Heart Macarons

 Valentine Macarons

Saint Valentine's Day is just around the corner..

and who wouldn't love 

receiving heart shaped French macarons 

from their sweet heart?

On my to-do list:

Take a macaron class
and learn how to make
real French macarons.
Oh how fun it would be
to pipe them into heart shapes!

Well, since I can't get to Paris
or make my own yet,
I think I'll just order
heart shaped macarons
from French-born master pastry maker
Eddy Rocq
owner of Rocq Macaons 
and
Rocq Catering
in Southern California. 

Sweetheart Collection

Sweetheart Collection
available by mail order at
Rocq Macarons 
and
Williams Sonoma.

 (Photos from Rocq Macarons)

Pix

 Pix Patisserie

Pix Patisserie is a kitschy-cute kind of place

with a Parisian cafe vibe.

On our recent trip to Portland, after an afternoon of shopping,

we stopped into Pix for a tea break

and what I like to call "macaron research"!

 Macarons

Pix is known for macarons. 

On our visit, my husband and I tried three flavors of macarons:

Bourbon, Fleur de Sel and Coconut Rum. 

Hands down, their Fleur de Sel was the best we've ever had!

As for macaron research...

Pix is always a fun stop for unusual macaron flavors. 

Pastry Chef/Owner, Cheryl Wakerhauser (a.k.a. Pix) and her team

create traditional French macarons only...
they kick them up a notch! 

They make unique macaron flavors such as:

Tawny Port, Chestnut Whiskey, Sesame Matcha,

Peanut Butter and Jelly and Apple Pie..

just to name a few.

Market Spice Tea

As for tea at Pix,

I was impressed with the tea quality

and table service.

Pix proudly serves Townshend's Tea Co. teas.  

 I enjoyed their Market Spice delivered to our table

 in an Art Deco silver tea pot.

My tea server raved about their teas

and told me  Earl Grey is their most popular tea. 

Naturally due to popularity it was out of stock. 

Pix Patisserie

There are two Pix locations in Portland.

We always visit the original Pix location.

It's a bit off the beaten path..

not touristy

and worth the effort to get there. 

Pix Patisserie

3402 SE Division St.

Portland, OR 97202

(503) 232-4407

I can't wait to go back and have a pot of Earl Grey tea

and do some more macaron research!

Laduree New York!

Laduree Rue Royal Paris

Ooh, la, la!

Pop open the French bubbly...

it's finally official:

Laduree New York's Grand Opening is next Friday

August 26th at 1:00 PM. 

Wish I could be there!

Laduree New York

Laduree

864 Madison Avenue

New York, New York  10021

Hours

Monday to Friday 9:00AM to 6:00PM

Saturday 9:30AM to 6:00PM

Sunday Closed

Bienvenue Laduree to the Etats-Unis!

Let me know if you get to Laduree New York before I do! 

(Laduree New York Sketch from the Laduree Web Site)

Miette

Lemon Cloud Cake

Miette is the French word for crumb. 

Miette is also the name of San Francisco's most charming pastry shop! 

I was in "the City" last weekend and had to stop by Miette for a macaron fix!

Sweet Treats

I've adored Miette from the moment I walked up to the macaron counter a few years ago

in San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace. 

When you visit Miette in the Ferry Building, you'll feel as though you are in a tiny Parisian candy shop.  I love all their sweet treats and their pretty Laduree green interior. 

More Cake Please

Miette has something to satisfy every one's sweet tooth.  Their counter case is filled with cupcakes, tarts, cookies, cakes, macarons, candies and confections.

My standard order are their Parisian macarons. 

I love looking at their beautiful cakes in their online shop.  I've longed to order a Miette cake for my birthday sometime.  Maybe this year I will visit "the City" and pick one up or better yet....

I can make one now! 

The chef/owner of Miette, Meg Ray has just shared her baking secrets in her new book,  Miette.  It's an adorable book, just like her shop!  I adore the unique design of the book with its pretty scalloped pages.

Parisian Macarons

Can't get to Paris...
and need a macaron fix, too? 

Well, you can now make your own Parisian macarons right at home.

All you need are the right tools and Miette's new book.

 In the book there are recipes for eight different flavored macarons.  Merci, Meg!

Miette also offers classes throughout the year, too.  Sign me up!

Lemon Tea Cake

Tea and cake please!

Miette's Lemon Tea Cakes look delicious and perfect for when a friend "pops" over
for a visit at tea time.

Miette's tea cake is a buttery lemon pound cake, topped off with zesty lemony icing. Luckily for us, Meg has included the recipe in the book so we can make it at home.

I can't wait to put the kettle on and serve this cake to a friend with a good "cuppa"!

Walnut Shortbread Cookies

I couldn't help but "spot" these cookies in their adorable packaging. 

These Walnut Shortbread Cookies look perfect for keeping on hand in the biscuit barrel!

Again, luckily for us...

you can find this cookie recipe in the book, too. 

Miette Patisserie

When you visit San Francisco be sure to stop by Miette

 at the Ferry Building Marketplace. 

Just look for the pretty pink sign! 

PS:  You can also pick up baking supplies at Sur La Table in the Marketplace, too.

Laduree's Sucre

Laduree's Sucre

Sucre is a sweet "little gem" of a book. 

It's from my favorite Parisian Patisseire Laduree. 

I have a sweet spot for anything Laduree.  Laduree is always one of my first stops whenever I visit Paris. 

Sucre is a book to treasure.  It comes presented in a Laduree trademark pastel green box wrapped inside lavender tissue paper. The book's covering is a soft pastel green velvet with gilded pages. Oui, it's quite regal! 

