In Mexico, it’s traditional to gather around a rosca de reyes, which literally means ring-shaped bread of the kings. It’s a sweetish bread into which a baby Jesus figure is baked. (Similar sweet breads with little Jesuses lurking inside are also traditional in France, and elsewhere in Europe.) I was walking past Lopez Bakery today when I spotted a sign in the window advertising freshly baked rosca de reyes for Three Kings’ Day. I know I recently wrote about this place’s excellent tamales and empanadas, but the rosca de reyes seemed too interesting to pass up.
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Rosca de reyes is apparently often decorated and filled with candied fruits and citrus peel, but Lopez Bakery’s version is simply adorned with multi-colored sprinkles and the crumbly flour-sugar-butter topping found on some Mexican sweet breads. Inside, the bread is mildly sweet, yeasty, fluffy and tender crumbed, and is shot through with a small amount of orange zest.
I tore off a piece to try it…
And in the first bite, I found the (slightly creepy) little Jesus figure! This apparently means I have to throw a tamale party for Candlemas on Feburary 2nd for all those present, but the only one there to witness the find was my dog, and I don’t think he’ll hold me to it.
Lopez Bakery: 645 5th Avenue, 718-965-0289
