378792 Thu Mar 08 09:40:16 -0800 2007 50 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2365438 Is there anything yummy at Miette? What would you buy there with a gift certificate? Received a gift certificate for $25 for Miette. Looking at past posts, I'm thinking I'll be avoiding the cupcakes and cakes, and maybe trying the macaroons. The macaroon review was two years ago, though, so don't know if those are still made well. Anyone tried ANYTHING yummy there recently? Thu Mar 08 09:40:16 -0800 2007 15447 tmsmama 1 2365459 Not much really. But I do love the salt caramels. Thu Mar 08 09:43:23 -0800 2007 2365438 11393 sarvey 1 2365538 I'm a New Yorker who visited the terminal market last week for the first time and was excited to try Miette because everything looked so cute. I should have known better. I also got there late so there wasn’t a lot to choose from. I had the Scharffen Berger cake it was just okay, if I could do over I'd go for the meringue tart instead. They also had lemon caramels that were really good but you’d get a lot of them for $25. The plates and tea towels were all really cute maybe don’t buy food at all. Thu Mar 08 10:00:12 -0800 2007 2365438 72614 adido 2 2369080 I too would go for non-food items, like maybe a small cake stand. The salted caramels are nice, but Miette doesn't even make them. Fri Mar 09 07:52:15 -0800 2007 2365538 11225 rabaja 1 2365548 Anything that by its nature won't be dry. Thu Mar 08 10:01:54 -0800 2007 2365438 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 2365584 I do happen to like the chocolate cupcakes. My friend bought a little bag of chocolate cookies and gave me one, and I actually really liked it. I've hated their little bagged cookies in the past. Thu Mar 08 10:08:22 -0800 2007 2365438 10658 Atomica 2 3374521 The chocolate cookies are based on Pierre Herme's Korova Sables (or as Dorie Greenspan now calls them -- World Peace Cookies). Thu Feb 07 13:28:24 -0800 2008 2365584 18705 emily 3 3440033 The chocolate sables from Miette are quite different from those made at Balthazar in New York. Any clue as to how either version compares to those made by Pierre Hermé? Wed Feb 27 09:59:53 -0800 2008 3374521 131118 Xiao Yang 4 3726880 I've been to Pierre Herme, but haven't tried the Korova cookies. However, I can say that the Dorie Greenspan/Pierre Herme recipe makes a better chocolate sable than the ones from Miette. Wed May 28 08:14:28 -0700 2008 3440033 18705 emily 1 2365609 Ahhhh ... as usual I can't find my notes on the good things to try at Miette. IIRC, the chocolate tart is good according to some ... it's not that I don't want to give places a chance, I'm just worn out throwing good money after bad. Can you use the gift certificate at their new candy shop, Miette Confiserie? http://www.chowhound.com/topics/367986 I'm dying to hear someone report about the rose geranium or lavender cotton candy. The reports on yelp are hilarious. It seems the candy shop is following the Miette model. Dress up to get good service ... or so it seems from yelp reviews. There were some interesting sounding things like the 3400 Phinney Bread & Dark Chocolate which has french bread & sea salt with chocolate. Fernet drops sound worth exploring if you are into that sort of thing. It seems the taffy should be avoided. If you read those reports I'd disregard posters with only a few posts that give the place five stars ... and sing candy songs. Anyway it might be another option for that gift certificate ... please report back whatever you do. Thu Mar 08 10:11:34 -0800 2007 2365438 10264 rworange 2 2366065 Where do you see casually dressed people complaining that they were treated poorly? The average rating of the Ferry Bldg. location on Yelp is 4 stars. The only complaints I see are by vegans (no comment). I've always had friendly service-with-a-smile there. People seem to love being insulted by the nasty folks at Lulu Petite, because you never hear a word about it on this board. Gosh, I loved it when they had their sign up that read: "Directions to restroom or Slanted Door -- $1." For a business who makes so much money off tourists to feel so put upon by said tourists . . . Thu Mar 08 11:39:17 -0800 2007 2365609 10658 Atomica 2 2368025 Alameda Natural Grocery has the 3400 Phinney -- I tried the bread and dark chocolate and thought it would have been interesting with more bread (it was just bread crumbs) -- kinda