Confessions of a Mac-aholic

Paris is besotted with Confessions of a Shopaholic. You can not take a Metro or bus without confronting this image... Photo (c) The Selby.comSome people are SHOE-aholics as noted on The Selby.com... I am a MAC-aholic. This trip, well last Friday to be exact, I brought home 19 (!) boxes of Parisien macarons (oui, reserche again). It was quite a challenge and required consultations with one of the world's best mac makers.... One thing I learned is look for macs packed in a box with no spaces like these at Dalloyau...Look at the big spaces in Patisserie Carette's beautiful box. What to do? Helene of Tartelette , Champion du Monde macaron-maker says, put little pads of tissue paper (Toilet paper or Kleenex) and fill in the spaces in the box so the macs don't bang around and crack.I found a new place for macarons from M.O.F. pastry chef Pascal Caffet . His boxes are perfect for travel and preserving your macarons. I have yet to tastes them. Note each mac has it's own little compartment so it can't jump around.

A side view of macarons

from hyper marche Champion.

You get 12 macs for 6.50 euros. Pas mal. Consider it research to have a few bites from the bottom of the food chain as well as the top.

 This global chain stores their macarons in compartmentalized containers.

 But packs them loose in their fancy boxes. No protection.

Sharon said...You keep mentioning (and painting) macarons. What are they exactly? Describe what it feels like to eat one. They must be fantastique! ps: I'm living vicariously through your adventures!Take your average OREO cookie.

And you have all the components of a Parisien macaron.

2 lids or shells (coques) made of delicate, chewy meringue + a filling of jam (confiture), ganache (chocolate creme) or caramel.

Macarons are smaller than Oreos and don't keep long as a rule, so instant gratification is part of the joyous experience of eating them. miam miam And they come in a vast and endless range of exotic flavors and rainbow colors. Some are even savory...

For much more info on macarons:MEETING THE FRENCH Macaron
How To Make Macarons at Lenotre

Before I caught the plane Friday, I made a last minute dash to Gerard Mulot *Note the whole counter in the front of the store right is only macarons.

I should have put all my traveling macs into sacs/cabas instead of a giant BHV bag. I got stopped at French customs before boarding the plane. A shout went out like 8 times -Scan..scan...scan...scan!

They came running over with a weird wand and ran it all over my person and across my hands?

What!
And I was wearing my French "macaron" T-shirt.
Am I a macaron-terroriste.
Is there metal in macarons?
At USA customs the guy asked me,

"Do you have any food?"
"No, just cookies"

"OK, you're set".

Who knew US customs is easier on macs than the French?

BONJOUR PARIS MACARONS!

The Red Shoes

Every night when I come home exhausted after dancing all over Paris. I say the famous last line, "Take the red shoes off" from classic movie, THE RED SHOES and imagine I will be revived. You do see a lot of red shoes in Paris and it isn't a temporary trend/tendance.

We have Christian Louboutin to thank for charming red soles on Paris streets - tres cher. Elle Magazine says it's le must shoe to wear if you attend the Cannes film festival,
I saw Parisian illustrator, Solidad Bravi (she illustrates Pierre Herme's macaron boxes) at Colette. There was a shopaholic wearing red shoes.
Confessions d'une accro du Shopping is about to open in Paris. What's in her bags? Red shoes?

I ate lunch yesterday at red Petit Bofinger.

I had a green French version of tunafish salad - rillettes.

Around the corner Patisserie Lenotre had this stunner -a berry gateaux in the vitrine.

Fruit/veg shops are loaded with gorgeous red berries.

Ah ha!  A Fr girl wearing her red shoes, walking her two dogs, one of them le must-have Jack Russell.

BONJOUR RED PARIS!

Macarons Anyone?

Macarons Anyone?,9" x 11"

We're not the only ones who want macaron-everything!

You can find lots of French china with macarons all over Paris. I bought this cup at Lenotre.

And they now have their online shop here

More French pastry mugs from Potiron...

And Fauchon's version.

Christening my new Potiron cup last November.
Gien ceramics has a whole line of adorable pastry china... Pierre Frey has pastry linens.Special china at last year's Salon du Chocolat...I'll be there this time next month. Can't wait.
BONNE MONDAY!