yesterday.

The invitation-only event was hosted by The Palace, The Old Town, in conjunction with Union des Francais de l'Etranger Dubai and Emirats du Nord.

About 60 distinguished members of Dubai's French community attended the event where traditional cakes made out of puff pastry were served with champagne in a warm, friendly environment.

Present at the event was Consul General de France, Nada Yafi who only moved to Dubai two months ago.

“The occasion has a symbolic importance to us. It comes right after Xmas and New Year's celebration and gives people another reason to come together and celebrate. The French community in Dubai is very well adapted and happy. An occasion like that brings people closer to their home country,'' he said.

Marie-Christine de Warenghien, president, Union des Francais de l'Etranger Dubai and Emirats du Nord said that “only select members were invited to the event''. “It is a selection of the best.''

“Those who find the bean in the cake will be crowned king/queen. And they will win diver vouchers, perfumes and beauty products,'' she said explaining the traditional celebration which falls each year on the first Sunday of the new year.

According to the French tradition, each cake has a small trinket (a bean) inside one of the pieces, and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket is crowned king or queen who enjoys certain privileges.