The typical dessert of Toulouse : LE Fénétra !!! .
- Franck BRUGUIERE
- May 12
- 3 min read
A little history :
The folk festival :
It originate from Ancient Rome.
It a folk festival that takes place every summer for several days in the streets and gardens of Toulouse.
In Roman times, it was a festival of the dead held in the month of March.
The people of Toulouse would go to the city's necropolis to honor the dead and make offerings to the gods.
In the Middle Ages, the festivities, taken over by the Church turned it into a celebration of forgiveness.
In the XVIth. and XVIIth. centuries, it became associated with kermesse, a social class festival.
It took place during the Lent festivities, mainly in the suburbs of Toulouse.
The festival includes dances, and a fait with merchants selling dried fruits .
In XVIIIth. century, the religions aspect disappeared.
The " Fénétra " took the form of a festive procession with games and street performances.
It culminates in a large meal family where the traditional cake, " the Fénétra " is served.
In the XXth. century, the festival disappeared completely due the rise of the carnival and the Second World War.
Today , ans since 1963, thanks to the city hall, this festival has been revived.
It consists of a folkloric parade with traditional costumes and music.
It took place in various locations around the city, during the last weekend of June until the 1st. of July.
It begins with a sung mass, a large open-air ball with the major of Toulouse, and famous cake: the " Fénétra " .
The cake : the " Fénétra " :
This recipe also dates back to the Gallo-Roman period.
This cake was consumed during the local festival of the dead in the month of March : Les FERETRALIA !!! .
The recipe has endured through the centuries.
In the XVIIIth. and the XIXth. centuries, the festive family meals of the people of Toulouse often included the " Fénétra " , which could be eaten over several days.
Unfortunately, its popularity has declined since the XXth. century.
It seems that everyone has forgotten their traditional cake from the Pink City !!! .
Wouldn't it be time to take an interest in it again ?
The recipe of the cake " Fénétra " :
It has always been presented as a " travel cake " .
It consists of a sweet pastry filled with apricot jam and cubes of candied lemon, all covered with an almond mousseline cream.
WHere to taste the cake, the " Fénétra " ,, in Toulouse : " La Maison Conté " .
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Four generations of pastry chefs have succeeded one another in Toulouse over the past 80 years.
It was in 1938 that the " Conté pastry shop " settled into a building with medieval architecture on the " rue Croix-Baragnon " .
In 1993 , other members of the family took over the business.
They moved the production to the basement and opened a tearoom on the same street .
The pastry workshop employs 20 people.
In the future, " La Maison Conté " establishment plans to open a laboratory in order to both individuals and professionals.
That's all for today my friends.
If you ever come to Toulouse, don't hesitate for a moment to go and taste this cake full of history !!! .
For the people of Toulouse, it might be time to pay attention to this cake from our region !!!.
Adress of the pastry " Maison Conté " : 37, rue Croix-Baragnon 31 000 Toulouse.
Website : https://pâtisserieconte.com
Phone : 05 61 52 06 73
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