Best macarons in Toronto?

[dapan]

Can anyone tell me if there are any good macarons in Toronto?

[edible n]

Feel like I've tried macarons everywhere in this city and am consistently drawn back to La Bamboche (close second is Bobette and Belle). Here's why:

Bamboche consistently has the best pistachio and salted caramel (which are my two favourite flavours) and then they always have two or three flavours of the month, which are a bit exotic and fun.

The shell is nice and firm and you get a perfect crunch when you bite in, but then is incredibly soft and lush the rest of the way through. Their non-chocolate fillings are always silky smooth and have a great flavour profile.

I know some people are only looking to flavour, but to me texture is just as important with a macaron. Tastes are obviously very subjective and what you look for may be different than me, but I've tried Nadege, Rahier, Ruelo, MoRoCo, Thuet, Bobette and Belle, Patachou, and Thobor's and none of them are as good as Bamboche in my opinion.

Bamboche currently has a hazlenut flavour with a great chocolate center - yum.

[ylsf]

There is a macarons deal on Groupon today. a dozen for $19.99 from Ruelo - Figured people reading this thread but get use out of it:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/ruelo-pa...

I will probably pass because it would mean a special trip, and, I would probably want to eat all 12 myself if I got a variety!

[estufarian]

It says "$40 value" which would make them over $3 each - I recall they were around $28/dozen when I bought them (could be wrong) but can't believe they were $3.30 each by the dozen!
However, It's still a deal, although only around 30% off NOT half price.

[ace123]

Don't know how Ruelo compares with Louis XIV.
Living Deal is now offering 1 dozen for $12 at Louis XIV.

Nadege is selling 1 dozen of macaron for $25.

[Borbor]

the two are not even in the same league

[Charles Yu]

Ruelo's version in my opinion is a bit too sweet, rough with an edge, and expensive.
Used to be my favorite, but nowadays, I found their pastries down-sized, presentation simplified and becoming quite overpriced as well!! Compare to say, Rahier!

[caitlink]

I looked at both deals Louis and Ruelo. And even after discount - still did not buy since not worth my trek over to Richmond Hill.
Have not been able to find good macaroons in TO.

I think the ones I bought from Bouchon when I was last in the US were 6 for $18. And much too sweet as well.

[TorontoJo]

Ruelo has a location at Yonge and Eglinton, as well. They are still my favourite in Toronto.

[ylsf]

The "value" might include tax took. Didn't look closely at this particular deal... I know what you are saying though, often the "stated" value is overstated with these deal sites.

[TheRichardX]

Tried La Bamboche, Ruelo, Rahier and Butter Avenue on Macaron day. I would say the best is Butter Avenue, the texture and the flavours are superb, my favorite is sea salt caramel. La Bamboche is a bit dry and everything crumbles after the first bite...didn't like anything I try there. Ruelo is not bad but most of them are too sweet, only the earl grey one is ok. Rahier...I always love their chocolate croissant but the macaron is disappointing.....

[Kellz]

Bread and Roses at Bloor & Runnymede!

[miffymiffster]

Definitely Nadege on Queen Street. Their cakes also incorporate macaroons.
So delicate and light.. you will see what i mean. Actually I am not a fan of macaroons but I do like the ones at Nadege.

[estufarian]

I've always found their macarons too sweet.
Recently tried some from the new Yonge St location - and again too sweet. However I did prefer the texture there. Good balnce of chewiness.But as I have generally preferred the Thuet macarons when they're a day old, I wonder if these were actually 'day old' Nadege - made at /for Queen St and arriving at Yonge a day later.

[freelancer]

Never been a fan of Nadege.... But I love the ones at Bobette and Belle. O & B Artisan sells them now.

[millygirl]

I'm with you freelancer. Love Bobette and Belle.

[MELCH]

I find them too sweet at Bobette & Belle and the flavours don't really come through. Haven't had any in Toronto that come anywhere close to the real thing.

[Rio_Rio]

I like the macaroons from Petite Thuet. Bit over priced though.

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Petite Thuet
244 King St E, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

[staceya02]

Has anyone tried the Macarons at Cake Opera (on Eglinton W near the Allen Rd). While I don't love all the flavours, the salted chocolate caramel macaron that I had there was the best I've ever tasted! I like the filling to be a bit chewier, as opposed to fluffly cream, so these were perfect for me!! Yum!

[MichelinHound]

To start with, the gold standard for macaroons is Laduree where I've had them numerous times. That said, no one in Toronto makes great macaroons. They are difficult to make & you can't cut corners with food coloring or the type of eggs white being used. We tried all of the ones mentioned here in desperation. None of them are close. The best ones however are at Thuet's and only if they haven't been sitting there for a week (which can happen). Better than Thuet's & the best in Canada & closest to Laduree are the ones at Thomas Haas in Vancouver. (we were disappointed with Montreal too).

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Thuet
609 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

[prima]

Maybe the best GTA macarons are found in Markham. I like the rose lychee macaron from Ruelo better than any macarons I've had from Laduree or anywhere else in France.

Some foods are just better outside Toronto. Pina Coladas, fish tacos, grilled octopus, Maritimes-style lobster, Philly Cheesesteak. I'm ok with that. Means I can look forward to some treats if I get a chance to visit regions that do those dishes well. ;-)

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Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[elvisahmed]

really better than Laudrees!!!! I got to try these even though it means going all the way to Markham. Any other recommendations for flavors at Ruelo Prima? BTW Michelenhound I think the Macaroons at Thomas Haas were good as well but not close to Laudrees IMO.