Sucre is like a present when you open it for the first time.

My book was a present to myself for my birthday last month.  I found my copy at the charming San Francisco boutique, Nest.  You may be able to find it online or you may just have to hop a flight to Paris and pick one up!

Sucre

Sucre in French translates to sugar in English. 

Sucre features 100 sweet recipes from Laduree Pastry Chef, Phillipe Andrieu.  The book was originally only available in French.  Merci Laduree for making it available in English!

Bilingual food and travel writer, Kerrin Rousset translated the book to English.  I wonder how long that actually took her?  You can read more about it on her blog. 

Sucre is filled with perfect photographs so sweetly styled.  They will certainly make you crave Laduree's  sweet pastries.  I'm not sure if I will actually ever try to "whip" up any of it's recipes.  In my opinion...the book is perfect "eye candy" just sitting on my cocktail table!

So here's a petite peak inside Sucre for you:

Pyramid of Macaroons

The book begins with the story of Laduree. 

In 1862 Louis Ernest Laduree opened his bakery in the heart of Paris at 16 rue Royal. 

You can still visit this original location today as well as other locations in Paris.  The first French macaron I ever had was at the Laduree salon on the Champs Elysees.  It was love at first bite!

Macaron Amande

(Almond Macaron)

What would a Laduree book be without their world famous macarons? 

 Luckily for us, the first section in the book is Les Macarons.   There are recipes for:  Macarons Amande, Chocolat, Citron and Framboise.  The latter three just so happen to be a few of my husband and my favorite flavors!

Cake au Citon

(Lemon Cake)

Laduree's Cake au Citron looks like a perfect tea cake to me! 

It features a lemon cake batter with a lemon syrup and lemon glaze over it.  I think this would be lovely to pair at tea time with Laduree's Earl Grey tea. 

Financiers

I think Financiers are perfectly suited for a cup of tea!

I've made Financiers before.  They are similar to Madeleines.

These little tea cakes are called financiers because their traditional rectangular bar shape resemble little bars of gold!  Sur La Table now carries (online only) a mini financier mold made in France. 

So Treat Yourself!

This book makes a lovely present to yourself and anyone who loves:

 Laduree, Tea Time, Baking and French Sweet Treats. 

 I hope you treat yourself to Sucre!

Let Them Eat Macarons!

"Let them eat macarons!"

Thinking of having a little tete-a-tete or a French tea party? 

Well then, perhaps you're searching for that perfect plate to serve your French macarons?

Well, look no further...

The perfect macaron plate! 

My latest find at Anthropologie is this Ladies-in-Waiting plate by Parisian artist Florence Balducci.  

Is it my imagination or does this French noble lady look a bit like Marie Antoinette?  I love the plate and love that the pretty French lady is holding a cup of tea!

It's a dinner plate but I think it's simply perfect for serving macarons! 

Paulette Macaron  

I'm all set now for having a little French themed tete-a-tete and I didn't even have to fly to Paris!

Luckily for me, I can get Parisian style macarons and French  Mariage Freres tea now just a few hours away at Paulette Macaron in San Francisco. 

Update: 

Paulette Macarons is now Chantal Guillon with even more macarons and more Bay Area locations!  I still shop at the Hayes Street location:  

Chantal Guillon 

437 A Hayes Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 864-2400

(In the photos:  Ladies-in-Waiting Plate from Anthopologie, Rose, Violette Cassis & The' Earl Grey macarons from Paulette Macaron.)

Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons

Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons

Ooh, la, la...macaroons for the over 21 crowd!

I was perusing the December issue of Food Wine and I spotted these macaroons in the Holiday Gift Guide. Leave it to the French to come up with this unique concoction for macaroons just in time for the holiday party scene.

Grand Marnier has teamed up with Payard Patisserie to release it's luxury Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons, inspired by four signature Grand Marnier cocktails: The Grand Cosmo, the Grand Margarita, the Grand Mojito and the Orange Crush.

Grand Marnier Orange Crush Macaroons

(Macaroons inspired by the drink Orange Crush)

The macaroons are available exclusively at Payard Patisserie in New York and are available for holiday gift shipment nationwide. The macaroon fillings do have minimal Grand Marnier alcohol so you must be 21 years of age to purchase.

I looked at both Payard and Grand Marnier's websites for more information. I could not find any information on either site. Perhaps they won't be advertised until December? Or have they already sold out?

Laduree Macaroon Mangue Jasmin

Macaroon Mangue Jasmin

(Macaroon Mango Jasmin)

By now you know how much I love French macaroons. The best ones are at Laduree in Paris. Each new season, Laduree introduces a new macaroon flavour. For Autumn they have just introduced Macaroon Mangue Jasmin (Macaroon Mango Jasmin).

Ooh, la, la. Don't they sound exotic? What a wonderful macaroon treat for Autumn. Oh, how I would love to try this seasonal flavor and be in Paris in Autumn!

Laduree Designers Guild Boxes

Designers Guild Box for Laduree

There's a saying: "good things come in small packages". I agree!

I adore these pretty boxes from my favorite Parisian patisserie, Laduree!

Tricia Guild recently teamed up with Laduree and designed three boxes for their spring and summer macaroon flavors. The pretty pastel boxes are Rococo inspired with flowers and wreaths just like Designers Guild wallpaper patterns. They are available for a limited time at Laduree locations throughout Paris and at Laduree at Harrods in London.

A pretty Aqua Laduree box filled with lemon, praline,

rose petal and violette macaroons.

A lovely lilac box filled with the most famous treat in Paris!

If you happen to be going to Paris or London soon...would you mind picking me up all three?