Gerbet Macaron

Place: PARIS

Crispy outside, chewy inside, simply scrumptious, small package,  big flavor... What is it?

MACARONS (in French)!  Macaroons (in English)

 Yes, you guessed it.

 You can find these all over Paris, if not all over France. These miniature jewels are a joy to have with your espresso or tea on a warm, or cold, or for that matter, any afternoon.  I think one of the great things about a Macaron is the size of  it: SMALL. You can have 1 or 3 and still feel that you haven't overindulged yourself.

 Place: NEW YORK

 Now, think about walking in the streets of the cosmopolitan New York City: chic, sophisticated and proud New York. It's 3 pm in  the afternoon and you crave an espresso. What to have with it?  Let me see......

(Well, let's not even mention the fact that you can hardly find a decent shot of espresso in the city. Pathetic!)

But, what about that thing to have with your....ehm...coffee?

 Macaron? I don't think so. More like a 6-inch cookie monster or a dinner size cupcake, or a quarter (for heaven's sake) of a 9-inch cake. Why does everything have to be so big?  I wish I could find  a small, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie or biscotti. And when I  ask for such, people usually look at me like I have four heads.

I believe that great things come in small packages.

Quality,  quality, quality 

and not

quantity, quantity, quantity.  

I guess I'll have to keep dreaming for now.  Let's go back to Macarons!

Enjoy these pictures of macarons baked by some of my students.  These almond flavored little bites are filled with innumerable options: jams, preserves, buttercream, ganache...your  imagination is the limit.