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Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[prima]

elvisahmed, I have a feeling it was mostly the flavour combination that I liked. I'm not trying to say that a macaron fanatic or a macaron traditionalist will like the Ruelo version over Laduree- I'm just saying that I liked the Ruelo version better. I'd bet many Laduree fans like Laduree over every other macaron on the planet, and that it's not worth their time to look for macarons outside France.

I'm not a macaron fanatic (if I was to compare apples to oranges, I generally prefer dumplings to macarons), and I don't go too far out of my way for macarons, so I don't want to get your hopes up too high. ;-) But for Markham, they're a tasty treat. Maybe some other posters can mention flavours they like at Ruelo.

While you're in the neighbourhood, consider stopping at John's BBQ for King of Char Siu or Northern Dumpling Kitchen. ;-)

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Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

Northern Dumpling Kitchen
550 7 Hwy E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B3Z4, CA

[elvisahmed]

Well I guess I have something to look forward too on my next visit up to Markham. I mean I guess we are just affeciandos here and besides food is very personal so what I like might not be liked by anyone else. Thanks for keeping my hopes in check. Not big on dumplings myself but will surely check em out. Thanks for the info.

[MichelinHound]

Tried Ruelo also. No dice. Anyone who puts food coloring is automatically disqualified in my books & standards. I found the ones at Ruelo to be sub-par for several reasons: a) use of food colorant, b) shell was soggy, c) interior too creamy, d) not bursting with the flavors you expect, e) they were not displayed in a cool place. Sorry.

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Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[prima]

As with every recommendation made on this Board, your mileage may vary.

Maybe there's a consistency issue at Ruelo. The meringue shell on my macaron wasn't soggy.

By interior, are you talking about the filling, or the interior of the meringue shell?

Also possible the heat wave in late July would have had an impact on macarons & meringue. Toronto has a lot more humidity that Paris ever does, and it will have an adverse effect on meringue.

I tried the Ruelo rose lychee macaron in the early spring, when there was no humidity.

Not sure why food colouring is such a no-no if it doesn't change the taste or texture.

Have you tried La Bamboche?

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La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[prima]

Recently, I was lucky enough to have a fresh, rose Laduree macaron. It was good, but I liked Ruelo's rose lychee macaron better!

That being said, the salt caramel Laduree macaron was the best macaron I've ever had. But the Ruelo rose lychee is my second favourite, followed by Laduree's lemon thyme.

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Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[elvisahmed]

An older thread folks but I would like share Ruelo has opened up in another location its north of Eglinton on Yonge
A friend tried them and found them to be the same as RH location
Here is the address
4 Erskine Ave
Toronto, ON M4P 1Y8
I will try them out the first chance I get.

[prima]

Butter Avenue on Yonge near Yonge Blvd is also selling macarons, in case anyone wants to do a taste test.

http://www.butteravenue.com/

[fickle]

thanks for the tip, I'm a fan of Ruelo's

[junkie]

i'm also a huge fan of Ruelo's... the best i have found in toronto followed by la bamboche. butter avenue is alright although their flavours have been pretty boring so i hope that they come up with more eclectic flavours like the teas that are posted on their facebook.. furthermore, the prices at Ruelo can rack up to $5 depending on the flavours but you pay for what you get... pure quality. and they have quite a delightful selection. love the asian influenced flavours such as wasabi grapefruit, green tea sesame, etc... they are all great!

on a side note.... stay far away from pusateri's/wholefoods and sugar tiers macarons. they are plain garbage.

[elvisahmed]

yeah my friend tried Black Truffle one and it was 5$!! that's more expensive then the yardstick Laduree'!
Ah well I will try some when I go there I think Prima mentioned rose one's am excited.

[TorontoJo]

This is very happy news, thanks!

[MichelinHound]

I didn't say Thomas Haas was better than Laduree. I said they are the best I've had between Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

[wontonfm]

I agree. Macarons in Toronto aren't even near the level of some the famous Parisian shops. I was recently in London and had macarons every day from either Laduree or Pierre Herme. Upon returning to Toronto I tried a few shops (including Nadege, Moroco etc) and the macarons here don't have anywhere to the same intensity of flavours.

They aren't bad as a stand alone treat if you haven't had the "real" thing but my recent trip abroad ruined me for at least the next few months.

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.net

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Moroco
99 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 3K3, CA

[elvisahmed]

Ditto to what you said after I had Laudrees at Harrods I can't seem to get that taste and texture out of my mind. I wonder if Montreal or Quebec City have an answer as they are pretty much up there when it comes to Breads and other Patisserie items.

[RogerDoger]

Canadian eggs just are not up for the job... that is one of the main reasons european ones are different...

[wontonfm]

I tried a rosewater macaron from Petit Thuet this weekend and did not enjoy it at all. There was not even a hint of rosewater. The macaron shell was covered in granulated sugar which made for a weird texture on the outside. The macaron itself was oddly cakey.

WON

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Thuet
609 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

[currycue]

Even finding good macarons outside of Paris I found difficult on a recent trip to Rouen and Lille. Only the ones at Patisserie Meert in Lille came close to the Laduree ones, so I can't hold it against our Toronto shops for coming up short.

[BigGShammy]

La Bamboche's macarons are far superior to Nadege's. Bamboche's are larger, have a better crunchier and chewier texture, and better flavors, especially their pistachio!!! Well worth the extra 50 Cents! Nadege's blackberry chocolate and mojito flavors are just gross. I have yet to try Thuet's. P.S. Pusateri's red velvet flavor is amazing, still not as good as Bamboche. And Moroco's macarons in Yorkville are a joke. They are so sweet and dry, that I will not even classify them as food. In conclusion, go to Bamboche and you won't regret it.

