666030 Tue Nov 10 06:44:00 -0800 2009 28 18 Manhattan 0 5169643 Hello all- just returned from an insanely amazing trip to paris and cannot get macaroons out of my head. unfortunately neither pierre herme nor laduree will ship here. So i am looking for the best nyc macaroons- light, airy, with sumptuous fillings. all help is appreciated!! Tue Nov 10 06:44:00 -0800 2009 189556 alyssabrooke 1 5169741 I went thru macaron withdrawal when I returned from Paris last January. Then I discovered Madeleine Patisserie 128 W 23rd St. (Btwn 6th & 7th Ave) www.madeleinepatisserie.com OMG!!!!!!! ENJOY!!!!!!! Tue Nov 10 07:21:53 -0800 2009 5169643 66726 pbjluver 2 5170580 Madeleine is not light and airy, and they keep theirs a bit too cold and moist to be enjoyed right out of the case. Tue Nov 10 11:51:33 -0800 2009 5169741 10936 kathryn 2 5170979 Another vote for Madeleine. Tue Nov 10 14:17:10 -0800 2009 5169741 10216 Lucia 1 5169824 I know this is an obvious choice, but Bouchon Bakery's macaroons are so delicious. I don't know how they compare to France, but wow are they good. Tue Nov 10 07:54:22 -0800 2009 5169643 207518 ncsuemme 2 5170582 Bouchon's are hit or miss. Sometimes they're too moist or too sweet. And the way they coat the top and bottom with chocolate for some of them is really odd. Plus, the size is way bigger than French ones. Tue Nov 10 11:52:24 -0800 2009 5169824 10936 kathryn 3 5170598 Kathryn, in france you can actually find both sizes. The mini ones are more prominent with places like Laduree, but the larger (almost whoopie) size ones can we found in some french patisseries. Tue Nov 10 11:56:14 -0800 2009 5170582 93566 kelea 4 5170634 Interesting -- I didn't know that. It doesn't excuse the sogginess, though! Tue Nov 10 12:15:04 -0800 2009 5170598 10936 kathryn 5 5170756 I like Madeleine's best, although I think it tastes best after a few hours or even a day otherwise it is kinda moist. Payard had the light and airy kind, as does Kee's Chocolates. Not sure if the new Payard Chocolate Bar has macarons though - can anyone confirm? Tue Nov 10 12:56:07 -0800 2009 5170634 41798 windycity 6 5171387 Kee's has the opposite problem, I felt, where the shells were too light and hard and collapsed very easily. Structural issues! Serious Eats did a write up of the Payard spot and the mention of the macarons wasn't positive. http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/11/francois-chocolate-bar-first-look-payard-upper-east-side.html Tue Nov 10 17:32:38 -0800 2009 5170756 10936 kathryn 7 5172977 Sad to hear, although those macarons look a lot sloppier than the ones they used to have at Payard, and it seems like they are doing some new flavors that look more similar to Kee's. I really enjoyed the cassis and passionfruit macarons at the old Payard. Agree that the Kee's macarons are about the chocolate and that the wafers' flavors are generally masked. It's hard for me to taste the peach for example but the rose lychee has great balance. Need to get to Bouchon. Wed Nov 11 10:17:42 -0800 2009 5171387 41798 windycity 5 5170777 ahah the sogginess is a whole nother issue :) Tue Nov 10 13:06:04 -0800 2009 5170634 93566 kelea 6 5171646 I have to admit to being a fan of the Bouchon ones as well. While they are a bit sticky/gooey in the middle, I like it just for that reason. They have had a balsamic/fig one lately that is quite good. Kee's I like for a different reason" they highlight the excellent Kee's chocolate. I couldn't really taste the cookie much over the chocolate, so I would in fact rather just buy their chocolates. But, still a good choice. Another option is actually a company based out of NYC that ships macaroons: MadMacNYC. They have a few different selections to buy in moderate or larger quantities. Have not actually had a chance to try them myself though I've given them as a gift and they got rave reviews. Not too pricy, and the owners are very accommodating. Making me want to go pick up some macaroons right now... Tue Nov 10 19:29:31 -0800 2009 5170777 77038 orthorunner 1 5169907 I also went through that withdrawal as well. Unfortunately, NYC's macaron choices won't come close to Pierre Herme or Laduree. The closest to Pierre Herme is Mitzy's macarons. She has studied with Pierre Herme in the past. Tafu in Midtown East used to carry them but they're closed now. You can still order Mitzy's online. But I believe you have to place a large order. Oh, damn. Just checked the website and it seems they're taking a break until 2010! :( http://www.itzybitzypatisserie.com/ My next choice would be Madeleine. But it's imperative that you have it come to room temperature before eating. Otherwise it's just not the same. This thread will probably be helpful. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/331328 Tue Nov 10 08:19:13 -0800 2009 5169643 10763 Miss Needle 2 5169943 I second the recommendation for Itzy Bitzy Patisserie -- worth keeping in mind for 2010. Mitzy made me macarons (in cute little packages) that I gave out as my wedding favors back in June and, to be honest, I wish I had kept more for myself! They were fantastic! Tue Nov 10 08:31:24 -0800 2009 5169907 50706 kiworan79 2 5182822 Another vote for Mitzy! My husband bought me some last year and they were wonderful! Sun Nov 15 06:39:49 -0800 2009 5169907 11993 CornflakeGirl 1 5169961 The best macaron in NYC is probably found at La Maison du Chocolat. I think they're much better than the ones at Bouchon Bakery but at $5 each, they're also much more expensive. Unfortunately, there's not much flavor variety. Tue Nov 10 08:37:50 -0800 2009 5169643 204151 hcbk0702 2 5170277 I second Maison du Chocolat, especially if you get them the same day they arrive from Paris. Much better than Bouchon Bakery. Tue Nov 10 10:24:40 -0800 2009 5169961 17192 Toot 1 5170607 I'm probably in the minority, but I prefer Bouchon to Madeleine. I haven't tried La Maison du Choc, but that's my next project. Tue Nov 10 12:01:51 -0800 2009 5169643 1093353 fm1963 1 5170688 i am going to have to pick up a bunch and do some tasting. what a shame that pierre herme doesnt ship outside of europe. I literally cannot go more than an hour without day dreaming about them! Tue Nov 10 12:34:03 -0800 2009 5169643 189556 alyssabrooke 2 5171390 Macarons are hard enough to carry around, shipping sounds like a nightmare. Here's a tasting a friend did a while back: http://www.roboppy.net/food/2007/04/the_great_macaron_hunt_of_2007.html Tue Nov 10 17:33:40 -0800 2009 5170688 10936 kathryn 1 5170800 I've gotten a few at Bouley Bakery, but they were only okay. They often have interesting flavors, but they were a little heavy/gummy. The only exceptional ones I've had were (inconveniently) from the cafe (and as amuse bouche at the restaurant) at Stone Barns. Sigh. Tue Nov 10 13:13:54 -0800 2009 5169643 15819 sholli 1 5172530 I also love Bouchon macarons. I think they have the perfect texture (slightly crispy on the outside like meringue, chewy on the inside, not soggy at all)! Agree there is too much filling, but I can live with that. And I've never experienced them selling any coated with chocolate. I did not like Madeleine's - too soft, and personally I don't want to wait a day or two to have to eat them. One thing about La Maison, the filling is all chocolate, which may or may not be to your taste. Wed Nov 11 07:54:11 -0800 2009 5169643 1115514 gnocchicroissant 1 5173461 I'm not a macaron expert, but I recently bought some from La Maison Du Chocolat for a friend's birthday. The only other macarons I've had were from the famous Laduree. My friend is a huge macaron fan and has had the French ones, so for her to say that the La Maison Du Chocolat ones were good is a big deal. They are a little pricey. The big ones are $5 each. http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com/en/#/creations/macarons Wed Nov 11 12:53:52 -0800 2009 5169643 12048 teresa 2 5182926 I love Keller - I love Bouchon's Macarons - but the Macarons at La Maison are a whole different level - they are absolutley amazing. Sun Nov 15 07:48:36 -0800 2009 5173461 160718 uhockey 1 5173637 Wow. thanks all. looks like i will be heading to Madeline's and Maison du chocolat. Now if i could only find hot chocolate to rival angelinas... Wed Nov 11 13:45:15 -0800 2009 5169643 189556 alyssabrooke 2 5182810 I have not had Bouchon macarons, do enjoy Madelines at room temperature. I am surprised no one has mentioned Macaron Cafe at 161 W.36 Street. Tiny place, macarons are quite good and a bargain at $1.95 Sun Nov 15 06:34:48 -0800 2009 5173637 17667 smarty 3 5191595 I've had them, thought they were decent but not at the same level as Madeleine. Btw, I recently made the mistake of buying macarons from the Organic Ice Cream Factory after a drunken evening. (Sober, I would know never to buy macarons from an ice cream shop.) They were wrong. Not the right texture, overly sweet. *sigh* Just a warning for others not to make the same mistake. Wed Nov 18 09:40:40 -0800 2009 5182810 41798 windycity 1 5193782 I'm obsessed with Laduree and the closest I've found in NYC are: Ceci Cela, and Madeleine's salted caramel. Enjoy and please report back!! www.thelunchbelle.com Thu Nov 19 06:43:53 -0800 2009 5169643 110996 LeahBaila