A Taste of Heaven...

The first time I saw a macaron (that's macaron, not macaroon), I must say I wasn't exactly tempted by the silver-dollar-sized pink pastel flying saucer-esque cookie. I truly had no idea what pleasure hid amid the light ethereal almond cookie, what nirvana resided in the rich, creamy filling.  I walked by pyramids of these blissful burger-like pastries for months, unaware of the cookie-love they would awaken within me.

I have now made it my mission to share the gospel of macaron goodness with friends and family who come visit us in Paris. For among all the culinary temptations in this decadent city, this may very well be the most rewarding discovery. My brother and his girlfriend are currently visiting us and, I am happy to say, I have converted them.

The finest macarons in Paris hail from Pierre Herme, a luxurious pastry shop with several locations in Paris.  I have tasted other truly amazing macarons but those from Monsieur Herme are le nec plus ultra-- second to none.  Thursday, my brother, his girlfriend and I visited a Pierre Herme shop, purchased a sumptuous sampling, and returned home to stage a tasting.

Now, these little bites of blessedness are quite pricey and insanely flavorful. They are not to be simply eaten; they are to be carefully savored.  As we had just one of each type, I cut the cookies with surgical precision so that each of us could taste all of them.  There were a dozen distinctive flavors in all with poetic names like "Infiniment Vanille," "Magnifique," and "Imagine."

We tasted in unison, attempting to relish each subtle essence, discern each artful ingredient. "Imagine" seduced us with finely milled green tea exquisitely folded into its light, velvety cream and crispy black sesame flecking its biscuits. "Magnifique" introduced us to a whimsy of wasabi, lending a peppery echo under a wash of sweet strawberry cream. Still, my unexpected favorite was the "Pomme Verte & Angelique," a bright Granny-Smith-green cookie. It satisfied with an exotic orchestra of aroma and flavor: the enrapturing cream subtly accented with spice and fine bits of candied green apple. 

More than satisfying a sweet tooth or tiding over an appetite, celebrating good food with family and friends is one of life's indelible treasures. What fun to take a moment to indulge in something so lovely, so well crafted and so memorable.  Sometimes, it seems we are too busy consuming to truly taste, too busy searching to truly see, too busy holding to truly touch.  I resolve to include many more metaphorical macaron moments in my fleeting life: slow down, share, and savor.