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Thuet
609 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Moroco
99 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 3K3, CA

[chefhound]

Just tried Ruelo this weekend. The macarons are great. A bit too sweet maybe but the flavours are great, except for the black truffle, which didn't taste like truffle at all.

I know a lot of people are discussing the texture but i really look for the flavour. When it's supposed to be a sour cherry macaron, I want to taste sour cherry! I had a sour cherry macaron at Bisous Ciao in NY recently and it was pretty good but didn't taste very much like sour cherry. The texture was really good though. And the packaging was gorgeous! Also had some from the Macaron Parlour in NY. Interesting flavours, some good, some ok. The texture was a bit dry though.

Anyway, back to Toronto, I've had the macarons from La Bamboche, Petite Thuet, Pusateri's and Ruelo. Flavour-wise, I have to say I prefer the flavours from Ruelo and Pusateri's (supplied by Bobette and Belle?). I particularly like the Rose Lychee and Orange Cream Cheese from Ruelo. I'm looking forward to my next trip there. I also like the Mojito ones from Pusateri's.

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Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[Borbor]

Try their balsamic mac next time you go. jacqueline's did an awesome job coming up with that one IMO. First tried it in the Food&Gourmet show in 09 an I think everytime I go there I have to have a couple :)

[red dragon]

The balsamic macaron sounds interesting.

I wish Jacqueline would get her hours straight. Her website under "the shop" says she opens at 1pm, and her blog lists opening at 12:30 pm. I emailed her last night and she emailed me back, saying she would be open at 11:30 am today.

We waited 15 minutes and had to leave for a lunch date. I called at 12:20 and she said she was open at 12:30. I told her she had said 11:30 in her email to me and she said sorry. Wow, that was a bit of a turn off. I'll stop by if I'm in the area, but won't make a point of going out of my way!

Does anyone know how much her macarons are? Her website just lists cake prices.

[currycue]

Another Macaron lead. A co-worker brought in some impressive ones (not quite Laduree, but then again, who is?) They were from Bobbette and Belle:

http://www.bobbetteandbelle.com/

[jlunar]

Yes, they just opened up a shop on Queen East. Hope to hit it later today.

[syoung]

The Bobbette macarons are discussed above. They were (are?) available at McEwans.

[SharkfinSoup]

Dunno....I went to Bobette & Belle days after they opened and I loved their macarons - particularly the passionfruit & white chocolate - yum! I don't know whether Bobette & Belle supplied(s) McEwen....but personally, I found McEwan's macarons very uninspiring - they tasted a bit like a damp basement smells :( - (kept in a fridge/freezer too long perhaps). I also read somewhere recently that B & B supply Pusateri's - so who knows? My recipe for macaron nirvana....go to Bobette & Belle in Leslieville and try them there - at the source.

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Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

[peppermint pate]

Just drove past this store the other evening and wondered what it was - looks beautiful from the outisde. A lot of their pastries look gorgeous but a bit fancy for everyday consumption - did you happen to try anything else when you were there?

[SharkfinSoup]

Yes, we tried this wonderful square too - shortbread base, chocolate, nuts, all sorts of surgary yumminess. We were told by one of the owners that her inspiration for this creation came from childhood - something her Gran used to make. So yes, it does look fancy but they sell lovely "rustic" goodies too. The best of both worlds?

[peppermint pate]

Mmm, sounds yummy. Thanks. Are they set up as a cafe at all or is it strictly take-away?

[SharkfinSoup]

Well, it's really take-away - there is some lovely seating but they don't really offer bevvies....They had coffee in those flask things, but no espresso machine.

[jayzie1]

There's no espresso machine (plenty of other places to get that in Leslieville), but they do offer teas and a divine hot chocolate made with homemade marshmallows.

[jlunar]

It's a really nice shop. I just went by last night and took some shots.

The macarons were pretty. I had the vanilla, passionfruit, raspberry, and pistachio. I liked the chew, but the cookie had a lot of air in it. I'll... get shots up eventually.

Had the whoopie pies - red velvet and salted caramel. Meh. Pass. The cake itself was dry.

Just ate the raspberry marshmallows and really enjoyed those. Would buy again.

[syoung]

What don't you know? Unless McEwans was selling counterfeit goods, those were B&B macarons.

[currycue]

Went in and tried two yesterday. Pistachio, great! Raspberry, too sweet. What I think separates good ones from mediocre is the fact that the cookie is so sweet to begin with, why use a sweet filling? They should have used a tart raspberry jam instead.

[chefhound]

If Bobette & Belle are the suppliers of Pusateri's macarons, then they are amazing. I've eaten a lot of macarons lately. In addition to places around Toronto, I've just come back from NY, where I tried macarons from The Macaron Parlour and Bisous Ciao and I have to say, the ones I've had from Pusateri's were better. So if Bobette & Belle are indeed the suppliers, then it's definitely worth a trip to Leslieville.

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Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

[dg26]

Had a chance to pop in and clarify this from Pusateri's...the macarons at all Pusateri's locations is from Sweet Definition.

www.sweetdefinition.com

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Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

[freelancer]

Bobette and Belle supplies O & B Artisan at the Eaton Centre/Bay. I asked specifically.

[julesrules]

I just bought a box from LemonTree in the St Lawrence Market. I've tried two so far. The rest I will have to share with the family!
These are the freshest I've had yet (my main points of reference are Thuet and La Bamboche). The outside of the cookie shatters while the inside remains chewy. However, I find the cookie and buttercream filling a little too sweet & bland. The spiced pear was very disappointing, very little pear flavour. The salted caramel was much better, hard to miss that flavour. But the remaining flavours I haven't sample are kind of boring to me (vanilla, lemon, mocha, pistachio) - I'd generally rather have vanilla ice cream, a lemon tart, etc. So La Bamboche, with their more exotic flavours, wins out for me. But these are fresh and the young woman selling them is lovely.

