Saturday, 31 March 2012

• I Missed Out On Free Macarons!

  

  This post does not have any specific theme, meaning it is not only about how to make your own macarons, or a list of the best places to buy them, or my favorite flavors. Instead it is simply a general post on an elegant treat that holds a special place in my heart. I cannot express to you how much I love macarons. I had my first macaron experience at age 11 in possibly the best place to eat a macaron for the first time: Paris. It was one of the first instances where I had a bite of something and little sparks of future foodie-ness flew all around me. I do not remember where I ate this historic macaron, except that it was lemon, and that it certainly foreshadowed my passion for food that I have today.
  
  

  Yesterday I found out that March 20^th was Macaron Day in NYC and was upset that I had missed out on the festivities. This event is when macaron selling establishments come together to offer a free macaron to customers, so as long as they mention they are there for Macaron Day. Macaron Day was started in 2010 by François Payard, chef and owner of François Chocolate Bar and François Payard Bakery in New York. It was inspired inspired by the Jour du Macaron in Paris, created by la Maison Pierre Hermé Paris in association with the Relais Desserts. For those who wish for more than one macaron on Macaron Day, which I know I would, additional macaron sales benefit City Harvest. A delicious cause, indeed.
  
  

  In terms of trending, macarons are being labeled “the new cupcake”. What do you think? Perhaps macaron is to Paris as cupcake is to NYC (or the U.S.), but the macaron will never replace the cupcake. Yet it has become an “it” dessert, like the cupcake. I have had many good macarons and many bad ones. My favorite flavors are lemon, pistachio, vanilla, and espresso. Laduree offers some tasty macarons, and they even have them in Hello Kitty packaging.
  
  
  Come to think of it, this is probably where I had that first macaron in Paris. It is famous, and they have a number of locations in Paris and a Madison Avenue, NY boutique. I am making a note as I type to ask my mother…
  
  
  
  
  

  The list I could post of my favorite places to eat macarons in NYC is endless. Where are your favorite places to get macarons in the U.S. or internationally? I do like this little shop in Queens, NY that sells macarons and brownies. I actually blogged about their brownies in this post. Macarons are going on my endless list of things to try making when I get time.
  
  

  Have you ever attended NYC’s Macaron Day? Have you ever tried to make them yourself?

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