Earlier this month I finally opened the December 2009 issue of Food & Wine Magazine. The issue included an article entitled “Lesson in French Cookies: Baking Macarons” by Emily Kaiser. The write-up featured French pastry chef François Payard demonstrating to Jason Wu (Fashion designer – designed Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown) his macaron making process. It’s a great article and Payard explains there are four things for a successful macaron:
- A smooth macaronade
- A fluffy meringue
- Attentive baking
- Plenty of filling
Also, recipes for:
- Raspberry Macarons
- Chocolate Macarons
- Passion Fruit Macarons
Read the article with photos and recipes on the Food & Wine Magazine’s site here.
A couple of weeks ago, I visited Payard’s Patisserie in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. The bakery is kind of tucked away in the back with the other restaurants. It’s a lovely Patisserie with beautiful decor and many wonderful desserts in their dessert case and options for creating your own gift baskets or packaged treats to go. If you’re in Las Vegas and anywhere near Caesar’s Palace, it’s definitely worth your visit to at least experience it if you are a dessert, pastry and/or macaron lover.
Macarons at Trader Joe’s?
I heard that Trader Joe’s was carrying macarons? This I had to see for myself and my expectations were skeptical. Really? I looked around the store in the obvious places but could not find these said macarons. Had to ask a Trader Joe employee. He kind of chuckled, though I couldn’t figure out why, as he escorted me to the section in frozen foods holding the macarons. Macarons in a box with a cellophane wrapper. Still skeptical, I bought a box and looked forward to getting these home to have a try.
They were pretty darn good! Chocolate and vanilla flavors. Packaged quite well, only one was slightly damaged. If you don’t have time to get to your local bakery that bakes up macarons or don’t have time yourself to whip up a batch…these just may satisfy your macaron craving until you do!
I Love Macarons – by Hisako Ogita
There are many informative and excellent tutorials, demonstrations and tips out on the blogosphere about macarons. While there are several books devoted to macarons, most of them are written in French. We are lucky to have the book by Hisako Ogita I Love Macarons
Heart Shaped Macarons at Williams Sonoma
Image Credit: Annabelle Breakey
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Williams Sonoma is offering heart macarons $29 for a dozen. These macarons are chocolate red-velvet macarons with ganache filling combined with white chocolate.
I like the idea of the macarons being heart-shaped!
Ingredients of a Woman says
Macarons, so delicate and perfects!
Your photos are gorgeous, they make feel like I’m inside the picture. That’s it! I’m following you in twitter and Flickr.
Alba H. Rodriguez
Dhale says
I’m a complete total lover of macarons!!! I fell in love with them 5 years ago when I bit into my first Laduree delicacy. I hate macaroons but if you take out the second “o” then I’m sold!
It was because of you that prompted me to try out the Trader Joe’s macarons. Now, I’ve tried macarons from two french patisseries here in NYC but for the price and taste, TJs wins! Even my french bf gave it his seal of approval. I wish they had more flavors!
Thanks for sharing and I’ll have to try Payard’s next time I come across it.
Lisa says
Teenie. OMG..such gorgeous photos of the macarons, perfect color, perfect feet etc. If you like to make Macarons, you should take part in the monthly Mac Attack challenge hosted by Deeba and Jamie. Just type Mac Tweet or Mac Attack into a search engine, and it should come up.
Finally, that potato corn chowder below looks heavenly, and would so hit the spot in this cold weather!
redkathy says
Aaaahhh macarons, one of the finer things in life!
Samantha says
I adore macarons. Those heart ones are too cute! I’m actually giving away the ‘i love macarons’ book on my blog right now!
Alexandra says
Holy moley. Those look good. I’ve never had a macaron before, sadly.