[julesrules]

Spoke too soon.. the lemon and vanilla ones were really nice and well-flavoured. Pistachio and moca meh. All varieties very fresh.

[Crispier Crouton]

Bamboche has always been my number one spot. Dropped by yesterday for the White Chocolate Vanilla (very substantial and satisfying, a touch on the sweet side. White Chocolate is very apparent, the vanilla, not so much. Can't complain about that balance of flavours.) and the Ume & Sake. This is an unconventional, but brilliant macaron. The ume is a bit on the gentle side, but the sake speaks clearly, pleasantly, and offers a nice yeasty aroma before even taking a bite. This morsel embodied sake in a way I wasn't expecting. I also like how they use a touch of salt in most of their macarons to counterbalance the sweetness. Best flavour I've tried there yet.

[larossa]

Gotta give a thumbs up to Nadege for their macaroons, they rarely disappoint.

Also outstanding is their salted caramel round tarte, like biting into a bit of heaven.

[duckdown]

A new pastry shop at Heartland Town Center in Mississauga opened up and they specialize in imported macarons from Montreal, from a place called Point.G

There is at least 20 flavors.

[apple_pie]

where in Heartland? do you know the name of the store?

[duckdown]

It's in a brand new plaza at Heartland, most of the stores in the strip are not open yet or have just opened. The store is called SWEETS Cafe & Patisserie, and I can tell you I am a huge fan of their crispy, buttery cheese croissants. I only tried one or two macarons but have never really seen the huge appeal of them to begin with. They are imported from Point.G in Quebec and have a huge array of flavors.

Here is their website

http://sweetsbymarlene.com/

cheers :-

)

If anybody tries them, I'd be curious to know if these are considered really good macarons since my experience with them is very limited.

[demeen25]

Thanks for letting me know about this place, duckdown. We're going to try it out this weekend.

[bunnylicious]

When I went to Montreal last Christmas, I spoke to the owner of Point G. He is from France and if I'm not mistaken, he learnt from Pierre Herme. He mentioned to me that they supplied the macarons to David's tea in Montreal. I find Point G`s macarons to be quite nice enjoyed fresh from their store; I`ve really enjoyed the chocolate sesame, raspberry rosemary and apricot-tea. But I`m not certain how well they travel (frozen is one thing, but macarons are pretty delicate!) and how good they would be here. Certainly willing to sacrifice myself and give them a try :)

Another good place for macarons in Mtl is Maison du macaron - alas, I have not managed to convince them to expand to Toronto!

[duckdown]

Cool, thanks for the info

Just want to add that I stopped into Sweets tonight to pick up a few croissants (my family really enjoys them, especially when they're fresh) and noticed they are running a promotion for macarons where you don't pay tax when you buy 6 or 12

[bunnylicious]

Would you happen to remember how much it was for 6/12 macarons?
Thanks!

[bunnylicious]

Ok, since I had an errand to run in Mississauga today, decided to check Sweets Pastry shop out for myself. There are several tables to sit and enjoy a coffee and pastry or light lunch. Nice looking pastries and macarons on display. The macarons are 2$ each. I bought a dozen and though a few were a bit sweeter than I recall, overall we enjoyed them. The texture and freshness were both fine, perhaps not quite as they are when purchased right at the source, but in my opinion better than most of what you get around Toronto. I also got two croissants, one plain and one chocolate, and thoroughly enjoyed both.

I chatted with the owners for a bit and they seem like lovely people. I wish them all the best!

[demeen25]

My wife and I made the journey across the city to try the macarons at Sweets Café. We picked up 10 in a variety of flavours. The ones that we liked the most were the Lemon Basil and Espresso. They are indeed from Point G because it was written all over the packaging. Although we could tell the macarons were not fresh, they were still decent (better than Ruelo and Petite Thuet). So far, Bamboche is still tops in our books. Next stop...Lemontree.

[kaguya]

Aughhh. Because I've been to Nadege and La Bamboche.... SWEETS in mississauga is simply horrible in comparison. :/ Small, and just full of sugar. FULL OF SUGAR. But maybe it's ok for people who like them overly sweet.

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La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[Miss Cassandra]

I think they're closed for good. I went by on my way home from work after seeing this discussion eager to try the macarons but the place was empty. Only the built-in display cases remain. Lots of finger and hand prints on the window from people cupping their faces to get a better look inside.

[demeen25]

I joined my wife on the quest to find the best macarons in Toronto. So far, we've been to Ruelo, Nadege, Sweet Escape, La Bamboche, Petite Thuet and others not even worth mentioning. We have come to the conclusion that La Bamboche has come out on top. But as soon as my wife perfects baking the cookie. She'll have the best in town! :)

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La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Sweet Escape
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

Petite Thuet
1 King St W, Toronto, ON M5J, CA

[estufarian]

When I tried Bamboche, I found them MUCH too sweet. Are they still sweet, or have they adjusted their recipe?

[julesrules]

I think they have changed their recipe since earliest reports, because they are not too sweet at all. And they have great flavours. My only issue with them is that they are not always 100% fresh - not stale in texture, but a slight fridge flavour around the edges if you know what I mean. By the time I get to the delicious middle I don't notice it anymore. I've enjoyed the yuzu, salted caramel and mango/passionfruit the most.

[estufarian]

I do recall a slight 'chewiness' - which could be age related. But, indeed, they do seem to have some different flavours. Any idea which days are best to get them fresh? Seems like another test is warranted.

