Francois Payard & Macaron Day 2011

I just can’t get enough macarons.  My husband and I are slowly eating our way around Manhattan’s best macaron shops.  One bakery we’ve been wanting to try for a long time is Francois Chocolate Bar, named after the chef / owner, Francois Payard.  Payard is the real deal, a French pastry chef from Nice who sharpened his skills in Paris.  Well lucky me, it just so happens that my husband came home and surprised me with a whole box!  

 Pretty packaging

 Ooh yum

 Haha cheers!

We feasted on a dozen of the Chocolate Bar’s special edition cassis violet macarons.  We finished them in two days.  Granted, we eat quickly.  But still, what more do I need to say?  Those petite rounds of joy were the perfect texture with a unique blackcurrant flavor.  I can’t wait to try their other flavors!  Vanilla bean white chocolate, dark chocolate, blueberry, and pina colada?  Yes, please.  Go now.  

Ok, this post could not be any more appropriate because if you actually go this weekend, you can get free macarons!  FREE.

Macaron crawl around the city, anyone?  Allow me to explain.  This Sunday, March 20, is Macaron Day NYC 2011!  Francois Payard organized the very first Macaron Day last year (best idea ever).  Participating bakeries (16 total, some with multiple locations) will provide one macaron per customer – just tell them you’re there for Macaron Day NYC.   Buy some for later while you’re at it - at many locations, a portion of the day’s sales will be donated to City Harvest. 

 

Francois Chocolate Bar

1 West 58^th St., Concourse Level

New York, NY 10019

(212) 986-9241

http://www.fcchocolatebar.com/fs

Macaron Day NYC 2011

http://www.macarondaynyc.com/index.html