I have to start off this macaron post by putting my mind at ease that y'all know what a macaron is. I'm sure you're thinking "well dummy, it's that thing in the picture right there." However, I've witnessed a lot of confusion between a macaron and a macaroon. Two completely differently things. Macarons are indeed the French almond confection in the picture right there. Macaroons with that sneaky extra O are tiny cakes that originated in Italy and found in the US full of coconut.
Now let's get to business and talk about macarons in Paris. In which is there is plenty to discuss. I could have spent my whole three months trying all of the different macarons in the city, it is endless. They're offered in even bakery, pastry shop, and most chocolate shops as well. Some are good and some are exceptional. Here's a mini guide to my favorite macarons:
1. Laduree - the most famous macarons in Paris, with a variety of locations around the city. I blogged about tea time at Laduree here. If you want the typical Parisian macaron experience, stop by one of their outposts – but really I think there are better ones to try.
2. Maison Kayser - I think the fruit macarons offered here are the most rich + flavorful. The strawberry had a strong taste to it and the ones I tried were kept in a cooler, which made them more dense and not as light (a bonus in my opinion.)
3. Pierre Marcolini (pictured above) - this is a chocolate shop I checked out after reading David Lebovitz's book and while the chocolate covered marshmallows were divine, the macarons were my favorites. The caramel salted butter one changed my life. One of my last days in Paris I went to the shop and bought a whole box of just caramel salted butter. Amazing. They also offer savory macarons and when I tried the basil + tomato, it was surprisingly tasty.
4. Angelina - famous for their hot chocolate, it's no surprise that their chocolate macaron was one of my favorites. They're a little more flaky than the others I tried, but the chocolate one is worth a trip in.
5. Pierre Herme (pictured above) - these are the ones that I ate the most since a shop was in my neighborhood. They have really unique flavor combinations that are fun to try. I also found the ladies working in the different locations to be the friendliest, so if you're in need of some help choosing out which ones to try I suggest paying a visit to Pierre Hermes.
Here's a Google Map I made with locations for you to consult to do your own taste testing:
Bon appetite and be sure to bring back a box full of caramel salted butter for me!