Florida Agenda

This is a French cake that celebrates the Epiphany: The day when the Three Kings visited the baby Jesus. As part of French tradition, a bean or small china “feve,” or favor, is hidden in the cake. The person who finds the “feve” in his or her slice becomes king or queen for the day. We had this tradition in Ireland for Halloween and the “favor” was a ring.

• 1/4 cup almond paste
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter,
softened
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 packs of frozen puff pastry,
thawed
• 1 egg, beaten

Place the almond paste in a food processor with about half of the sugar, and process until well-blended. Then add the butter and the remaining sugar and process until smooth, then blend in 1 egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, flour and salt. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

Roll out one sheet of the puff pastry. Keep the pastry cool, don’t knead or stretch it. Repeat with the second sheet of pastry.

Refrigerate both sheets.

Mound the almond filling onto the center of the pastry that is on the baking sheet. Leave about 1 1/2 inch margin at the edges.

Wet the margin with a little water so as it’ll stick together. Don’t forget the little favor in the filling! Place the second sheet of pastry on top, and press down the edges to seal. Beat the remaining egg with a fork, and lightly brush onto the top of the galette. Use a knife to make a criss cross pattern in the egg wash, and then prick several small slits in the top to vent steam while baking.

Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is a deep golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Eat it warm… You are the chef!

By WARREN DAY

The French like to think they invented love, and we Americans like to think we invented popular music. You may be forgiven for believing the opposite is true when you see this one man stage show at the Cinema Paradiso Theater.

Called “Parlez-Vous Francais?” (Do You Speak French?), you’ll find you don’t have to speak the Gallic tongue to enjoy this 90 minute homage to l’amour.

Performed by Frederic Strouck and cowritten by Gregory Blot-Rudolph, the play is mainly in French, but with English translations projected onto the theater’s large screen.

Sometimes they are literal translations, and sometimes they provide a comic comment on what Mr. Strouck is doing or saying.

The premise for this single person cast is that we in the audience are a French language class and Mr. Strouck is the instructor. It is a devise that is serviceable, but not terribly effective.

The language he is most concerned with is not French, but the language of love as expressed in French and American popular songs.

Telling a semi-autobiographical story, Strouck recounts the experiences of a man named Michael George from France who comes to Miami as an exchange high school student and falls in love with the girl next door.

The ups and downs of that love, as well as his love for almost all things American, provides the narrative and over 50 songs provide the emotional meaning it had for him.

Mr. Strouck is an exceptional singer (taped music supplies the accompaniment) and his use of the songs is often enlightening as well as entertaining.

For one thing, you’ll learn that some songs you may have considered American were originally French, such as “What Now My Love,” “Beyond the Sea,” and “My Way.”

And as there have been many American songs about Paris and France, he shows us that the French have written some about the United States. It is interesting to have the tables turned and see our country through another country’s songs.

One of the more amusing moments is when he takes all the usual things a teacher says and puts them to the music of the William Tell Overture.

Strouck has performed “Parlez-Vous Francais?” in Boston, San Francisco, and recently in Atlanta. Some of the Gallic humor doesn’t transfer to our shores, and there are a few moments that fall flat (but not in his singing).

A seasoned performer, Frederic Strouck appeared in the German production of “Les Miserables,” the Paris productions of “Hair” and “Fame,” as well as five years with the Opera de Paris. Originally from France, he now lives in Wilton Manors.

“Parlez-Vous Francais? will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on May 30, June 13 and June 20 at the Cinema Paradiso Theater, 503 SE 6 Street, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $28, and may be purchased at: www.fliff.com. The price also includes a selection of French pastries provided by Croissant Time Bakery after each performance.