like marshmallows in rocky road. The salt was good, though. Thu Mar 08 19:48:38 -0800 2007 2365609 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2366118 The pistachio macaroons are still delicious. Thu Mar 08 11:49:16 -0800 2007 2365438 13497 Chris Rising 2 3890040 I also had a friend speak favorable of the pistachio macaroons. Mon Jul 21 21:58:50 -0700 2008 2366118 67706 WCchopper 1 2366586 I second Atomica re the service at the FB--indeed, I've become a regular mostly/precisely because of how super-friendly they are; on the merits, I'd occasionally get snacks at the FB's other exciting vendors thereof, but I'd miss saying hi to the folks at M, so I rarely do. And the confiseristas have been equally friendly on my two visits--indeed, on my first-ever visit (i.e., no pro-regular bias) they wholeheartedly embraced my candy-assortment-gift-making project and were amazingly helpful. On the original topic, the macarons remain fantastic (and it's super-fun to order "macarons" rather than Americanized "macaroons"). I like the pots de creme and caramels as well. And if you get stuff as a gift, they have very cute cards and Italian(?) candy flowers. The confiserie, meanwhile, is great fun for its dizzying assortment of exotic stuff (the shope looks like Willy Wonka and Laura Ashley teamed up); particularly good that I've tried include malt balls in every color (perhaps as much for fun value as culinary excellence) and a tremendous strawberry-flavored thick licorice. Thu Mar 08 13:14:29 -0800 2007 2365438 80532 readingstand 2 2366601 Have you tried the cotton candy? This has me interested. If so, how expensive is it? Thu Mar 08 13:17:15 -0800 2007 2366586 10264 rworange 1 2366735 I highly recommend the key lime tart. I think it's amazing. Also the chocolate sable cookies, with their hint of salt, are wonderful. I haven't had any service attitude at either the Ferry Plaza or the candy shop, and I've been a slob most of the times I've been there. Thu Mar 08 13:43:17 -0800 2007 2365438 10189 celeste 2 2366765 Thanks for the reminder. It was the chocolate sable cookies my friend bought that were so good. Thu Mar 08 13:48:33 -0800 2007 2366735 10658 Atomica 2 2868472 Any idea how the chocolate sables compare with those from Balthazar in New York? A friend had me haul two bags of Balthazar's sables for her around for three weeks while I was traveling (and I got them to her without one loose crumb!) It would be nice if I could just point her to Miette ;-) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1099/653283459_0aca0841d0.jpg?v=0 Tue Aug 21 22:27:09 -0700 2007 2366735 10255 Gary Soup 1 2366999 I really like their miniature scones. Definitely avoid the cakes and cupcakes. Thu Mar 08 14:48:50 -0800 2007 2365438 13525 JasmineG 1 2367036 I think their candied almonds are the best around -- very crunchy, with a hint of vanilla. Thu Mar 08 14:58:20 -0800 2007 2365438 14047 TerriL 1 2367662 I second the votes for the mini scones and the macaroons. Sidenote... I am not usually dressed nice when I go to the FB b/c I am there for shopping at the farmer's market. Nevertheless, I've never had bad service at Miette. Thu Mar 08 17:57:18 -0800 2007 2365438 25012 chemchef 1 2367695 I know you weren't interested in cupcakes but I think the gingerbread cupcake is perfect (chewey, moist, gingery). Their macarons are excellent as are their pot de creme. I also enjoyed the chocolate layer cake that had whipped cream in between layers and cocoa nibs in the cake. Thu Mar 08 18:08:01 -0800 2007 2365438 25148 finchycocoa 1 2368000 Miette's gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting is quite tasty...not the best I've ever had, but still good! Thu Mar 08 19:37:30 -0800 2007 2365438 14135 scenicrec 2 3437848 I have to disagree about their gingerbread cake. It was quite dry and heavy (as in very dense). I got this for V-Day and that sucker sat in my fridge for quite awhile because it wasn't that good. Cupcakes are good. Haven't tried the cookies but they look good too. Tue Feb 26 15:52:40 -0800 2008 2368000 13281 asianstamp 1 2368103 I've never tried any of the pastries at the Ferry Plaza shop (based on negative reviews here and a general indifference to sweets) but I am in love with their walnut shortbread, available at the Blue Bottle kiosk in Hayes Valley and I'm assuming in the Ferry Plaza, too. Buttery, browned well, and with plenty of salt on it--yum! The