Sunday, July 24, 2011

Macarons Masterclass


I know I'm going to make some of you very envious... Yesterday (Saturday), one of my neighbors invited a pastry chef to show her and a few friends how to make macarons... I attended part of the "ceremony" and it was quite interesting, for I never knew how they made them. I usually buy them ready-made from Ladurée, la Maison du Chocolat or Pierre Hermé - and no, not yet from Mc Donald's! Even though, believe it or not, they carry them in some of their restaurants! What you see in this photo is the final result, but I have more photos. You can see them in the little Animoto here (or directly in the right column, up top).

21 comments:

  1. lovely - I often make them for friends. Only problem I have is weighing the egg whites!

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  2. I have read hundreds of posts On PDP (mostly from the Ladies, I have noticed) raving about macaroons. I am afraid I am in the "Macaroon Minority" as I have never cared for them! I much prefer a simple fruit and custard tart or a pain au chocolat from my Boulangerie on rue Vielle du Temple. The lady always is putting an extra treat in my bag with a wink and the explanation: "un cadeau!". (^_^)

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  3. mmmmm looking good

    Can we expect to be tasting macroons maison Eric at the next pic nic ?

    There are so many temptations in the boulangeries of Paris but I think it is the colour palate of mcaroons as well as the taste that is so appealing . And with Lauduree macoroon they also come in an adoreable box .

    On a visit a couple of years a go my friend offered me some macaroons to take home . The airline wouldn't let me put them in my hand luggage and was concered they would get squished in my case . Kindly the check in put a fragile sticker on my luggage in order to protect the macaroons . ( Only on France ? ) .

    Look forward to more pics x

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  4. Eric said, " I usually buy them ready-made from Ladurée, la Maison du Chocolat or Pierre Hermé - and no, not yet from Mc Donald's!"

    Should we mention your favourite place to buy them... Picard? Quelle horreur!

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  5. @Michael. True, I forgot this one, but don't go "quelle horreur!" they are actually excellent... Don't tell me you haven't already tried them!

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  6. I am officially jealous. And I am going to have to try to make these. I can't wait for Laduree, so I must bravely go where this pastry chef has not gone before. Is strawberry lavender an acceptable flavor? These look amazing, Eric. I did make some pretty amazing white chocolate raspberry muffins this week though.. :)

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  7. I love the short format of your updates, Eric!

    It means I read them more often, you know ;)


    Enjoy,
    Christine Hueber

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  8. Trader Joe's sells frozen macarons.
    The chocolate one are chewy defrosted but the vanilla ones are good.

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  9. Look delicious, nothing to say, but I do not touch them in general or just ... My girls love them ... Yeah, as I'm very rich, I buy them at Ladurée but I do not benefit. My life lol!
    I am sorting out through my papers all over the last year while I have a look at the same time on the images of the arrival of the Tour de France on TV (So I hope to sort out, lol). I am impressed by the beauty of the images (ah Paris, the day I leave Paris, it will arrive one day maybe, I'll say, I know all that!). The riders come and go next to the shop Ladurée located on the Champs Elysées. In my opinion, none of them think and not even know that there is a Ladurée shop by there. Ladurée is something 90% full of tourists! The remaining 10% is a few true fans including a few snobs ...
    Picard is an excellent alternative, isnt'it?! Of course, it is!

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  10. I know several macaron fanatics here in Pasadena. There are at least two local French pastry chefs, so as far as I know the ones we get here are good. I like caramel with sea salt. Mmmm.

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  11. I thought if we didn't hear from Monica on this one....then she would have to be on her deathbed.

    I just came from Covent Garden, where I saw a third Laduree (Burlington Arcade and Harrods are the others). I didn't buy one because I think the Paris ones are better!!!

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  12. That sounds like a very interesting class. I would have attended if given a chance.

    @Monica, "What is it, frozen macarons?" I have bought frozen Macarons in San Francisco -- they were actually made in Paris and shipped to San Francisco. I let them thaw out before eating.

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  13. Hi everyone, FYO, I just posted an Animoto of the "making of" Macarons, in the right column, up top.

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  14. Oh, J'adore macarons!
    They are suoer difficult to find here in Brasil, and when one does, it's never the same...

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  15. The Final Macarons was looking very yummy. You had attend the ceremony of how to make Macarons, and i think that you will must have try to made this Macarons.

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  16. So I go to the Internet-less country and look what I miss! Miam. Ladurée is opening a store here, on Madison Avenue. There goes the régime.

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  17. Eric, I enjoyed the Mellow Musical Macarons Masterclass Moment at animoto, thank you! (I also enjoy alliteration, do you?)

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  18. I think am just having some problems with subscribing to RSS feed here.

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  19. CAN YOU SHARE THE WHOLE STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE TO COOK THEM? THEY LOOKS SO TASTY AND VERY CRISPY.

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  20. You have provided ample information here on your post that can easily be understand by your readers. I am admiring you for that. Thanks for this insightful post and I am hoping more to come.

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