It seems that
excessive sun, exceptional feasting and numerous other summer activities have
kept my fingers from talking the talk. But it’s back to business for Relish the
Memory and to mark it’s one-year anniversary we are celebrating with the
infamous French confectionery – Macarons.
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| Not just one, but a tower of them. |
Despite their very
rich history these sweet-meringue delights have become increasingly popular in
the later years. Two almond cookies squished together with a buttercream, jam
or ganache filling. Sounds simple? Not quite. With an egg white, icing sugar,
white sugar and ground almond batter these treats are a science of their own,
and can take years to perfect.
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| The Ultimate Wedding spread: Macarons, Baby Lamingtons, Lemon Tart, Jaffas, Pineapple Lumps & Carrot Cake. |
Alluring and dazzling
to both the tongue and the eye, this tower of macarons were a sure highlight of
my summer season and did a notable job of transforming a wedding into an
exceptional and unforgettable occasion. As extended family I offered my
services and had the task of helping turn these delicate sugary shells into
this mountain of elegance. With 13 different flavours in tow including Café
Mocha, Pistachio, Lemon Curd, Vanilla Crème, Ripe Raspberry and Chocolate
Cointreau to name a few. They were more than just a sweet treat – they were an experience.
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| Creation in progress... |
If you are a macaron
virgin, this is basically how it goes….Your teeth dive into the fragile and
crisp outer shell which then collapses onto the chewy-nutty interior, moistened
and harmonised by the fragrant creamy/fruity/chocolately filling. The initial
bite is sensational and as I found out the hard way stopping at just one is
near impossible. Somehow in all of my awe I thought it a good idea to sample
each one of these morsels. After making my way through the list of flavours, I
quickly realised it was not one of my wisest moments. They were all so great –
it was difficult to choose a favourite, but Pistachio and Vanilla were both
standouts.
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| Boxes full of greatness. |
My first attempt at
the Macaron was a while ago now and from what I recall, it was an interesting one. After whipping up a
batch of Annabel Langbein’s Lemon Curd I was inspired to attempt the lemon variety. But with no yellow food colouring, humid weather and amateur knowledge
my pale green discs were rather sub-par. Since then I have been more than happy
to leave these to the more experienced baker.
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| Chocolate Macaron c/o Everyday Gourmet, Dunedin. |
Regardless of my
Macaron faux pas and overdose I still strongly vouch for these delights and recommend
that you give them a try. If your lucky enough to make it to the beautiful City
of Paris then head to Laduree for the best in the business. Due to their
popularity you will find these treats throughout NZ, and for the big city
slickers I suggest heading to La Cigale Parnell Markets to taste their
vibrantly coloured range. Peach is a winner. But the options are endless. However,
I must warn you they are seriously sweet and unless a sugar hangover is on your
agenda, then I recommend sticking to one, two or three at a stretch.
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| One Macaron I wish I hadn't missed. Photo c/o Dunedin's finest. |
There is another
special memory I would like to mark this week, my thoughts and love go out to my dear friend
Zoe and the Johnston Family, for the loss of their special parents Brian and
Grace. I will forever remember their Irish humour, warm-hearts and Grace’s
killer Chocolate Brownie. x
