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Post by nycgirl on Mar 18, 2012 16:01:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2012 16:50:59 GMT
There's something familiar about that bargain entertainment editor. Has she been involved in any criminal affairs that the papers talked about?
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 18, 2012 17:18:24 GMT
Hey, there were never any convictions. Yeah, I used to write for that site on a regular basis, but lately I've been too busy.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 24, 2012 16:27:57 GMT
Well, my macaron treasure hunt earlier this week was a great success. I managed to hit six stores before I had to run to school. I could’ve done more if it was during the weekend, but the organizers decided that Macaron Day must coincide exactly with the Jour du Macaron held in Paris. Oh, well. I carefully plotted my course on google maps ahead of time, in order to be efficient. My first stop was Bouchon Bakery in Rockefeller Center. They sell both large and regular-sized macarons. I bought a regular-sized pistachio and got a free vanilla one. Unfortunately, the freebie was very tiny. Their window display had an adorable tableau featuring a “macaron bunny.” My next stop was also in Rockefeller Center, just across the street. La Maisson du Chocolate makes delicious macarons that all have a chocolate ganache filling. (They politely asked me not to take photos, so I am unable to depict their elegant boutique.) I was very pleased to see that their free chocolate macaron was normal-sized. I also bought a salted caramel. I next walked eight blocks uptown and visited the FB Chocolate Bar. It belongs to Francois Payard, the pastry chef who organized this event. For the freebie, they offered six flavors to choose from and they all looked equally appealing. They, too, had an inviting window display. Tough choice, but I decided to go with the day-glo green pistachio. My next stop, just a short walk away, was the Macaron Cafe. As its name implies, this place focuses exclusively on macarons. They offer a dizzying array of choices, from the traditional to the whimsical. They had a nice pyramidal display of goodies, though it looked like someone had been snacking on on it. Since they had so many options, I decided to go with something unusual this time, so I selected a creme brulee and a nutella (one free, one purchased). I liked how they tied up my treats in a cute little bow. With that, I had covered every participating location in midtown, so I hopped on the subway two stops to the Upper East Side. A stone’s throw from the train station was my next stop, Butterfield Market. I realized later that these macarons also came from Francois Payard. This time I chose a rose lychee. Lastly, I took a short walk and picked up another chocolate macaron at La Maisson du Chocolate’s Upper East Side location. After that, it was absolutely necessary for me to quit messing around and go to school. My goal for next year is to try to make it to some of the stores downtown.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2012 16:39:15 GMT
Excellent report.
Every December 31st, I go to Ladurée on the Champs Elysées and buy a box of macarons for the retirement home staff, which costs me about 45€ for no more than about 30 macarons. I figures it's the least I can do for the people who have to change diapers and mop up pee on the most festive night of the year.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2012 19:13:56 GMT
Well, honey, those are sure pretty French Moon Pies! Sorry -- I am a terrible person! However, my base thought prompted me to go back & read the article, so now I know that it's a more elevated confection. Is the cookie part somewhat crisp? And is it tinted or iced?
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Post by bjd on Mar 24, 2012 20:20:55 GMT
Bixa -- there is no "icing" in France. Those are tinted.
Actually I am not a macaron fan -- I find them too sweet, although there are also bakers who make savoury ones.
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 24, 2012 21:10:08 GMT
Kerouac, that's such a nice gesture. Ladurée macarons are delicious, I'm sure the staff appreciates it. Bixa, if they're done right, the shells should be crisp on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. They should be delicate, not cake-like. Bjd, I've heard of flavors like foie gras and bacon. Doesn't sound like my cup of tea, though.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 24, 2012 21:17:21 GMT
Thanks, and thanks for the lovely report.
Would you recommend a particular place for people to get macarons, or do you prefer to wait until you can continue your research next year?
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 24, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Ah, you noticed I never actually delivered a verdict on them. Francois Payard's were really good; the shells were delicate and the ganache was creamy. Bouchon's were tasty, but I thought the shells were a little dense. Macaron Cafe gets points for most variety, and also for biggest cookies. The flavors I chose were a bit too sweet for me, but I would like to go back and try other flavors. The macarons at La Maisson du Chocolate were the most luxurious, and an obvious must for chocolate lovers. I think my absolute favorite out of all of them was the salted caramel from La Maisson; the combination of sweet and savory was divine. Ok, that was a really long answer! It's hard for me to say because I liked them all.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2012 22:15:18 GMT
A photo that I posted in the Image Bank was from La Maison du Chocolat a block from my office.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 25, 2012 0:17:01 GMT
Wonderful report nycgirl! What a delightful assignment you gave yourself. I have had Laduree macaron's and they were delicious.
Macaron's are also just beautiful to look at, even if they are just piled on a plate. The colors are so bright, the tint glistens and when you can see the ganache dripping out... yummy!
Cheers! Mich
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Post by liga on Mar 25, 2012 9:02:43 GMT
I must admit, I've never heard of Macaron day before! We do only the traditional egg coloring with natural dyes!!!!!!! Thanks for the beautiful picures!
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 24, 2013 18:48:07 GMT
What a lovely report & photos!!! I have only had Laduree and may try others this coming christmas in Paris. I also have been wanting to try making them myself. If i EVER do it - I'll post photos for sure !
So how was the Nutella one? My favorite from Laduree so far was the salted caramel and surprisingly the Licorice (it was delicate not overpowering)....
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 25, 2013 3:50:48 GMT
Tackling macarons is an ambitious project. If you do it, I'd love to see the results.
The Nutella was tasty but just a little too sweet. I split it with my husband because half was enough for me.
The salted caramel from Laduree is insanely good. Of course, they would never give away free macarons. They don't need the publicity. Pity.
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 25, 2013 13:32:26 GMT
could you imagine the lines outside if they did? they are long enough with people paying LOL. I will def post photos WHEN I tried to make them !
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 26, 2013 3:21:51 GMT
Ahem, ahem ~~ reading back through this thread, NYCGirl, I see that macaron day last year was March 20. Did they have it this year? Did you get to go???
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 26, 2013 23:58:59 GMT
Ah, you caught me! I did not actually go this year, unfortunately. I completely forgot. I was kind of a grouchy homebody this year, thanks to the freakishly cold weather.
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