October 22, 2007
Macarons! Everywhere! HELP ME, PLEASE!
- Macawuh!
I made a nice little introduction to French macarons on Serious Eats that took me a little too long considering that it's not very detailed and only mildly informative, but IT HAS PHOTOS? IT HAS PRETTIES? YOU CAN HAZ THE MACS?
Yes. Thank you! Support me! So I can keep my job!
I know posting this entry will push the other one down the page and that makes me sad because I rather liked the other entry ("This was the day I just sat around and peed," is my most favorite quote ever), but I need some help. Like within the next 10 hours. I need to make A GIANT LIST OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN BUY MACARONS!
Read more to see what I have so far. And the contribute, if you please. Also if you think I should remove anything from my list because it sucks, let me know. I want to recommend decent macarons.
A bunch of places to get macarons
Paris
This is an extremely inconclusive list seeing as you can get macarons seemingly everywhere. Here are the ones that I've been to or have been recommended. You probably shouldn't go to more than 12 patisseries anyway, right? I mean. Um.
Pierre Hermé
Ladureé
Lenôtre
Gérard Mulot
Sadaharu Aoki
Fauchon
Dalloyau
La Maison du Chocolat
Jean-Paul Hévin
Grégory Renard
Arnaud Larher
Carette
New York (Manhattan unless noted otherwise)
This list doesn't include fancy pants restaurants, which I have a feeling would make the best macarons. You just have to eat an expensive meal first. Sigh.
La Maison du Chocolat
Bouley Bakery
Almondine (Brooklyn)
Payard
Jacques Torres (Seasonal availability; check with the store before you visit)
Bouchon Bakery
Silver Moon Bakery
Kee's Chocolate
Financier
Georgia's Bake Shop
Joyce Bakeshop (Brooklyn)
Madeline Patisserie
California
Paulette (Beverly Hills)
Boule (LA)
Milk (LA, make macaron ice cream sandwiches)
Jin Parisserie (Venice)
Miette (San Francisco)
Bouchon (Yountville)
Macarune (North Beach, custom order)
London
Ladureé at Harrods
Maison Blanc
Yauatcha
Melt
Kondior & Cook
Selfridges Food Hall
Paul
Elsewhere
USA
Pix Patisserie (Portland, OR)
Sweet Pea Bakery (Phoenix, AZ)
Sucre (New Orleans, LA)
Mrs. London's Bakery and Café (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Gesine (Montpellier, VT. They seem to make the original French style macaron cookies, not the filled sandwich kind.)
Le Panier (Seattle, WA)
The Essential Baking Company (Seattle, WA)
Bittersweet (Chicago, IL)
Vanille Patisserie (Chicago, IL)
Miel Patisserie (Philadelphia, PA)
Mad Mac (Based in NYC but ship all over the country)
L.A. Burdick (Have shops in NH and MA but ship all over the country. They refer to their macarons as Luxembourger/Luxemburgerli, which aren't exactly the same thing, but close enough.)
Asia
Pierre Hermé (Tokyo)
Dalloyau (Tokyo)
Sadaharu Aoki (Tokyo)
Le Chocolat de H (Tokyo)
Canelé (Singapore)
Macaron (Singapore)
Mad Baker (Singapore, custom order)
Evan's Kitchen Ramblings (Singapore, custom order)
Bizu (Manila)
Ratafia (Taipei)
Le Goûter Bernardaud (Hong Kong)
Rest of the World
Fauchon (Locations worldwide)
Ganache Patisserie (Vancouver)
Thomas Haas (Vancouver)
T&0uml;ertchen T&0uml;ertchen (Berlin)
Ladureé at Galeries Lafayette (Berlin)
Adriano Zumbo (Sydney)
Lindt Concept Store (Sydney)
Laurent Bakery (Melbourne, Sydney)
Cafe Pistachio (Salmabad, Kingdom of Bahrain)
I'm having trouble with "Elsewhere" as you can see. Someone told me that in London you can only get them at Ladurée and Paul (or maybe those are the most convenient places), which are both French stores anyway. I know there must be more places in Asian—at least I think there are a few places in Taipei that make them—but I don't really know. And of course, there's the rest of the US. And Canada. Ahhh. I had a macaron at Patachou in Toronto, and while it wasn't bad it wasn't...awesome either.
I'll update this list as suggestions come on.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, YOU ARE AWESOME! AND YES, MAYBE I AM CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY.
Please view the updated list on Serious Eats. Any suggestions you have will be added to the list there, not the one on this post!
Posted by roboppy at 3:05 PM
Comments (44)
sucre in new orleans.
wonderful lemon ones
Posted by: stephanie Shifalo at October 22, 2007 4:01 PM [#]
After all the splendid things you write about them, I really want to taste Macarons. Do you know if they are being sold anywhere in Norway? *sigh*
Posted by: Jorid at October 22, 2007 4:05 PM [#]
Le Goûter Bernardaud in hong kong. they're pretty good too.