[MontessoriChild]

Allergy alert: I just found out that La Bamboche uses food grade colouring for their macarons. (This was because I broke out with hives after eating 2 of their products - and went back to the store to find out exactly what went into them.)
Too bad, because they are very very good!

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La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[demeen25]

I don't find them sweet at all. Don't know how they were before because the first time I tried them was only a couple of months ago.

[estufarian]

Well, I did put my money where my moth is and try Bamboche again.
They were MUCH better - the overriding sweetness has disappeared, so at least I was able to discern some subtleties.
Overall I was impressed, maybe in the top 1/3 of those I've tried. But they're also posibly the most expensive - certainly in the top 1/3 also. And the interesting flavours semed to all be in the slightly smaller version.
Texture was good (but not excellent). The biscuit collapses to the touch but doesn't really crumble - I'm not sure why this is, as I've never made macarons. My first impresion was that the pieces were slightly 'wet' so they held together, but on reflection, it may have been slightly unbalanced ingredients. Not a real problem, just a slight difference in style.
The filling was also 'not quite right' - but certainly palatable. I tried four different versions and the filling was certainly consistent - but consistently light (as in whipped cream, not 'cream'). There also seemed to be a 'centre dome' of filling at the centre of each macaron (i.e. the top biscuit seemed to be slightly hollow at the centre). Again this would certainly be a personal preference, but I found the impression 'too soft'.
Flavours were mostly subdued - with the exception of the roasted sweet potato, which is reminiscent of a pumpkin pie (well-spiced).

So I can see why this is some people's favourite. I prefer a little more 'chew' in the finish whereas these were consistently 'light' right through.
Good, but mild flavours, good attempt, much improved - but I'm sticking with Thuet for now.

[mango_madness]

try the Sweet Escape Patisserie in the Distillery District or La Bamboche near Davisville Station... Pusateri's also has a nice selection

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Distillery District
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Sweet Escape
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

[uberathlete]

Not in Toronto but if you're willing to make the track, Sweets Pastry Shop and Cafe in Mississauga has macarons on the level of Nadege.

[kaguya]

no good...

[Transomnia33]

Hands down, the best macarons I've had in Toronto are from Nadege on Queen West near Trinity Bellwoods. Totally authentic in every way.

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Bellwood Restaurant
756 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J1E9, CA

[LTL]

Flavour being the exception. Although I loved the texture, the majority of the flavours I tried were overly sweet, some chemically so.

[belindachun]

I'd say Nadege on Queen Street West near Trinity Bellwoods has great macarons they also just opened up a patio space and you can sit indoors and out and enjoy the sun and munch with a friend. A great meeting up place. If it's for a special event the other place by order is Opera Cakes!

[tapin]

The best macarons are at the St Lawrence market south side downstairs. A young girl makes them and sell them on Saturday. The best so far mojito flavor and salted caramel. And I loved the lavender one.

[currycue]

Tried out Lemon Tree at the SLM on Saturday and... they were good. Really good! Maybe not as good as Laduree, but certainly as good as Meert. I'll be ordering from Kelly for sure. Very impressed!

[red dragon]

Hi Currycue, we bought two macarons to try from Lemon Tree today (SLM) too.

One cafe au lait and one french vanilla bean, they were indeed good. I think they're small in comparison to other places though, but price/size does vary. They cost $1.50 each.

[elvisahmed]

Hi red Dragon where is the Lemon Tree located in SLM? I tried to look for it a couple of weeks ago and couldn't find it? Its not listed on the website as well.

[Wahooty]

You're looking for more of a tiny little table than a shop per se. She sets up outside the gourmet shop in the middle of the lower level, near Rube's Rice if I remember correctly.

[elvisahmed]

Well I finally found the stand! its very easy to miss but alas the place had small sign saying that they will be closed till last week of September.

[red dragon]

Glad you found it elvisahmed. We actually bumped into it! It is very tiny. Did you try/buy any of the macarons?

[elvisahmed]

Well Unfortunately it was closed and looks like its going to be like that for a while :( I had a craving for Macaroons and was looking forward. Last time I tried them was in Montreal Premiere Maison and Europea and it reminded me of my childhood in Europe. Why done't we have a place like Premiere Maison in Toronto I mean the city is big enough to support one big amazing bakery like that! I tried the one's at Nadege last year maybe it was bad batch as I didn't find them anything special.

[red dragon]

Oh, that's too bad. There are a lot of great reviews on other places here, I might try a few of them. I also googled how to make them, I might attempt that as well!

Sounds like the place in Montreal was delish!

[jlunar]

ah nuts. that's a long while. I was there last week and it was open, but I was too rushed and thought to visit another time...

[C.Jackson]

Pusateris sells these sweet definitions ones that are pretty good. they have a bunch of flavors as well

-----
Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

[Colibrius]

Forget Ladurée. Hermé is the King of macarons.

For amazing chocolate macarons, you should also try Hévin.

In Toronto, I agree with some posters upthread that la Bamboche is the best yo can get here.

[Flexitarian]

The Toronto Star had an article on macarons a while back. They said that La Bamboche's macarons were 'close to perfection' and $2.50 ea.

They also listed (with their, not my, assessment following in brackets):

Bobbette & Belle (melts in mouth, slight chewy finish, no storefront, catering only - $2 ea for a min order of 50, but available also at McEwans Supermarket)
Madeleine's Cherry Pie and Ice Cream (thick, crunchy and cookie-like, $2.25 ea)
Nadege (perfectly light and lovely, with thin crust, no price listed)
Patachou Patisserie (satisfying and chewy, $1 ea)
Sweet Escape Patisserie (crunchy crust, chewy interior, $1.95 ea)
Petite Thuet (pleasantly chewy, with vivid flavours, $1.95 ea)

-----
Patachou
1120 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W, CA

La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Sweet Escape
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

Petite Thuet
244 King St E, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

[pinstripeprincess]

i wonder when they went to nadege, my visit last week out of faint hope that they might have improved resulted in a shell that wasn't hollow this time but was thick and very dense. i was with someone i had dragged around paris tasting macarons and they thought it was a pretty awful rendition.

i still need to get out to bamboche!