perfect little treat to go with a latte. The peanut butter cookies, not so much. Thu Mar 08 20:21:47 -0800 2007 2365438 18984 Emily Hope 2 3374505 I love the walnut shortbread, too. I only got one bag last month while in SF and the shortbread was SO GOOD. Great balance of sweet and salty. I'm seriously thinking of paying the ridiculous $15 shipping fee and having some sent to me. I've avoided Miette in the past because of all the negative reviews, but I might try a few more things next time, like the gingerbread cupcake. Thu Feb 07 13:24:53 -0800 2008 2368103 18705 emily 3 3726913 In case anyone cares... I've been trying to figure out Miette's recipe for the walnut shortbread and I think it's based on Lindsey Shere's butter cookie recipe from "Chez Panisse Desserts". I called Miette and asked for the ingredients list and it matches exactly (except for the walnuts, of course); so, I made a batch (added more salt than the recipe called for to get the salty-sweet thing going) and ended up with an almost-matching cookie (though they weren't as cute). Oh, and I tried an old-fashioned cupcake last time I was there and it was ok. Cake was a bit dry (edit: well, maybe not dry exactly, but it had an open crumb that I didn't really like), but I did enjoy the marshmallow frosting. I've yet to see the grapefruit cake there. Wed May 28 08:20:32 -0700 2008 3374505 18705 emily 1 2369413 Went to Hog Island happy hour last night and stopped at Miette to buy some salt caramels. They're gone! No more salt caramels. The counterperson told me that the person who Miette buys them from couldn't make enough so they stopped buying them. So sad. I got some strange licorice caramels that I don't recommend and a vanilla caramel which was pretty good. Fri Mar 09 09:07:34 -0800 2007 2365438 11393 sarvey 2 2369431 That's not the story I heard re; why they no longer have the salted caramels, but I suppose it makes for better PR... Fri Mar 09 09:12:26 -0800 2007 2369413 11225 rabaja 3 2369628 Do tell! Fri Mar 09 09:57:51 -0800 2007 2369431 11393 sarvey 2 2380572 There are sea salt caramels at the candy shop from a new vendor. They should also be at the cake shop soon. Tue Mar 13 08:42:14 -0700 2007 2369413 82381 kateadelle 1 2389959 Your best bet is the macaroons. Those are little bites of heaven. As others have said, stay away from the cakes. Their prettiness is inversely proportional to their taste. And they are so very, very pretty. Thu Mar 15 15:16:04 -0700 2007 2365438 11866 muimi07 2 2868081 Once again, I am appreciative of Hound recs... We were in the area this weekend [finally made it to Ferry Plaza to spend the Miette gift certificate], and bought 16 macaroons- $24 dollars of the $25 gift certificate, worth, to be exact. The pistachio go down so easily -- and the rose ones were divine. Not so big on the chocolate ones, though. Two days later, and there are only 3 macaroons left -- dangerous stuff! :) Thanks again. Tue Aug 21 19:11:27 -0700 2007 2389959 15447 tmsmama 2 3731733 Someone already said this but Yes, the Pistachio Macarons are the best of the bunch.. then a further second, Hazelnut. The Choc. Lavender is also good and the Choc. is standard. Still, I prefer the macarons at Boulangerie -- bigger, chewier, airier, richer almond taste and overall all of the different flavors are great. Thu May 29 13:15:32 -0700 2008 2389959 28272 calieskimo 3 3733294 Perhaps the reason you prefer others is because you have not tried the rose-geranium. deliciously avoiding tasting perfumey but with a really awesome intense flavor. so good. Fri May 30 00:02:19 -0700 2008 3731733 108056 tex.s.toast 4 3734004 I totally agree about the rose geranium macarons. I don't ordinarily care much for floral flavors in my food, but these are subtle enough to be just an interesting note, not a flower bomb. Fri May 30 07:55:28 -0700 2008 3733294 23560 Pistou 5 3871738 I have to disagree. I bought three macarons today at Miette: one pistachio, one apricot and one rose geranium. The rose geranium was the only one that had any flavor, and I thought it was really strong, with a harsh, herbaceous note. I have to agree with calieskimo that they weren't nearly as good as the ones at Bay Breads/Boulange. They were soft yet gritty without any chewiness. The texture and tooth-aching sweetness of the fillings reminded me of the frosting on a cheap supermarket cake. Not recommended! On the otherhand, I had some