Macarons are an iconic symbol for Lolita. They appear in prints (i.e. Angelic Pretty’s Dreaming Macaron), jewelry and is a common food item to bring to picnics and outings. Personally, I’m not a big fan of almonds, which is the main component to macarons. Cupcakes are more my thing, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
(Macarons should not be confused with macaroons, as macaroons are made with coconut not almond paste.)
Now before I go any further, perhaps I should explain what exactly is a macaron. A macaron is like a small sandwich cookie, usually about the size of a silver dollar, filled with jam (sometimes crème), except much more difficult to make. Making macarons are like baking a soufflé because the recipe must be followed exactly as directed or else you’ll end up with charred inedible cookies instead of something light and crisp. However practice makes perfect, and when you get them right, macarons are simply delicious. Violet LeBeaux has a great entry on how she made macarons.
A few local patisseries even organized Macaron Day at select shops to raise the reputation of this dainty delicacy. Last March marked the first year Macaron Day came to NYC. Do you have a favorite place to find macarons in the City?
Here are a few places I recommend for your macaron fix:
Financier
(Grand Central)
105 E 42nd St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 973-1010
(Sixth Avenue)
1211 6th Ave
New York, NY 10036
(212) 381-4418
(First Avenue)
983 1st Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 419-0100
Bouchon Bakery
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
(212) 823-9366
Macaron Café
(Upper East Side)
625 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10022
(Herald Square)
161 W 36th St
New York, NY 10018
(212) 564-3525
La Maison du Macaron
132 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 243-2757
