Macarons Galore

Macarons should actually be the name of this blog since it was one of my main inspirations to start writing. The irony in this is that the first time I tasted a macaron, I was in Paris with one of my best friends, Monica.  We went to Laduree to find out what all the hoopla was about and bought a box of four flavours--rose, coffee, chocolate, and pistachio.  We stood outside and eagerly dug in......and were disappointed. We thought perhaps we got a bad batch or maybe our palettes were not delicate and fine enough to appreciate such a delicate cookie.  As sacriligious as it sounds, we both swore we would never bother with macarons again and would allot our calories elsewhere.  That was 9 months ago.  

A few weeks ago, I met my friend Andriani in Rome and lo and behold, she brought me a box of Laduree macarons as a present. The flavours within were bergomat, vanilla, and caramel du fleur de sel.  After I bit into the caramel du fleur de sel, I was sold and an official macaron convert. I vowed to replicate this delicious delicacy the minute I got back. So, 3 batches later, I think I got it. And my sommelier found a perfect Chardonnay to pair with it. Her suggestion is a Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay from the Santa Barbara county.

I also served a chocolate macaron with a milk chocolate and passion fruit ganache (recipe courtesy of Cannelle et Vanille) and paired this with a Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. Amazing!