Often said to represent the baby Jesus, the king cake baby figurine is usually a small plastic or porcelain figurine found in most contemporary king cakes. The king cake baby originated from the French "fève", a small broad bean hidden within the layers of a French king cake. As time progressed, the bean was replaced by porcelain figurines and most currently plastic ones.
Traditionally, king cake fillings of the French tradition consisted of frangipane or candied fruits.
Traditionally, Gulf Coast king cakes have usually been topped with icing or sugar typically colored in purple, green, and gold. The symbolic meaning of these colors being justice, faith, and power respectively. The purple, green and gold colored sugar and icing appeared after 1872, when the Krewe of Rex selected the colors for its opening Mardi Gras parade.
A small variety of russet eating apple known since before 1876. This late-season variety is harvested from early October in South-East England and is at is best from November to January.
The king crab, in particular the red king crab, is an enormous crab from the Northern Pacific, weighing up to 10 kg (22 lb) and with a span from claw to claw of up to 3 meters (10 ft). These crabs have meat with a sweet taste which is said to be better than lobster. They are fished in cold waters such as the Barents Sea, and even despite the flavour the fishermen hold them in low regard, accusing them of damaging other marine life on the seafloor. They are imported into the UK from Norway. The meat is often processed or tinned and is white with red fringes
King Edward is a large main crop potato with pale skin with red flashes. It has cream-coloured, floury-textured flesh. It is a versatile all-rounder with good flavour and texture. Less good in salads. Good for roasting and mash potato. (1902).
A variety of croaker or drum fish. A deep-bodied seawater fish which can be cooked in many ways. Croakers or drums are so named because of the croaking and drumming which accompanies their mating.
Yellowtail kingfish. Mainly caught off New South Wales as a linefish but found all round the southern coasts of Australia. Now farmed under the name Hiramasa kingfish. Sometimes mistaken for the samson fish or amberjack but is more torpedo-shaped and has a yellowish tail. Smaller fish are considered to be good eating and top grade fish are used for sashimi. Good smoked. If you compare the images of the kingfish and the Hirimasa kingfish, you will find that the farmed fish is plunter, more rounds in body shape, while the wild fish is more torpedo-shaped.
A variety of eating apple raised by Lady Thorneycroft in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight around 1898 as a Cox's Orange Pippin cross. It is yellow flushed blushed and striped with orangish-red. It received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit in 1928. This late-season variety is harvested from mid-October in South-East England and is at its best from November to March.
