One Could Never Leave Empty Handed, and a Plea for Help!
I am absolutely crazy over French Macarons. Love them, love them, love them. I cannot make them. I cannot get a foot under them. I have tried and tried and tried and tried. And, I am still willing to try some more, but only if someone will show me how. I have exhausted my own ideas. There is an Edmonton Food Blogger called Bénéwho I have asked to help. She made some perfect looking chocolate looking macarons that I saw in photos of the last Edmonton Food Bloggers gathering. She was willing, but hasn’t the time right now, and wants to perfect her technique. Anyone else out there who can help? Have eggs. Will travel!
After coffee, I had to revisit the bakery and take some treats to Lauren. (I ate most of them.) I bought a little bag of the signature chocolate treats, a bag of “homemade” potato chips for Vanja (which he did later enjoy), a chocolate mousse (mouse) tart, a small foil covered chocolate caramel fleur de sel treat, and four macarons. I confess, I really wanted one of each. So, this was my attempt at not being too self indulgent. Ha! I picked three, and asked the server to pick the fourth. He told me he chose his favourite. I should have told him, “not the espresso one, please” as I knew Lauren wouldn’t eat that one. For some reason, I didn’t think he would choose it. He did.
The macarons were the size of the ones I see all over Northern Italy, yet the texture and perfectness of the petite ones available in Paris. Big or small. These are the ones I want to learn to make. Is anyone listening?
Anyway, this package travelled under my feet in the car close to the air conditioner until we arrived in San Francisco in the evening. It arrived in perfect condition! I find the balloon logo charming, and the two toned ties do add more than a “touch of class”.
To the left, below, is a cross section view of the chocolate mousse. To the right, a cross section of the foil covered chocolate caramel fleur de sel treat. Both were deadly, but the fleur de sel chocolate caramel was unbelievable perfection: a crispy-crunch in the middle of rich velvet chocolate with gooey caramel cut with the hand mined fleur de sel. I wished I had bought a case of these. YUM! The mousse was complex with the ganache, caramel, and chocolate shortbread layer with hazelnuts. But, I could make it. I could! The other, no. The crispy centre? NO.
Just looking at this gives me such pleasure: pastel patties of perfection.
It taste better than it looks, if that is possible. The pistachio ones are always my favourite. The chocolate treats ended up never being eaten. See? IÂ did not mean to take these home, and then they were here and I think I enjoyed looking at them as much as eating them. Lauren and I (mainly me) ate everything else (except Vanja’s chips) before we left for home. But, I shall not forget.
I know I can make these. I know I can. I can. I can. I can. I can. I can. I am so motivated. I will work and work and work and work at it. I want to succeed. Hopefully, one day, there will be a post from me with my happy smile of triumph and a perfect macaron, a delicate work of art , held in my hand. But, until then, this was a fantastic treat. A lovely find. There is no place in Edmonton where I can buy these. Maybe I will be the “go-to” gal once I succeed. I hope so!
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