Food & Drink : Macaron


From Wikipedia: A macaron is a sweet confectionery made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food coloring. The macaron is commonly filled with buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies. It's name is derived from an Italian word "maccarone" or maccherone". This word is itself derived from ammacare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond past which is the principal ingredient. It is meringue-based: made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour. The confectionery is characterized by it's smooth domed top, ruffled circumference (referred to as the "foot"), and flat base. It is mildly sweet and easily melts in the mouth.


I don't really have much of a sweet tooth which is probably a good thing but one sweet for which I have a particular fondness happens to be macarons. I first fell in love with this confectionery on a trip to Paris some years back. Since then they've been slowly infiltrating the U.S. food market, becoming more mainstream, even being touted as the "new doughnut". They're visually appealing and often come in a range of interesting flavors/colors. What I like is how they feel like a decadent treat that doesn't impart much guilt given that one can be consumed in just a few bites. The first outpost of French mainstay Ladurée opened up on the Upper East Side in New York this fall and their macarons are absolutely divine but it's too much of a trek for me to get uptown and the lines can get really long so I prefer to get my fix from Francois Payard Bakery which has shops in Tribeca and the West Village. If you must know, Monsieur Payard is also quite well known for his macarons. A current favorite is the oreo macaron pictured above. Yes I did eat it right after I took the photo and it's much smaller in reality. Any other macaron lovers out there?

21 comments

Anonymous said...

still need to go to Paris for sure.. love those beautiful little goodie products! xoxo

Yola Thorp said...

This post is amazing and I absolutely love your blog. Following.

www.yolathorp.com

Karlita said...

good to know this little bit more..

Unknown said...

Oh Macaroons... they do make my heart flutter!

Anonymous said...

Macaroon is my favorite cake nowadays. I don't how this cake become so lovely and delicious..

lotta love,

The Daydream Collaboration

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Love macarons! I have to get to the Laduree here in NYC. I've only ever been to the ones in Paris and London. So lucky that one is here now :) xoxo

Anonymous said...

I've never tasted the Ladurée ones but with an upcoming trip to Paris in 2012 I definitely will ;-)

Haus of Style said...

Never tried these before, the photos came out great though ;)

I am having a giveaway on my blog this week, I invite you to come check it out ;)

Clara Turbay said...

lovely choices!

http://paquetevistasbien.blogspot.com

little luxury list said...

I am most definitely a macaroni lover! I need to visit the one in NYC (did you see the NY Times article proclaiming laduree the city's best macaron?)

xoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living

Ivana said...

Yum, this is definitely my favorite sweet treat! Macarons has made it even into my blog´s name :)

xx Ivana

Stop by sometimes :)
Macarons and Pearls

Unknown said...

love macarons!
xoxo
Faby

O said...

Macarons...I can't get enough of it! Love you blog! xoxo

Mandy@OrangeAutumn said...

Yum!! These look so good! Is it crazy that I've never had a macaroon? I think it might be! Cute blog, I'm a new follower!

Jessi said...

Those looks sooo delicious. That oreo macaron especially, never tried that flavor before but I'm sure it's yummy! I don't know why but I love looking at macarons, they're so pretty and comes in such pretty pastel colors!

Melissah from Scrapbook said...

I just love macarons ...especially from Laduree!
I just stumbled across your blog & so glad I did! I have signed up as your latest follower. I look forward to popping back for some more inspiration!
x
Melissah

Punctuation Mark said...

i loooove macarons!!!! yhey are the best!!!

Bad Joan said...

Love macaroons, they are so delicious!

GTBB,
http://badjoan.blogspot.com
http://cookingjoan.blogspot.com

Sandy a la Mode said...

gahh!! i LOOOVE macarons!! i want some now!!

alanyskpl said...

ahh i've been to other macaron places but i heard Laduree is one of the original stores...must try next time i'm in new york! -.-

Rowena @ rolala loves said...

Laduree is a must for macarons. It's totally worth waiting on line.