[estufarian]

I tried Bamboche again a couple of weeks ago and they are much improved. The original over-the-top sweetness has been tamed. However, I still only put them just above 'middle-of-the-range'.
The issue is that the shell is still somewhat 'cakey' - lacking the lightness of some competitors. In Toronto I still prefer the Thuet version, although some out-of-town guests REALLY liked the packaged ones I bought at Summerhill Market (the name escapes me) - but they had no comparison (macaron virgins) - I had just picked up those as I was in the area. I found the flavours a bit muddy, but not a bad consistency.

On a recent trip, I was able to pick up Laduree as I changed planes at Charles de Gaulle. I'm in awe! I may have had individual macarons that were better - but nothing beat them across the range.

-----
Thuet
609 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

Summerhill Market
446 Summerhill Ave, Toronto, ON M4W, CA

[TorontoJo]

Have you tried the ones from Ruelo? I've only had them once, so I can't vouch for their consistency, but the ones I had were the best I've had here. Perfect texture -- light and crisp outer shell, just the right chew on the inside and the cream fillings were not too sweet. Really, really good. Need to go back and try them again.

-----
Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[estufarian]

Coincidentally I tried Ruelo over the weekend - it was 'just off' my route.
They were 'OK' - but the selection was a bit bizarre. Some were 'crunchy' and some 'wet' - we finally figured it out.
They arrive FROZEN (not sure who supplies) and are placed on display as the selections run out. Some are apparently more thawed than others.
The 'driest' ones have an excellent almond taste and the nominal flavour kicks in at the end (I quite liked that). But the shell was generally too 'cakey' for me and the cream a little sweet. The most successful was the salted caramel - but that was because it was still partially frozen, so had a definite 'chew' in the finish, which gave an extra texture dimension (that's what I like about the Thuet day-old versions).
Overall a little heavy-handed, and I certainly liked the 'delayed' hit of flavour - also they weren't too sweet overall - just the cream.
But not worth a special trip (for me).

-----
Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[TorontoJo]

Ah, interesting! That's good to know. So it sounds like I just got lucky that day. Damn.

[Yum2MyTum]

This is exactly what happened at David's Tea for me. : ( frozen macarons = fail.

[pinkprimp]

That's interesting. I remember going in about 3 months ago and they had just-baked macaron shells out on the counter to cool. Perhaps they make large batches and freeze them?

[ellleon]

yea they make large batches and freeze them.
but, they're definitely not supplied, because I have indeed seen them make them before.
you probably were unlucky...
but so far I think they are one of the best in toronto
at least I think of the best..because so far I haven't tasted any macarons that were simlar to laduree's. Ruelo had the closest taste to laduree
Laduree is a famous french pastry shop in paris.

yea, they do tell you to wait awhile for some macarons, so that they could defrost a bit....but most of the time it's the chef that tells you??? I don't know, maybe you were just unlucky that time

-----
Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[MultiverseQueen]

are we sure you tried them frozen? I know they did a few frozen to take to food shows but normally their stuff's fresh made. hmm interesting. I live in that area and try the flavours, they're in trend with flavours out there I've had overseas. The balsamic vinegar one is beautiful as is pistachio.
Understand too out of the way but i'd give it another go

[estufarian]

Yes!
Some were 'fresh' (or soft), one was 'very cold' and one (the caramel) was completely frozen.

[pinstripeprincess]

laduree consistency is AHmazing! now have more impetus to check out bamboche knowing that it has improved... maybe tomorrow!

and jo, i had a ruelo last year that was a little too thick in the shell and wet in the chew... they were pretty good last visit but still a touch off. i do hope they're more like what we tasted on a regular basis. sigh... so far though. so far.

[bunnylicious]

I was in the Yonge-Eglinton area the other day, and decided to try La Bamboche,having heard positive reviews of their macarons. What a disappointment. I purchased four macarons, and three were completely stale. I had no desire to even finish them, and I'm the type who can eat a whole box of good macarons on my own in one sitting.

The ones I tried at Nadege a few weeks ago were ok, not great, but decent.

I really did enjoy the ones I tried at Ruelo, though it is so far that I haven't been able to go back!

-----
Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

[Colibrius]

I wonder if the people who rave about Ladurée have actually been to Pierre Hermé's store or even tried Hévin's chocolate macaroons...

That being said, nobody, i mean NOBODY in Toronto even comes close to making half-decent french-style macaroons.

[gijoeanne]

Personally, it's a toss up between Laduree and PH in terms of texture, but PH's real achievement lies in the intensity of the macaron flavours. That's what makes him the king of macarons, IMHO. That being said, even if on a good day, the Toronto macaron makers can get a decent texture, their flavour level just can't compare to the Parisian macarons but it could just be the ingredients available here...

I've purchased hundreds of dollars of macarons from PH before, froze them, and as a treat would occasionally defrost a couple uncovered. Texture was still great, so I don't know how these GTA bakeries are doing it...

I've had some really enjoyable ones at Ruelo as well! I think they're among the most consistent I've had in the city. I really enjoy the flavours at La Bamboche. I've tried convincing Stephen Nason to make them more dainty like the Parisian ones but he says he finds the oversized, cakey macarons with extra filling to be more agreeable to the Canadian palate. Oh well... I think the worst single macaron I've had must have come from Bobette and Belle purchased from McEwan. Completely hollow on the inside, a thick tough outer shell and flavours tasted artificial...ugh. The second one was better so I guess consistency is probably the most difficult thing to achieve...

