Bosie Tea Parlor- To Tea or Not to Tea?

Bosie Tea Parlor was another participant in the Bastille Day event on 60th Street.  I was so happy to come across them there because I had not heard of them previously.  After tasting their macarons, the fact that I did not know them sooner was shocking.  Being a coffee/espresso drinker myself, I have yet to pair a macaron with a nice cup of tea.  After tasting their treats, I am looking forward to trying macarons and tea in their shop soon.  Overall, I found the macarons to be soft on the in all the right places and extremely fresh.  Additionally, they had a very good filling to cookie ratio, which I am always excited about!  I love lemon macarons, so I was excited to try their lemon praline flavor.  Additionally, I think I have been on a pistachio kick, so it has been fun comparing the different pistachio flavors and this one was a definite contender.

Lemon Praline- This was not your typical lemon.  It had what seemed to be a lemon curd on the sides with a praline ganache in the center.  It was a delightful mix of refreshing and savory.  The combination was unique for me but felt very special.  The lemon was creamy and pale in color, which differed from the bright color you usually see in a fruit flavored macaron.  I loved how the lemon flavor lingered long after the bites were done.

Pistachio- This macaron had a strong pistachio flavor.  Some pistachio macarons are more subtle while the actual nuttiness of this one really came across.  It was a perfect cross between crumbly and solidly together.  It was just delicious and had my usual favorite; a cracking shell and moist fresh inside.  To top it off, the color in side was such a pretty green inside maintaining its beauty as I ate it.  Yum!!!

Who should go here: This is a great place for a macaron lover to try.  I think a person who particularly likes the tea flavors would appreciate their variety: Jasmine Tea, Darjeeling Tea, and Chai Tea.

I'll definitely be stopping by the shop to try: Bacon & Maple Syrup, Classic Lemon, and Dark Chocolate. 

Bosie Tea Parlor

Twitter: @Bosienyc

10 Morton Street, NY

bosienyc.com

Mad Mac Macarons NYC- Crazy About Them!!

At the Bastille Day celebration, it nice to see founders, and pastry chefs, Florien Bellanger and Ludovic Augendre behind the table, smiling and selling their beautiful macarons.  They specialize in French macarons, madeleines and caneles.

On this day, they were selling the macarons in bags on paired flavors and I was pleased to pick up a bag of classic flavors: chocolate and pistachio.  Note: They freeze amazingly!

Chocolate- This macaron literally melted in my mouth.  It has a slight crunch through shell and is full of silky chocolate ganache.  This macaron has a beautiful chocolate flavor. Sometimes when you eat a chocolate macaron, you can still taste the almond and they are not very chocolaty.  However, this is not that case with this macaron.  It was delicious and I'm so glad I had 2 more to try!

Pistachio- Upon tasting this macaron, I realize that I have been using the word "delicate" too loosely.  This was the most delicate macaron I have tasted recently.  I actually loved that because it felt so special and needed to be handled with care.  I just loved how soft and tender it was.  The amount of pistachio filling was not visually overwhelming but the flavor packed such a punch that it was perfect.

Who should order from here: These are delicious and affordable!  Great for office meetings and parties.  You can also order them and freeze them for yourself!

I'll definitely be placing an order to try: I cannot wait until their Winter Collection! The flavors are pumpkin, cinnamon, earl grey, orange/chocolate, chestnut/whiskey.  I would also want more chocolate!

Mad Mac NYC 
They ship nationwide!
Twitter: @madmacnyc
http://www.madmacnyc.com/

Mille-feuille Bakery Cafe- Blew me away!

Those who have read my previous posts will not be surprised to find that this was a purchase from the 60th Street Bastille Day celebration in NYC.  Through the hustle and bustle of the busy street fair, I managed to purchase these delectable treats on July 13th.
Unfortunately, they did not make it home safety and were smashed, but this did not deter me.  I was still very excited to try them.

I decided to order two flavors that I don't ordinarily order, once again.  I ordered raspberry and Dulce de leche.  It was very clear that they were made with the finest of ingredients because it comes through in every bite.

Raspberry- This macaron was so soft and it simply dissolved in my mouth.  It was not overly sweet for a fruit flavor and seemed to be filled with fresh fruit jam.  If not for the delicate cookie I would have forgotten that I was indeed eating a macaron and not a fresh raspberry.

Dulce de leche- Wow! This was so flavorful.  The taste just overwhelms my mouth and taste buds.  They were simply soft, fresh & amazing. I definitely recommend this one!

