Prepping for Jour du Macarons and the March Macaron Map

Now I know why top pastry chef, Pierre Hermé created Jour du Macaron back in 2005 on the 20th of the month of March.

We're been having non-stop drizzle, grey, gloomy skies. I learned from Jill of Teatime In Paris, it's called 'les giboulées de mars' (rain storms of March).

Hermé must have decided we need our spirits lifted. Have you ever tasted his Montebello? Pistachio and raspberry jam. Just the sound of it makes me feel better. And the colors are celestial no?

I love two-color stripey macarons from Jean-Paul Hévin in Galeries Lafayette.

Rainbow uplifting colors from Arnaud Larher 93, rue de Seine.

Thanks to Relais Dessert world-wide pastry chefs you too can participate in Jour du Macaron, unless you live in Antarctica.

Paris is macaron Mecca. You'll find the names and addresses of all the chefs participating this year on their site .

1 don (donation) = 1 macaron. You can go to as many patisseries as you like. No one is counting.

And event has been extended to include the 19th, so if you hit Galeries Lafayette  there are 5 possible macarons waiting for you.

Last year Relais Desserts raised 50,000€ for charity Vaincre la Mucoviscidose (cystic fibrosis).

You'll want to start preparing immediately. Only 13 days to get ready. Study the flavors.

Practice

Standing in line patiently.

I got a look at Pierre Hermé's special 2016 brochure hot off the presses.

This is what your macaron will look like. I've been practicing this week.

Part of the fun is collecting the pretty macaron flavor brochures.

Last year your could buy an adorable carryall for just a fiver. It's going to a very good cause.

The year before citron vert tabliers (aprons)

In 2013 I bought this bonus wall chart of Hermé's. I refer to it daily...

Along with tasting macaron like mad I've been drawing Hermé this week like mad. I thought I'd have him clutching a king-size macaron.

I settled for the same size you'll get March 20th.
There is a new bonus watercolor for letter subscribers and renewers on Etsy. Especially nice if you can't make it to Paris for Jour du Macaron. Today we had about 20 minutes of sun. Hooray!
PS My maps are now on Bonjour Paris.
Take a look and please subscribe!
BONJOUR PARIS!