of their shortbread at a party the other day and it was quite good. Tue Jul 15 16:20:45 -0700 2008 3734004 10159 Ruth Lafler 6 3879340 Most of the macarons that I've had at Miette are chewier than Bay Bread's. As Ruth mentioned, the flavors are very subtle and barely discernible, probably except for the chocolate-based ones. I'm neither a fan of the buttercream fillings since they're more oily than creamy, leaving a greasy film on the lips. Thu Jul 17 20:36:26 -0700 2008 3871738 87028 dreamsicle 7 3888900 The chewiness is probably a factor, at least somewhat, of how fresh they are. Mon Jul 21 14:43:22 -0700 2008 3879340 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2868296 Wow, Miette was such a disappointment for me. Avoid the chocolate buttercream frosting (tastes like unsweetened crisco). The rose geranium macaroon was between fair and tasty. Tue Aug 21 20:43:28 -0700 2007 2365438 71179 prettypithy 2 2868315 The shortbread cookies are delicious--really rich (you can tell they're loaded with butter and sugar). Bought some as gifts for some friends; they loved the chocolate and lemon shortbreads. Perfect accompaniment to tea/coffee. Tue Aug 21 20:52:33 -0700 2007 2868296 121147 vdv 2 2868403 I find nothing good at Miette. Miette is like a bad blonde joke. Pretty to look at but nothing substantial under the surface Tue Aug 21 21:32:36 -0700 2007 2868296 15755 sugarbuzz 1 3374602 Yesterday at the Hayes Valley store I picked up a bag of their homemade "cracker jacks" for the second time. Completely irresistable and addictive. Brown sugar, butter, just the right amount of salt and peanuts. As points of reference, I love their macarons, but find their cupcakes to be dry and not very tasty. I haven't tasted the shortbreads, but after reading these posts I'll check them out next time. Has anyone tried the cotton candy? Thu Feb 07 13:48:41 -0800 2008 2365438 23560 Pistou 1 3378239 I've tried one yummy item there very recently...the grapefruit cream cake. Very tasty and (I'm guessing) a Miette exclusive. Worth trying a slice if they have it when you're there. Fri Feb 08 13:17:47 -0800 2008 2365438 11816 Agent 510 1 3437821 I am sure the gift certificate has been well spent. . .but wanted to comment on how disappointed I always am with Miette baked goods. I don't understand how they consistently make such dry cakes. They must know the general consensus but pay no mind. Ah, well. That being said, the macaroons are worthy of their reputation. The confiserie is adorable and they have some interesting items but nothing that knocks my socks off. I bought some Mirabelle Caramels that were the worst candy I have ever purchased - I wanted to take them back but never got around to it. . .at least the tin was cute. The caramels were divine but somewhat inconsistent in texture - sometimes soft and gooey, sometimes grainy and chalky. Too bad because the flavor was pure buttery goodness. So. . . yeah. . in the end, I would say I just don't get Miette. .. just not my cup of tea. Tue Feb 26 15:45:47 -0800 2008 2365438 169526 pastryqueen 2 3443607 their cakes are baked, then frozen until needed, then thawed out and decorated. some cakes fare well/are unaffected by time spent in the freezer. some (ahem) are not. i will say, i enjoy their graham crackers, but be careful when picking out a box to find ones that are not too dark and not broken! Thu Feb 28 09:05:19 -0800 2008 3437821 93482 linz 3 3726904 Please tell me which bakeries do not follow this method. Most bakeries bake cakes and freeze them until needed. That said, I hate their ginger cake, but I don't like ginger desserts much at all. Wed May 28 08:18:58 -0700 2008 3443607 10658 Atomica 1 3439851 It pains me to say it, because the people there are really nice, but the only thing I would even consider are the gingerbread cupcakes. Wed Feb 27 09:06:22 -0800 2008 2365438 46254 mrs bacon 1 3735583 I've not tried any of their baked goods, but it is one of the very few places I've found that (on occasion) carries Caffarel 1865 giandujas at something resembling a decent price. Be sure to buy them in bulk -- the boxes are overpriced. They sometimes have some other interesting chocolates as well (including other wonderful Caffarel products). Note that I've mainly been to the Hayes Valley location. Fri May 30 14:58:05 -0700 2008 2365438 162125 allsouls 1 3872847 links Tue Jul 15 23:42:57 -0700 2008 2365438 10264 rworange