6 November, 2006 | Leave a Comment
I was inspired by The Girl Who Ate Everything to try a French macaron. Her set of macarons photos on Flickr is divine! I think she’s eating macarons everyday while she’s here studying in Paris.
I’ve seen the colorful little macarons all over Paris but I wasn’t sure what they were exactly. They are obviously nothing like the macaroons we have in the uncivilized English-speaking world. (Actually, I love macaroons. I come from a family of macaroon lovers.)
After reading the aforementioned blog and talking to my American friend who studied at the Cordon Bleu, I made my way to the flagship Ladurée shop and tea salon on the Champs-Elysées. Apparently, Ladurée is the place to go for macarons. I went on a Saturday, which was not a good idea. But as I was waiting for ages in the queue I looked at the pastries and delights behind the glass and felt dizzy and slightly high. I was standing behind a group of French teenage girls who were bursting with excitement at the thought of trying a macaron. I managed to take one photo inside the shop before I got yelled at. (I get yelled at a lot.)
I wasn’t sure if the reality of the macarons could live up to the hype, but oh yes, they did. And then some. I can’t begin to describe it, but here goes: Ahhhhhhhh. Yummmmm.
The macarons are slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, plus they’re filled with jam or ganache or cream, depending on the flavor. They come in two sizes — mini (”gerbert”) and full-size. I wanted to try a few flavors so I went with the minis. I tried all different kinds — pistachio, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, orange flower — but my favorites were anise (liquorice), rose petal and red fruits. In summer they have lime basil and mint! Can’t wait to try those. I asked my friend if food coloring was used to give the macarons their bright colors and she was appalled at the thought. Oops. Apparently, they use natural food colorings created from such things as powder made from dehydrated berries and nuts. Hell, what do I know. I may be a glamorous macarons-eating Paris inhabitant, but I guess at heart I’m just a hick.
Anglofille said @ 11:29 am | food, paris life |
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Aloha Pineapple Says:
November 6th, 2006 at 4:54 pmI am OBSESSED with macarons! I was at the Champs-Elysées branch of Ladurée pretty much every day when I was there last spring for a week. My favorites are pistachio, lemon, rose, hazelnut, and almond.
Your post has got me craving macarons soooo bad!!!!
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Oops, sorry to give you cravings! I LOVED the rose macaron I tried. That was my fave.
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Anita Says:
November 7th, 2006 at 3:15 amCan you ship some of these fed ex?
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I’m so glad I could inspire you!
I’ve never bought a box of 8 from Laduree. HORROR! I gotta change that… -
How can the French women eat that? I thought they only diet on black coffee and cigarettes? But I guess with a delicacy like that, it’s hard to resist.
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Here’s a quote from the BBC:
“French women don’t get fat” was the title of a recent bestseller, written by a svelte - and dare I say smug - French woman, keen to share her secrets of slenderness with the rest of the world.
From memory, those French women’s secrets seemed to involve eating less and running up and down 16 flights of stairs whenever the kilos threatened to pile on.
She did not mention Parisiennes’ real secret - living on black coffee and cigarettes - though it is a diet that appears to work for most, along with steely self-discipline.
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Mum Says:
November 7th, 2006 at 5:38 pmHow could you do this to Mum? I had to wipe up my keyboard twice because of all the drooling! Those look so yummy. I have noticed how beautiful the inside of their stores are. They don’t look real. I think Mummy needs some macarons. Fed-Ex overnight?
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Robyn: You’ve never ordered the box of 8? Quel horror!!!
Mum and Anita: Fed Ex overnight? Hmmm, don’t think I can afford that. You’ll just have to come visit me and then we can go on a macaron binge.
Speed Demon: I must tell you that French women don’t seem to be any thinner than women in other countries, at least in my opinion. I think this is all a bunch of media hype! However, I do spend much much much more time walking up stairs here, so perhaps that balances the macaron and pastry eating.
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[...] We wandered somewhat aimlessly in the direction of the Arc de Triumph, keeping an eye out for food, and ended up popping into a delightful bakery for some sandwiches. And what did I spy winking at me from behind the glass? Macarons, french macaroons, the delights of which I’d only heretofore read about via Anglofille. I *had* to try one, even at that highly indecorous hour for sweets (though when has that ever stopped me before?) I tried a pistachio flavoured one, and after the first bite I was sold. Both light and dense, the sweetness of the macaron is balanced out by the delicate cream in the middle. Yumm-o. [...]
But I could never see the point of tuna and sweet corn...