-----
La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

Ruelo
550 Hwy 7 E, Richmond Hill, ON L4B, CA

McEwan
75 The Donway W, Toronto, ON M3C, CA

[elvisahmed]

has anyone tried the one's from gastronomia? you can order them online and given the higher standard of Montreal I am assuming they should be better than what we get here.

[red dragon]

Patachou's prices sound great, but they freeze theirs! Just called. I wonder if some other places do as well?

[jj1001]

Nadege on Queen West. They have a nice range of flavors, the macarons are delicate, and they remind me of the ones I had in France.

[zed1984]

Bambouche @ yonge and davisville has japanese style macarons in really great flavours. they are bloody amazing!

[the communist goldfiish]

long time reader, first time poster. this is not a shill. i have been using this board for the better part of a year. its just that i know how obsessed you adorable people are with macarons. so i found what i believe to be the best in toronto. light (could be lighter), crisp, thin, fresh shell, chewy interior (prefer slightly less chew), sweet (i prefer them on the sweet side like laduree). the young lady making these makes them the night before (friday) selling them at SLM (st. lawrence market). her name is kelly lee of www.lemontreepat.com. the strawberry and lemonpoppyseed are excelelnt, the chocolate seems to use a lower quality chocolate than id prefer. good luck and hope you enjoy them.

[Yum2MyTum]

hi communist goldfiish, thanks for the tip! Where does Kelly sell her goods? In the north market I presume?

[Wahooty]

South Market. She had a little table just outside Lively Life, the specialty item spot behind Rube's Rice on the lower level. I know nothing of real Parisian macarons, but I agree that these are the best ones I've had in Toronto. I think I would've preferred a slightly less sweet style, but they were delicate and chewy and really quite nice. I think the strawberry were my favorite.

[Yum2MyTum]

Wow thanks Wahooty! I will have to try these out this weekend. Cheers!

[currycue]

That's so awesome! I must try! Recently came back from France (Lille, Rouen) and found that it's hard to find good macarons there too (except in Paris I suppose) so I don't feel so bad for Toronto. The only ones I had that compared to Laduree were at Meert in Lille (www.meert.fr) but the "famous" Auzou ones in Rouen were bad. As were most other spots I tried. Overly sweet, lack of natural flavours and mushy.

[Yum2MyTum]

Finally tried out a salted caramel macaron from LemonTree at St. Lawrence. And I'd say it's tied for my favourite rendition in Toronto, with Petite Thuet. So flavourful, slightly moist interior, delicate crust. Still haven't tried Bamboche yet... Thanks again communist goldfiish and Wahooty!

-----
Petite Thuet
1 King St W, Toronto, ON M5J, CA

[sweetie]

I went down to SLM looking for these macarons...but I could not find them. Do you remember what time you were there? I have a sneaking feeling I was there too early for macarons

[pinstripeprincess]

she's there on the weekends only.... i've been there at 9am and so has she. when i had them they were stale - thick shells and dry.

[sweetie]

Ah I see, It was before 9 when I went looking, sounds like I didn't miss much though. thx

[moreana]

I've had them from her before, just once and one. I did like them and I've had them from Paris (Laduree). Maybe quality control is not at its best yet.

I noticed at the Metro at Yonge & College sold Macarons to my surprise. Did not try them.

[Blueicus]

I too occasionally go to the SLM on Saturday before work and I have to admit that I usually go down there to grab a few of them. They are tasty and with good texture though quite sweet (really I can't eat more than 6... but then again I'm a pig).

[msprnt]

does anyone know where to find the basic ingredients required to make macarons? i haven't looked too hard, but bulk barn doesn't seem to carry any ....

i'm thinking of egg white powder, almond flour, vanilla sugar (is this icing sugar?) ....

and this recipe: http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/... .... perhaps there are other successful recipes u'd like to share?

thanks!

[The Chowhound Team]

Folks, please keep your replies focused on where to find ingredients. Recipes can be posted on the Home Cooking board and linked to from here.

[borzecki]

Moroco macarons taste like pure sugar. Absolutley no flavor! The ones at Thuet are similiar, definitly not worth it. I've tried some from Patachou, Thuet, Moroco, Celestine(long time ago), Rouelo(sp?), La Bamboche, Nadege, David's Tea... I havent really ventured to the yorkville area that much so i cant advocate for the stores down town. The best I've had are definitly from La Bamboche. They're more on the chewy side, but really not that sweet and have a wonderful flavor! They are also a nice size and the macaron cookie itself is very tasty. Check them out at 4 Manor Rd. E just south of Yonge and Eglinton.

[doctorandchef]

Had a recent macaron orgy in France, including the major places in Paris (Laduree, Herme, Fauchon etc)

I found Dalloyau to be the best combination of taste (not too sweet, good flavor), texture, "feet", and esthetics.

After suffering from withdrawal, a mad dash around the city led me to conclude the one which most approximates Dalloyau's was the place in the Distillery , I believe it is the Brick Street Bakery, not the one inside the complex with the ice creams.... it's across that clothing store at the opposite end from the TV store... oh gees I should remember the name. Quite decent texture, slightly too sweet. I think I ate half a dozen on the spot. wonder if they baked them daily, I find quality quickly deteoriates.

[TorontoJo]

Are you thinking of Sweet Escapes?