Posted by: jodie at October 22, 2007 4:48 PM [#]
Thanks for your suggestions! I AM UPDATING...IN REAL TIME!! It's safe to assume that there isn't already a "world macaron list" floating around out there, right?
Jorid: I just asked Morten if he knows of any places in Bergen that sell them and he said no. :[ (We don't have Norwegian bakeries over here if that's any consolation! I do love those cinnamon buns.) Maybe your best bet is to try to make them yourself? Or go on a bakery hunt! Woohoo!
maria: I think they only make them seasonally (like around passover?), unless they changed that in the past few months. If they had them all the time I would include them on my list. :\
Posted by: roboppy ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.roboppy.net/food/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 22, 2007 5:02 PM [#]
Vanille Patisserie in Chicago. I haven't eaten them, but the place makes gorgeous cakes and excellent croissants.
Posted by: Melissa at October 22, 2007 5:03 PM [#]
Miel Patisserie in Philadelphia makes good ones. The link to the shop seems broken, so I'm giving you the Citysearch one: http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/profile/39421344
I have no helpful info to add, sorry, but you made me want some macarons like WHOA. Yes, LIKE WHOA. The only macaron I've ever had was from Financier though and it was fantastic. I would hike all the way downtown for one right now if there wasn't this little thing called "a job" stopping me.
I need baked goods! Sugary carby goodness! *Tears*.
All in Tokyo:
Pierre Herme
http://www.pierreherme.co.jp/
Dalloyau
www.dalloyau.co.jp/
patisserie Sadaharu AOKI paris
http://www.sadaharuaoki.fr/
But we know which one tastes best!!
törtchen törtchen
(tortchen tortchen, w/ umlauts above the o)
Alte Wallgasse 2a
D-50672 cologne
Germany
tel: +49 0221 1707108
And you can get Laduree ones at the Galeries Lafayette in Berlin...
Posted by: Jiny at October 22, 2007 5:39 PM [#]
Oh, you probably want links to go with that, d'oh.
http://www.toertchentoertchen.de/
http://www.lafayette.de/start_314.php
;)
Posted by: Jiny at October 22, 2007 5:56 PM [#]
Thank you for the suggestions! YEAAH I HAVE A BIG PILE OF THEM NOW!!! And I have places to go should I ever find myself in Chicago or Philly. :]
Molly: I've only tried the ones from Financier once and I don't remember much. They weren't really bad but didn't leave much of an impression either! Hm. Maybe I should try them again though; I haven't been there in ages.
Sarah: I was about to say that I had those down, but not the Tokyo locations! Oopsie..
Why does Tokyo get all the good stuff? Not! Fair! Sniff! I think Jean Paul Hevin is there too. And other chocolatiers, not necessarily macaron makers. Ahhh man. I was born the wrong Asian.
Jiny: I had no idea there was a Laduree (or Galeries Lafayette) in Berlin! Thanks for the info.
Posted by: roboppy at October 22, 2007 6:19 PM [#]
London: Ladurée, Maison Blanc, Paul, Yauatcha, Konditor & Cook (if my memory doesn't fail me), Melt in Notting Hill, the Selfridges foodhall (I'm pretty sure they get them from somewhere else but I don't know where), & (maybe? someone else might need to confirm this) Patisserie Valerie.
...
hmmm.
Posted by: serena at October 22, 2007 6:55 PM [#]
Tres magnifique, Mademoiselle Boppy! Je suis entièrement d'approuver de l'histoire du cookie!
I don't really know French. :\
BUT I DO KNOW I LOVE MACS! \(^-^)/
Posted by: John at October 22, 2007 7:10 PM [#]
I remember about a year ago, I made a trek to Park Slope, Brooklyn to Joyce's Bakeshop for their macarons. Though not awesome, it ain't so bad either. I think it's similar to Mad Mac's if you want a comparison when I had it back then.
I don't know if you would want to add Fauchon? We both know that it's closed in NYC, but I remember reading from a few people's post somewhere that they would have in outside the US?
What about the Fauchon in NYC?
Posted by: Mike at October 22, 2007 8:46 PM [#]
u must remove financier! they suck big time and fail your "basic equation for a macaron." don't u remember my pic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bionicgrrl/343533694/)?
Posted by: bionicgrrl at October 22, 2007 9:05 PM [#]
Pix Patissere, Portland, Oregon.
http://www.pixpatisserie.com/
Serena: Holy crap! I made London a different section since you suggested so much! ;D So many places, aahhh...
John: YOU'RE SPEAKING FOREIGN!
Tina: Oo, Joyce's doesn't sound bad. I should check that bakery out...