Who should go here: A true macaron lover looking to try some made with delicious ingredients.  This is also a good start for a first timer!!

I'll definitely be stopping by the shop to try: I'm not sure of their other flavors, but I would love to try more of the classics, definitely the fruit flavors.

Mille-feuille Bakery Cafe

552 Laguardia Pl, New York 10012
2175 Broadway, New York 10024

Twitter: @millefeuillenyc

http://www.millefeuille-nyc.com/

Tiny Treats Cafe- A Tasty Small Bite

Right away, I have to say that I love the playful box. It kept my delicate treats safe all the way home from the Bastille Day NYC celebration on 60th street. The macarons came pre-selected, 4 to a box, for $5 per box. This seemed pretty affordable.

"Tiny Treats" they definitely are! I would describe them as an amuse-bouche dessert. I managed to eat them in two bites, but that was not without missing a crumb or two of the shell. They have the flavor of classic French macarons, but a little bit smaller.

The flavors that I was happy to enjoy were raspberry, apricot, chocolate and coffee. At first glance, these macarons did not appear to have very much filling. But after taking a bite, I found them to be bursting with flavor! While the actual amount is not plentiful, any more filling would actually end up overwhelming the cookie. Well done! The shells were all delicate and crackled upon the first bite. The cookies, or biscuits, were fantastically soft and fresh.

I thought that they two fruit flavors were very good. It was actually my first time tasting a coffee macaron and I enjoyed it. As for the chocolate, I found it to be so chocolaty and smooth for such a small bite. This one was my favorite. Because I also love to eat chocolate, I am sometimes disappointed by chocolate macarons, but this one did not disappoint!

Who should go here: Great for anyone trying a variety of flavors, someone new to macarons, a person watching their waist but wanting the delicious treat, to accompany other desserts either in their cafe or at home (remember, they travel well in that box!).

I'll definitely be stopping by the shop to try: Lemon, Vanilla and Pistachio
Although, I'm not 100% that their shop is officially open yet.

Tiny Treats Cafe

Twitter: @TinyTreatsCafe

http://www.tinytreatscafe.com/
http://www.tinytreats.biz/

Macaron Parlour Patisserie - A Twist on the Classics

I think my mouth just exploded with flavor! I'm not even sure where to start.

I was very glad to come upon this stand at the Bastille Day street celebration on July 13th, 2014. In an attempt to try many different macarons from different bakeries, I walked around buying several from everyone and saving them to savor at home at my leisure. Okay, that was the back story leading up the wonderful moment when I opened up my baggy storing the macarons. I opened it up and the smell of bacon, yes bacon!, filled the air. I know, that's not your first thought when you hear about macarons. Allow me to explain.

I ordered 3 flavors: Party Time, Strawberry and Candied Bacon. 

Strawberry, with white chocolate ganache, was a very refreshing flavor. I loved the pink color inside, revealed after the first bite. The taste of strawberry lingered, which I enjoyed. It was not overly fruity since it was accompanied by the white chocolate. Yum!!  

Party Time is salted milk chocolate with dulce de leche. Unfortunately, being chocolate in the summertime, it did not make it all the way home without getting a little melty. Therefore, a picture was not included. That being said, it was such a fun flavor! The French macaron had different color specks throughout the shell. As for the filling, you taste both flavors equally which was delightful because it wasn't overly salty or overly sweet.  If you love chocolate but are looking to try something new, this is for you!

Candied Bacon with maple cream cheese was shockingly delicious! At first bite, it was a little tricky to eat since there was an actual piece of bacon in it but it was that perfect mix of salty and sweet. As I was eating it, I had wished I saved it for breakfast, imagining how good it would be with coffee in the morning. In fact, I saved half for tomorrow so that I can continue to enjoy it! While the bacon adds fun and flavor to the macaron, my favorite part was the maple cream cheese. 

I found these macarons to definitely be a new twist on the classics. They were a little larger than others which gave me the opportunity to save some and also share some. I thought that they were a bit less delicate then some other macarons, but equally as fresh and soft. 

Who should go here: Anyone interested in a modern twist on classic French macaron with a foodie palette! 

I'll definitely be stopping by the shop to try: Lemon (my personal favorite macaron flavor) and Cheetos.

