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Macaron madness at Pierre Hermé
By Ann | March 24, 2009
You may know March 20 as the first day of spring. But here in Paris, last Friday was le Jour du Macaron. Selected patissiers offered free macarons in exchange for a donation to their pet charity, and none was more publicized and popular than Pierre Hermé. The celebrated Prince of Pastry offered four of his exotic macarons for 1€ — a bargain considering just one normally costs 2€.
So, were people interested?
Mes amis, is the Pope Catholic? Is the sky blue? Is Lindsay Lohan inches away from hitting the skids one more time?
As evidenced by the photo above, the queue stretched from Pierre Hermé’s discreet black door at 72 rue Bonaparte, around the entire block. Yes, Virginia, Parisians are maniacal about (free) macarons.
Here’s what happened to me: At 1.20pm, I met my friend Erin outside of Pierre Hermé. Alas, I was late so she bore the brunt of the wait (sorry, Erin!). While in line, we examined the menu, which featured 35 different types of macarons. Amazing, no? I can barely even think of 35 different flavors, let alone 35 different combinations of flavors. They ranged from normal (coffee), to unusual (chestnut and matcha green tea), to bizarre (wild rose, fig and foie gras).
Inside the shop’s dark interior, I was all, “Je voudrais des macarons.” I’d like some macarons.
The shop girl was all, “Je sais.” Which means I know, but is really shorthand for, uh, obvy.
I meekly ordered my chosen three macarons:
-1 huile d’olive et vanille (macaron biscuit with a creamy olive oil & vanilla filling, and a bit of green olive tucked in the center)
-1 ispahan (maracon biscuit with a litchi-rose cream center and raspberry jam). This is the flavor combination that cemented Pierre Hermé’s fame.
-1 chocolat (chocolate macaron biscuit with a bitter chocolate ganache center)
Alas, the shop was out of the fourth macaron, a macaron rouge ”to support the ill.” So, in the end, only three macarons for 1€. Which, all things considering, ain’t bad.
If you want to examine Hermé’s macaron menu more closely, click here.
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6 Responses to “Macaron madness at Pierre Hermé”
Comments
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March 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am
As the lucky recipient of the chocolate macaron, I can say CTB’s efforts at Pierre Herme were worth it. My question is, is the macaron mania in Paris new? I didn’t notice it when I was here in the late 1980s and early 1990s, although admittedly I was a starving student back then, surviving on saucisses d’auvergne and Fischer beer at Le Mistral, far from the luxe of Place St. Sulpice.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Now look what you did? My mouth is watering for a macaroon and I’m a million miles away! Boo! Hoo!
March 25th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Ann, my “mandarine aux baies roses” was outstanding! the first bite was decidedly peppery, a real winner! i’m not afraid to admit that i kept all three for myself!
March 25th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
So jealous of all this macaron talk!!!!!!
March 27th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I wonder if macarons travel well in the mail?
August 18th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
In reply to Anne, I was sent a box of 6 macarons in the mail from London to here in South Australia - half way around the planet. The journey took a week, and they arrived intact, but not the perfect little macarons that my daughter bought in Paris. They were chipped and crumbling on the edges, and the parcel had been opened and checked by Australian Quarantine. I’m sure they would be fine if only travelling a comparatively short distance though - within Europe say. Get on to Hermes’ website or Laduree’s, and order some.