I forgot Fauchon had a gazillion other locations. I'll put that under "elsewhere". NYC is all lonely with no Fauchon! :(
Mike: Fauchon is no longer with us, but will supposedly open again. Someday. Hm.
bionicgrrl: I think I may write some kind of note about how I don't actually recommend all those places in NYC, but if people want em then...euh...yeah. I haven't been to Financier in ages; I wonder if it's any better now. Your macaron looks like it HAD NO FILLING! :(
Loretta: If there is such a title, I shall claim it!
Mary Sue: Thanks! That looks like a fun bakery.
Posted by: roboppy at October 22, 2007 10:39 PM [#]
Unfortunately, macs are rare in Vancouver, BC, but it can be found at Ganache Patisserie.
http://www.ganacheyaletown.com/#
...and I believe Thomas Haas has them as well.
Posted by: Quentina at October 22, 2007 10:59 PM [#]
Bittersweet in Chicago makes some yummy ones.
Not always but among the many good things at the Essential Baking Company cafe in Seattle are some tasty macs.
Posted by: Lance at October 23, 2007 2:44 AM [#]
Thanks for the recs, guys!
Kathy: I had those once! Almost 3 years ago. ...DID NOT LIKE! I wonder if they've changed since then. I just remember biting into it and feeling like it was wrong. Not that it tasted bad, but it was probably too dry or something.
We need an East Village crawl. Check out Something Sweet and...um, Pinisi...and yes.
audris: Oo, I see the photos of them on the website; they look awesome! Sounds like a place I have to check out if I'm ever in LA.
Posted by: roboppy at October 23, 2007 11:14 AM [#]
I just remembered that a fabulous bakery in my neighbourhood sells macs too.
It's Bonjour Cafe Bakery and you can check it out here: http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/36765117/
In London, there's also a Laduree stall on Regent Street off Picadilly Circus. Can't miss it, with it's technicolor macarons displayed in the window.
Posted by: Julia at October 23, 2007 12:32 PM [#]
La Tulipe in Mount Kisco, NY has wonderful macaroons (the chocolate are the best) as well as a vast array of mouth-watering cakes, pastries, etc. Worth the trip from the city; the chef has an impressive resume and has worked at Fauchon. Also, their caneles are the best I have ever tasted outside of France.
Posted by: kathy at October 23, 2007 1:45 PM [#]
The Market in downtown Denver has great macaroons (and tons of other fab stuff too).
Posted by: DoriMer at October 23, 2007 3:46 PM [#]
Thank you for your comments! I AM GIVING YOU A BIG HUG RIGHT NOW...VIRTUALLY!
Here's my article on SE. Yaaay?
Posted by: roboppy at October 23, 2007 5:50 PM [#]
In Brussels, Belgium, you can get pretty decent macarons in Wittamer, http://www.wittamer.com, also known for it's Belgian chocolate. (Belgian chocolate in Belgium! whoa!)
Posted by: Chris at November 1, 2007 9:21 AM [#]
On a one-day quickie trip to Lausanne I saw mini-macs but I didn't taste them..I'd run out of Swiss money and didn't want to dip into my numbered account :(
Posted by: ParisBreakfasts at November 3, 2007 2:28 PM [#]
Boule has moved to 408 not 420. Its displays, offerings, and recipes have definitely gone downhill. I would rather eat a generic Oreo cookie.
There is also a Bouchon in Las Vegas at the Venetian. Limited quantities of macs so called ahead to order. The employee gave me cafe instead of vanilla. Yountville is superior.
Posted by: Audrey at November 4, 2007 9:11 PM [#]
In Taipei, there are other places to buy macarons. The quality range from moderate to WTH. But of course, my taste buds have been spoiled by Pierre Herme. So here's the list:
15eme Patisserie (The pastry chef worked at Aoki in Paris before.)
http://tw.lifestyle.yahoo.com/6dab3070/070421/143/3pa1q.html
Liz Gourmet Corner @ The Landis Hotel
http://taipei.landishotelsresorts.com/dine_liz.php
Saisons Patisserie
http://www.christabelle.idv.tw/rewrite.php/rewrite.php/read-257.html
Franciacorta
http://www.franciacorta.com.tw/
Thanks for your suggestions! I've added them to the list on Serious Eats.
Posted by: roboppy at November 5, 2007 2:26 PM [#]
Hello! There is a place in Singapore- Gobi which sells really good macarons with huge juicy strawberries! Check this out! :)
Posted by: Janet at November 16, 2007 7:31 AM [#]
Wow, nice pics you've got there :D. i don't like macarons, but I like chocolate, and especially Bouchard chocolate, http://www.bouchard.be/en/node/10 , it's just excellent :)!!!
Posted by: jeanmo at July 23, 2008 11:21 AM [#]
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Mrs. London's Bakery and Café in Saratoga Springs, NY has great macarons.
I found this info online: "Gesine's on Elm Street in Montpelier has delicious pastries, cakes and other goodies - their specialty is macaroons." That is in VT.
Posted by: Katie K at October 22, 2007 3:54 PM [#]