The very existence of acknowledgement of macarons started at Lindt Cafe. However, once you've tried macarons elsewhere you won't go to Lindt Cafe again for macarons but for their other cakes such as the Hazelnut Gateau and their rich dark chocolate cake, the Opera. The Hazelnut Gateau is really nice because it's not too sweet but nutty for those who love hazelnut.
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| Lindt Hazelnut Gateau |
Anyway enough about Lindt, let me discuss what a good macaron should taste like. The outer later should be thin and crisp with the layer inside being a moist meringue. The centre should be smooth, light, firm and non-sticky. The texture beneath the crust should be soft but not too mushy either. The macaron should not be overpowered by sweetness and that you can really taste the fruits or flavours that is included in the ganache and finally, the tops should be smooth and not rough. For example the photo below was taken from me eating at C'est Bon Darling Street, Rozelle. It was good prime example of a bad macaron. It was rough on the top with bumps and felt like a dry semi-hard case that just crushed into the centre with one bite. Inside was not silky smooth and was too sweet.
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| Rough macaron - with bumps |
After the few lines of what a macaron should taste like, now I'd like to introduce you to the 5 of the best venues in Sydney. Other places I've tried does not live up to the exquisite quality so don't bother going anywhere else. These places have a large selection of choices of macarons flavours some rather creative and unique.
1) ADRIANO ZUMBO, BALMAIN, ROZELLE, MANLY, THE STAR
Everyone raves on about Adriano Zumbo's (AZ) macarons and there used to be pile of lines at his Balmain store a few years ago. They believe that AZ is the god of Macarons (Simply the best) and everyone else are the followers. His macarons are really soft especially soft centred and macarons melt in your mouth as you take a bite. However, I find his macarons a little bit too sweet for me but some people don't mind that extra sugar. His macarons are $2.50 each. Most places are like $3.50 each for one macaron but their macarons are slightly smaller than the average size. Zumbo can teach you how to make his macarons at his classes. For further information and enrolment, please check out his website, Adriano Zumbo Classes. Zumbo sells macarons at Rozelle, Balmain, Manly and the Star.
The current flavours of Zumbarons are: finger bun, salted butter caramel, watermelon and orange, Passionfruit and tonka beans, blackened vanilla, popcorn, pandan and coconut, banana, mandarin and rose, annuziata chocolate, red wine and raspberry and babypowder. My friend N likes the salted butter caramel one whilst from the ones that I've tried below, I like the pandan and coconut flavoured one.
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| Adriano Zumbo macarons |
Other than the macarons, I love this raspberry and pistachio cake for $9. It is sweet but sour from the raspberry and the pistachios are really nice.
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| Raspberry and pistachio cake - $9 |
Adriano Zumbo addresses and opening hours:
Website: Adriano Zumbo
The Star Pyrmont
Shop 1, Cafe Court
The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Entry via Edward Street
Opening hours:
Mon
11.00am to 10.00pm
Tue to Thurs
11.00am to 11.00pm
Fri & Sat
11.00am to midnight
Sun
11.00am to 9.00pm
Patisserie Balmain (Opened in April 2007)
296 Darling Street
Balmain NSW
Opening hours:
Mon to Sat
8.00am to 6.00pm
Sun
8.00am to 5.00pm
Patisserie Manly (Opened in December 2010)
Shop 1A The East Esplanade
Manly NSW 2095
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri
7.00am to 7.00pm
Sat & Sun
7.00am to 5.30pm
Closed on public holidays
Cafe Rozelle
114 Terry Street
Rozelle NSW 2039
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri
6.30am to 4.00pm
Sat & Sun
7.30am to 4.00pm
Closed on public holidays
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2) BAROQUE BISTRO, THE ROCKS, SYDNEY
Baroque Bistro is a lovely French restaurant located on George Street near the Rocks with a pastry shop on the side serving their gorgeous desserts and of course a whole array of macarons. These cakes are $9 each and I've tried two of the dessert (a white chocolate one and mango mousse cake) and loved the texture and taste - it was divine. You can't see in the picture but the white chocolate one has glittered gold all over it making it hard not to purchase!
