Celebrate Spring with Macaron Day 2015

Believe it or not, there’s already a National Soup Day, a National Cheeseburger Day and a National Pigs in a Blanket Day (yes really!).  So why shouldn’t there be a Macaron Day; an annual ode to the supremely delicate, impossibly chic French cookies?

Well this Friday, March 20th (the first day of Spring!), the pastel-tinted pastries are indeed getting their day in the sun, as part of the Parisian celebration of Jour du Macaron, first adopted by New Yorkers in 2010.  And to kick-start the festivities, premier pastry chef Francois Payard and City Harvest will host a citywide macaron crawl, featuring fourteen participating bakeries offering free samples of the ethereal treats all day, including Bisous Ciao, Bouchon Bakery, Chantilly Patisserie, Eclair Bakery, Épicerie Boulud, FP Patisserie, Francois Payard Bakery, Macaron Café, Macaron Parlour, Mad-Mac, Whoops!, Spot Dessert Bar, The Todd English Food Hall, Mille Feuille Bakery and Café, and Sugar & Plumm.  A portion of their daily proceeds will be donated to City Harvest, as well as 100% of the sales from the City Harvest Macaron Day apron (available at all FP Patisserie and Francois Payard Bakery locations).

The event is also intended to educate New Yorkers on the macaron; so frequently confused with macaroons, those popular Jewish coconut clusters.  The classic French confection is comprised of a soft, crunchy shell made from almond flour, sugar and egg whites, sandwiching a smooth layer of creamy ganache, and come in all manner of creative flavor combinations.  So this Macaron Day, try the Remi Martin Cognac at Mille-Feuille, the Thai Iced Tea at Spot Dessert Shop, the Salted Caramel at Éclair Bake Shop, or the Funfetti with Vanilla Cream (a decidedly American invention!) at Chantilly Patisserie.  We simply can’t think of a lovelier or more scrumptious way to celebrate March — which, if you didn’t know it, is also the decidedly less elegant National Celery Month.

For more information, visit www.macarondaynyc.com