[Wahooty]

No, it's Brick Street. Mini-macarons, 6 different flavors, I think. I thought they were a very nice texture, but didn't get a lot of flavor out of the fruit and nut flavors (chocolate and caramel were good though) - I preferred the ones at David's Tea as far as the fruit flavors go. They do have a very nice, delicate texture, though - the ones I didn't eat right away got awfully gooey and battered by the time I got them home.

[doctorandchef]

aha! I did have the chocolate and caramel, thought they were better than the pistachio. must eat right away.

[tarteaucitron]

Aha. With the suggestion coming from someone who has tried the famous macarons from Paris AND understand that most found here (and even some in Paris, as a matter of fact) are too sweet, I would be encouraged to try this bakery at the Distillery!

On the other hand, I thought that just last week, I got from this very bakery (I think. Is this the one that also sells artisan bread loaves?) some croissants that looked nice on the outside, but turned out to be probably made of something other than butter when I bit into them. The insides were disturbingly white in colour with no butter taste, which was surprising for a store that seems to say "gourmet".

[Style Blog]

Petite Thuet located at Yonge and King is great too. Even though most of the macarons that they sell aren’t as good as the ones at Moroco, the black currant ones were to die for!

[Tovah]

There's another place in Yorkville called MoRoCo. I had macarons there for the first time so I am not sure how they compare. I found them a bit too sweet. I saw today that Thuet has opened a little cafe/bakery at the corner of Yonge and King at 1 King West and he was selling mini macarons, probably a good size if they are normally so sweet. That being said, I must say I do prefer the delicate, pretty french macarons to the heavy passover coconut macaroons that I grew up eating.

[keshkul]

The macarons at MoRoCo are terrible. I've had them on 3 different occasions, and each time they were powdery and just didn't taste very good.

[wlho99]

MOROCO HAS THE WORST MACARONS EVER! I have tried many macarons and these taste like they are a week old. They are stale, chewy to the point of being impenetrable. The macarons that I brought back from Paris that I left in my freezer for 3 months taste 10x better than MOROCO. At $2.50 each, these guys should be totally ashamed of themselves!

[amyklam]

Have you visited La Bamboche Patisserie? They make very good marcarons ... the address is 4 Manor Road East (just off Yonge south of Eglinton).

http://labambochepatisserie.blogspot....

[babybluepowder]

This is my favourite place to get macarons if you don't like them too sweet. I love the texture as well.

[red dragon]

I just called La Bamboche, they're $2.50 for a 1" macaron, is that correct? Are they small?

-----
La Bamboche
4 Manor Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[jlunar]

There are two sizes that they usually offer. One of my old flickr photos I noted:

"These were the mini versions at 1.50 and larger ones at 2.50(?)"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlunar/3...

Though that was a long while ago (2008) so prices might have changed.

[red dragon]

Hi Jlunar, thanks for the info and link, I left you a comment. I'll have to stop by and try their macarons!

[Apple]

I have had the macaroons from Dessert Lady in Yorkville and they are divine. I highly recommend. (she is located w of Yonge on Cumberland)

[Teep]

Macaroons (the ones made with dessicated coconut) are junk. Macarons (the meringue sandwich cookies without coconut) are heavenly. I had them in Paris and didn't even think to look for them here. (When my Paris friend first told me I have to try them, I thought "I don't care for macaroons"! what an education.) Will check at Pusateris next time.

http://www.laduree.com/public_en/hist...

[pinstripeprincess]

just for clarification, because i'd love to try some toronto ones myself.... but the places suggested offer macarons - almond flour based meringue cookies with a thin hard outer shell, fluffy interior and little feet, correct?

vs. macaroons made of coconut and meringue base?

[peppermint pate]

Yes, the French patisseries I suggested make "macarons", not "macaroons" (for those, try Harbord Bakery or Haymishe). Not sure what you mean about "little feet", though...

If you find yourself in New York (or Paris for that matter), be sure to check out La Maison du Chocolat for SPECTACULAR macarons - ooh la la!

[pinstripeprincess]

thanks peppermint pate, yours sounded spot on since they're french bakeries ;)

teep's link probably goes into it, but the mark of a well made macaron is this "foot" or bubbly ruffle that forms at the base. it's no easy task to ensure that it occurs, a few dozen pocked cookies in my past will vouch for that!

[Teep]

sorry princess, but the ones I've had in Paris (and in the link) does not have this "foot", as they are 2 cookies sandwiched together.

[pinstripeprincess]

actually, those photos do have a foot, but they don't extend far out. the foot is the section below the smooth dome. some reach far out while others are in line with the width of the dome, often just dependent on baking style. it's more evident with a single cookie but i don't think anyone makes them that way anymore.

[xtal]

I may be the only one, but I love passover macaroons. They can be found (year-round I believe) at many places in the Bathurst & Steeles area.

[bogie]

Chocolate Macaroons at Felix & Norton on Bloor are quite sexy.

[h2o]

I'll make a special trip to Wanda's in the Kitchen with Dinah on Mt Pleasant to get them.

[Catharine Doncaster]

Try Pusateris on Avenue, just north of Lawrence.

[chefhound]

The Pusateri's in Yorkville has been carrying some macarons for the last few months. I can't remember who makes them but they are good!

-----
Pusateri's
1539 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5M, CA

[peppermint pate]

Not sure but I'd check out Rahier or Le Comptoir de Celestin. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the ones at Patachou (they have about 4 different flavours) - I find them to be too sugary/crumbly.

[elvisahmed]

I got to make a trip to Rahier and tried their macarons turned out to be very good. I got one of each type :) So far I like the one with Lemon filling. I wish they made a bigger size as that would have been awesome. Thumbs Up in my Book.

-----
Rahier
1586 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G, CA