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| Gorgeous cakes at Baroque Bistro - $9 |
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| Front: white chocolate dessert and mini mango mousse cake - $9 each |
Baroque instills quality in their desserts and macarons. I loved these macaron because it's the same ethereal quality as Adriano Zumbo but they are not as sweet. The centre is smooth and the meringue casing is crisp. Again the lime, mango and coconut flavoured one was my favourite. These macarons are $3.00 each eat in or $2.70 per macaron take away. If you would like to go to one of their Macaron masterclasses that are held every Sunday from 9.00am to 3.00pm, click on their Macaron Masterclass link.
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| Baroque Macarons |
Baroque Bistro Patissserie
88 George Street
The Rocks NSW 2000
Opening hours:
| Monday - Friday: Midday - Late Lunch* 12 - 3pm Dinner 6 - 10pm Patisserie menu 12 - late Please view their Bistro Menu  | Saturday: Midday - Late Lunch* 12 - 3pm Dinner 6 - 10pm Patisserie menu 12 - late | Sunday: French Masterclasses Only Lunch Closed Dinner Closed |
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3) CAFE CRE ASION, SURRY HILLS
Only a true foodie will find this little gem in Surry Hills. Cafe Cre Asion is a tiny cafe on Albert Street. From one foodie blog to another, you'll see why this cafe makes delicious macarons on par with Adriano Zumbo. Some would even say it is better than Adriano Zumbo. The macarons here are the most colourful ones that you'll ever see. Get a boxful and it looks like you have a rainbow colour collection of many sweet sensations. Not only do they look pretty but they certainly live up to the taste factor too. For 12 in a box, it costed me $31 but given the unique flavours, I would come again for more. There were so many I honestly couldn't remember them all either without writing them down - Green Tea (Macca), Yuzu (some Japanese Citrus Fruit), Jasmine, Dear Chris (Hazelnut and chocolate ganache), TH, Pistachio, Cherry Cream Cheese, Lemon Lime and Bitters, Lavender, Hazelnut, Lychee Raspberry, Vanilla and Red Bean. With so many flavours, it was hard for me to choose a favourite. I will be buying more macarons here to make a gorgeous chocolate cake decorated with these macarons. Some of the macaron flavours didn't really stand out like the Jasmine and Lavender ones but subtle hints can sometimes be adored. The creator of these macarons is a Japanese Chef called Yu Sasaki who uses fresh produce to create his macarons rather than from flavouring extracts.
For more reviews on the macarons, click on Urbanspoon Reviews on Cafe Cre Asion. Momo & Coco provide an extensive review of some of the macarons that they purchased in detail and you'll find more food bloggers letting out this secret hide out tucked between office buildings in a tiny laneway.
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| Macarons at Cafe Cre Asion |
Cafe Cre Asion
21 Alberta Street
Surry Hills NSW 2000
Ph: 0404 941 528
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri 8am to 4pm
Sat 9am to 4pm
Sunday closed
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4) PATISSE, WATERLOO
Waterloo has a few great cafes and patisseries such as Dank Street Depot, The French House, Cafe Sopra and the Patisse. C introduced Patisse to me after hearing that this place has the best cakes and macarons. I've visited this place now at least 5 times since my first entry including High Tea with special guest, Jane Webster. This place boasts great desserts but unfortunately if you don't get there in the early morning, they run out of stock especially on a Saturday. I came on a weekday and they even ran out of the 8 pack macarons too.
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| Patisse's Macarons |
My favourite macaron is the lychee favour. The violet and vanilla is only the essence whereas lychee uses real fruits. One macaron is $2.70. The ganache is creamier and smooth in texture than other macarons but yet still delicately light in tasting. Best of all, it's moist with no pockets of dryness on the casing which I found in failed macarons. To me, that's the difference between a good and bad macaron.
Not many people have reviewed this place so its another hidden gem inside the spacious PYD building.
