Chocolate & Macaron

“A macaroon is a sweet confectionery. Its name is derived from an Italian word “maccarone” or “maccherone”. The confectionery is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior.”

Now that everyone knows the definition of a french macaroon, I can tell you that if you haven’t left Kuwait to have one, you probably didn’t taste one. I was introduced to “Chocolate and Macaroon” in Julai’a, when I visited for my summer vacation last year. I was surprised; had heard of it before, but was impressed by the success and popularity it has gained, so I decided to join a few friends to introduce myself to the hype.  Friendly staff seated us, and the interior I must say was very creative and efficient. I love the roughness of the corrugated iron on the walls, so kudos to that.

Being very uninterested at the selection of food, I let my friends take charge and leave the eating to me. Sliders, fries, mayonnaise filled dishes that were very tacky looking where placed in front of us, and as I saw everyone eating away, I was hesitant to eat myself. I poked my fork in several items, and I’m sorry for choc&mac fans out there, but I was horrified at the quality. Everything was drenched in mayo, processed and stale.

Finally, I was excited to try their macaroons. Being a huge fan of the fluffy delights, it was an obligation to try from their selection of colorful “treat”. My excitement was crushed with the first bite.

As I took the first bite of the macaroon it was nothing like I had imagined it to be. A macaroon is supposed to be fluffy, and drenched with FRESH flavor. It’s also not supposed to be flat. To those of you who know how to cook, you will know that you need to beat your egg whites very well, to achieve the rising quality of a macaroon, which is one of the many things their macaroon lacks.

In order to better expose our readers, I’ve decided to make this a double post. And show you what a real macaroon looks like.

I haven’t visited Ladurée recently, but their macaroons are to die for. Most of you will probably be familiar with Ladurée as the macaroon place in Harrods in London. I won’t go any further, as their macaroons certainly deserve a review of their own. But let me just say this .

A macaron is a french confectionery. They are hand crafted, made to prefect the definition of delicacy, and for us to enjoy the different textures in every single bite. Hence, they are more expensive than a Mille Feuille and more adorned than a box of chocolates.  I understand that some might want to tone it down, but a macaroon is not made to do so. To wholesale a macaron like they do in choc&mac,  is the equivalent of carrying a fake Hermes.

http://www.laduree.fr/

This is the laudree website, we know its opening in mall 360 sooon!