Macaron Parlour Patisserie

Two Locations:

111 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave & Avenue A in NYC and 560 Columbus Avenue between 87th & 87th Streets

http://www.macaronparlour.com/

Provence en Boite & Bastille Day!

On an incredibly hot day, I still could not resist the temptation to drop into Provence en Boite, a French Patisserie & Bistro.  I was greeted with friendly smiles and was delighted to see that they were carrying macarons in their bakery display.  Let me note that this is not a macaron shop, but a bistro and bakery with deliciously fresh croissants and other baked goods. They also sell macarons. The server, Mike, was incredibly nice and truly made my day with his friendliness. 

The regular size macarons are $2 there- affordable!  He mentioned that they sell large macarons for $3.50 but they were sold out.  They also sell minis for $1.

Flavors sampled worth mentioning: strawberry, orange and pistachio. They each had nice filling, although I would have enjoyed the cookies with a bit more of it. 

Additionally, if you are free Sunday you should head down and check out their Bastille Day celebration. They are closing off the whole block. There will be food, drinks and live music!!

**Bastille Day 2014 at Smith St. and Degraw St., Brooklyn NY July 13th starting at 11am.

Who is this good for: Great place for someone who wants to enjoy either French food or croissants and would also like to grab a macaron with an espresso.  Just ask if they are fresh.

The ambiance and service made the trip enjoyable and worth the visit.  It's in a great location and everyone was very friendly. When I return, I hope to finally sit down to enjoy some of the food and try the larger size macaron!

Provence en Boite

263 Smith Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

http://www.provenceenboite.com/

Spot Dessert Bar- So Fresh!

Yesterday I was eating at a food court on 32nd street, enjoying sushi and wonderful company.  On my walk out, I notice a beautiful dessert display.  I didn't stop for a snack and instead walked my friend Mari back to her job. As I walked to the bus stop, I could hear those delectable treats calling my name.  So, needless to say, I went back!  Up the stairs on the third floor was Spot Dessert Bar.  I thought I would take a chance and try a few new flavors so I ordered the Green Tea and Oreo macarons, at about $2.50 each.  I left, waited for the bus and headed home.  Once home, relaxed and free of distractions, I bit into the freshest French macarons I have had in a long time (roughly 2 months).  The shell was a perfect delicate texture and the cookie was soft and delicious!  Being that it was my first time with those flavors, I'll say that I liked them.  More then that, I would love to try the others!!  They sure did hit the "Spot!"  Well done!

Spot Dessert Bar: KoreaTown
Food Gallery 32 Top Floor
11 W32nd Street
New York, NY 10001

http://www.spotdessertbar.com/

My First Time- When was yours??

I can still remember the first time I tried a French Macaron.  I was in Paris with my sisters and my mom.  We had just finished a terrific hike up the Arc de Triomphe and began to make our way down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.  We were doing our usual drop-ins and window shopping when we walked into Publicis Drug Store and began to browse around.  That is when I was struck with the beautiful macarons at a small stand in the store.  It was MACARONS & CHOCOLATS PIERRE HERMÉ PARIS- also known as my heaven on earth. Kelly, my younger sister whom at this point had become quite aware with how much I was dying to try this delectable cookie, and I scrounged up with few Euros we had in our purses.  We had just enough to purchase 4 French macarons, one for each of us.  Kelly and I decided to split ours so that we could at least try two flavors.  From that very first bite, I was in love.  With a single bite of hers, I was hooked!  Je t'aime Paris- I’ll be back one day.

Do you remember your first time??

Macaronathon™

So in my new search, I have come across this 2012 post on Grubstreet - New York Macaron Map.  Although I'm not 100% sure that its accurate, the Macaronathon™ seems like a good place to start for my search.  I have been to several of these already but I'm happy to revisit them.  There are definitely places selling macarons on Staten Island, so this is definitely outdated.  Maybe I'll start there, with the "Forgotten Borough."

Finding the "Perfect" French Macaron

As I sat eating my 5th French Macaron of the season I wondered if there was a website where I can find where macarons are sold in NYC and which are the best.  To my surprise, finding such a site dedicated to celebrating all the bakeries that carry this delicious treat was hard to find.  I came across many people demonstrating valiant attempts at creating these cookies at home.  I also found many people who are selling them.  But I did not find anyone who was critiquing, analyzing and just simply enjoying this delicious treat.  With that, I have decided to start my very first blog, The French Macaron Critic, in order to make these treats more accessible to everyone, at least while the boom is still here!  Enjoy!