I Say Macaroon

Maybe I’m just dumb (and kind of disinterested in Francophilia and Judaism) but I just now realized that macaroons and macarons two very different things and that the golden, haystacky blobs I’m familiar with are a Passover treat. I just thought they were plain ol' coconut cookies. Even Kraft knew, and they make freaking Teddy Graham banana splits.

In the past year or so I’d noticed food blog saturation with the French meringue cookies (the single item equivalent to Shake Shack and Ssam bar mania—two other icons I’ve avoided). There’s an entire Flickr group devoted to them and in a super cursory search, I immediately turned up 1, 2, 3, 4 posts all by Asian females, which confuses me even further. But I never noticed until this week that the coconut-less circles are spelled macaron, no double O. How did these two cookies both become so closely named? I guess edibles like Spanish and Mexican tortillas are even more wildly disparate with the exact name, and the two don’t give me problems.

I’m fascinated by their unnatural colors (I’m sure I’ve mentioned how my mom used to food color mini A&W mugs of milk green so I would drink it) though I’m not understanding how all the rainbow brightness is reconciled with supposed Parisian élan. It seems rather gauche to me and I know from gauche. Regardless, Laudree looks like they know what they’re doing.

The taste? I have no idea but now I’m hell bent on getting my mitts on an emerald green macaron. Where can I get these downtown or in Brooklyn? It’s not likely I’ll make it up to Bouchon Bakery or Fauchon anytime soon.

Macaron photo by gnuf 

Comments

[emigre]

Um, there is a Korean bakery (Cannan Bakery) on Union st. in Flushing that has giant green cookies stuffed with red bean paste, which is not what you meant, but they're green! Next time you go into Queens, check them out.

Canaan Bakery
36-40 Union St
(718) 460-6094

[ann]

you actually can't go to Fauchon anymore as they've closed, but the places where I've found at least decent macarons include Tisserie on 17th St near Union Square and at Financier on Stone Street in the Financial District and in the World Financial Center. But for a real expert on the topic check out The Girl Who Ate Everything. She's obsessed with the little blobbers.
I think they're very tasty, but not transcendental. but a great way to satiate a sweets craving

[Krista]

Emigre: I love all things green (including vegetables but that's not the point here). I'll definitely look for that cookie next time I'm in Flushing. I feel the urge since I've been hearing so much about that J&L mall food court. I'm dying for Sichuan food.

Ann: I'd just read that Fauchon had closed but it didn't stick with me. I'm only a block from Financier so I might head over at lunch, though people on Yelp only rated their macarons 7 out of a list of ten. The Girl Who Ate Everything was actually one of the myriad Asian girl bloggers I was referring to.

[ann]

doh, sorry 'bout that. must check links better! they're good starter macaroons (financier's that is) and live cheek by jowl with that green tomato panini. hope you like them!

[Melissa]

I just tried the large pistachio macaron at Financier and it was delicious. They also serve them at the Ulysses' brunch on Sunday (all you can eat), along with other Financier pastries.

[Krista]

I went late lunch-ish on Friday and they were all out of pistachio! Amongst the lemon, chocolate and raspberry, I settled for the latter because pink is next best color-wise. I'll post the picture shortly.