Patisse also offers macaron classes by chef Vincent Gadan (also seen in Masterchef). Click to find out more and for bookings, Patisse's cooking school.
Patisse
Shop G01, PYD Building
197 Young Street
Waterloo NSW 2017
Ph: 9690 0665
Website: Patisse's website
Opening hours:
Mon to Sat
8.30 to 4.00pm
Sunday closed
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5) JANUS, BLIGH ST, SYDNEY
Janus is another cafe surrounded by an artisan feel with interest scupltures on Bligh Street. Janus is actually named after the roman god of transitions and beginnings. I came across this place one day whilst having a coffee catch up with my previous manager. She ordered a macaron and coffee for us that day and I really liked the macarons. I tried the orange blossom, full of orange citrus flavours. When I returned I bought a few more flavours such as Strawberry, Passionfruit and Tiramisu. I must admit the Strawberry one was a little too sweet and the passionfruit one was quite ordinary. Orange Blossom and Tiramisu are by far my favourite. You could taste the coffee from the Tiramisu ganache and it wasn't too strong. Janus do have quite a selection of macarons so head out there if you're near Circular Quay or Wynward area. I heard they do a great lunch too. People there are manly wearing Corporate attire since it's located in the business precinct directly below a high rise office tower. These macarons are $3 each, pretty expensive if you buy more than one.
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| Macarons from Janus |
Janus also makes the smallest and cutest macarons for $9 (I think). These are so cute you can give them to children or use them for decorating your desserts. I think for some reason the ganache was too sweet and even smaller than the normal sized ones.
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| Tiny macarons in a cute plastic container |
Other than macarons I tucked into this blueberry mousse shaped like a dome. It was really soft and gluggy with gelatine and cream cheese inside.
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| Janus - blueberry mousse rather than a cheesecake - $9 |
Janus doesn't just do desserts and macarons but nice lunches/dinners as well. I must come back and try their gourmet pizzas, wagyu steak or 12 hour cooked shoulder lamb. It's authentic Italian cuisine at its best. Looks like I need to find a lunch or dinner date when the sun comes shining again or when it gets a little warmer.
Janus
1 Bligh Street
Sydney NSW
Ph: (02) 9223 3927
Website: Janus' website
Opening hours:
Breakfast 7.00 am daily and 11:30 to 4pm for Lunch.
Friday nights, all through winter until 10pm.
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The best two macarons in Paris are Pierre Herme and Laduree. I must say Laduree seems to look a little on the thin side but perhaps thats what people like and what it's famous for. Can't wait until it opens in July at Westfield's Sydney. Here's a link to someone's blog http://www.thekitchn.com/pierre-vs-macaron-smackdown-128247 - Laduree reigns supreme over Pierre Herme. Then you read this blog and you get another mixed view lol...must be my personal preference.
http://www.boastfulbaker.com/2012/05/06/the-best-french-macarons-in-france/
Months later, Laduree finally opens in September and not July. Just as well, I went on October long weekend - Labour Day and I get to grab some macarons without having to line up - you beauty. I must say though, these macarons imported from Switzerland that are four months old are surprisingly not bad. There's always going to be mixed reviews but the salted caramel and coffee are quite good. I put in my own blueberries and raspberries for extra fruity flavours in which Pierre Hermes likes to do as well and they taste so much nicer. I bought the almond, vanilla, raspberry, strawberry mashmallow, coffee, salty caramel, lemon and orange blossom. The mashmallow ones were too sweet for my liking. I didn't get to taste the lemon but this one wouldn't be sweet either so would be better than the sweet ones. The boxes are gorgeous and there was one that I liked but would cost $98 and can fit 20-24 macarons. I bought the one that fit 8 macarons for $29. The smallest pretty purple box for 6 costs $23 and these can be gift wrapped. Otherwise it's $3.20 for one.
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| Laduree Macarons |
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| Laduree macarons - gorgeous packaging |
Laduree
Westfields Sydney
Level 3, Shop 3048A
Cnr Pitt Street Mall & Market Street
Sydney NSW 2000
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