Mardi Gras is a week away, but pastry chef Joy Razo of Washington, D.C. institution Dauphine’s, is already celebrating. For the second year, Razo and her team are whipping up their take on the traditional King Cake available to diners to eat on-site or take home for their own festivities. But before the party, we wanted to get the inside story on what makes the delectable dessert such a regal treat. For Razo, flavor, history, and simplicity are king: "paying homage to its origination is so important." Therefore, we asked Razo to break down the layers behind the King Cake—it's actually a blend of coffee cake and a cinnamon roll decorated in yellow, green, and purple, the Mardi Gras colors—and share what makes her take so scrumptious. Hungry yet?
For chef Razo, food is more than a source of nutrition, it's an experience. “A co-worker gave me a slice of a King Cake from Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans, and I was immediately transported back to my childhood home." From that first bite, Razo knew she had to make her mark on the Mardi Gras mainstay. "The bread was very similar to some pastries in the Philippines called ensaymada and pandesal. In this instance, that slice of King Cake was a time machine back to my youth.” Wanting to bring that flavor and create new memories for diners, Razo rolled up her sleeves creating her own version.
"When people eat their King Cake, they are immediately transported back to New Orleans," says Razo, adding, "or now they want to visit. But if they can't visit right away, Dauphine's can certainly scratch that itch." Adding to the secret sauce of success is Razo and Dauphine's commitment to providing all the traditional Mardi Gras hallmarks: Beads, a fève (a small trinket) you can put in the cake yourself, along with flavors rooted in the mid-Atlantic but with a New Orleans twist. "We utilize a lot of the filling flavors that are the same with our menu," shares Razo who believes the popularity of the cake extends beyond the plate.
"The packaging is quite extensive and as the origin goes, whoever gets the fève not only gets good fortune, but also has to bring the next King Cake." And no doubt, it'll be from Dauphine's.
Hero: © An-Phuong Ly / Dauphine's
